JP2010021724A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that contributes to improvement in user's usability when a USB (Universal Serial Bus) keyboard is detached from the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: For example, when a user performs a key input operation associated with logging-in after connecting the USB keyboard 69 as an external device to the image forming apparatus through a USB host part 65, performs a key input operation associated with necessary jobs to complete processes based upon key input operation contents associated with the jobs, and then disconnects the keyboard. In such a case, an access management part 77 is operative to automatically perform a log-out process without troubling the user at all. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a user authentication function and capable of performing various functions including an image forming function, and in particular, when removing a USB keyboard from the image forming apparatus, logging in to the apparatus during the connection period. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that contributes to improvement of convenience for a user by causing the apparatus to perform an appropriate control operation in accordance with the transition of the situation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus called a so-called MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having various functions such as a copy, a facsimile, a scanner, and a printer has been widely used in, for example, business sites.

  In such an image forming apparatus, for example, an interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) or IEEE1394 is used to directly connect an external device such as a keyboard or a storage device (memory) using a hot plug. The hot plug has a hot swap function. For example, an external device is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus while the image forming apparatus is powered on (without restarting). A function that can be used. According to this hot plug function, the connection terminal of the external device is inserted into the corresponding interface on the image forming device side without turning off the power of the image forming device or external device to be connected to each other. The external device can be automatically recognized by the image forming apparatus with a simple operation such as connection.

  As an example of an image forming apparatus provided with an interface for connection with such an external device, the applicant of the present application connects with the external device in order to provide a user with various function options when the external device is connected. An interface for enabling, and when a USB keyboard is connected to the interface and a key pressing state on the keyboard is recognized, among operations including print output, fax transmission, mail transmission, or data transmission, An image forming apparatus including a control unit that controls activation of an application related to an operation set in advance with respect to a pressing state of the key is proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, in order to improve the convenience for the user when connecting the external device, the applicant of the present application will connect the external keyboard connected to the interface for enabling connection with the external device. Recognizes the type of device, acquires the operation mode of the device main body, and relates to the acquired operation mode of the device main body based on the acquired operation mode of the device main body and the recognized type of the external device Among the operation modes, an image forming apparatus configured to change the operation mode of the apparatus main body to an operation mode suitable for the recognized external device and related to a key input operation has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). .

  According to the related arts disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is possible to improve convenience for the user when connecting an external device.

  However, the prior arts according to Patent Documents 1 and 2 neither disclose nor suggest that some control is performed while paying attention to the removal of an external device.

Therefore, even if a person skilled in the art of the image forming apparatus based on the prior arts disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 exhibits normal creation ability, it can contribute to user convenience when removing external devices. The control operation cannot be performed.
JP 2007-336510 A JP 2008-118509 A

  The problem to be solved is that, even if a person skilled in the art of the image forming apparatus based on the prior arts according to the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2 exhibits normal creation ability, it is convenient for the user when removing the external device. It is a point that a control operation that can contribute to improvement in performance cannot be performed.

  The inventor can contribute to improving the convenience of the user by causing the apparatus to perform some control operation when the external device is removed from the image forming apparatus. I was working on daily research activities with the awareness of the problem.

  In such a case, paying attention to the transition of the login status of the USB keyboard as an external device during the connection period from when the USB keyboard is connected to the image forming apparatus to when the USB keyboard is removed, the login is performed when the USB keyboard is removed from the apparatus. Isn't it possible to contribute to improving user convenience by letting the device perform appropriate control operations according to the transition of the situation? I got the idea.

  Based on this idea, further research has been promoted, and the present invention has finally been completed.

  That is, according to the present invention, when the USB keyboard is detached from the image forming apparatus, the convenience of the user is improved by causing the apparatus to perform an appropriate control operation according to the transition of the login status to the apparatus during the connection period. In order to provide an image forming apparatus that contributes to the above, an image forming apparatus that has a user authentication function and can perform various functions including an image forming function, in order to enable connection of a USB keyboard as an external device , An attachment / detachment information acquisition unit for acquiring attachment / detachment information related to connection / disconnection of the USB keyboard to / from the interface, and attachment / detachment information acquired by the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit. Login status acquisition unit for acquiring login status to image forming apparatus, and attachment / detachment information acquisition unit When said detachable information relating to removal of USB keyboard is acquired, on the basis of the login status of the connection period of the USB keyboard, and most important, comprising the, and access control unit for performing the logout process.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit acquires attachment / detachment information related to the connection or removal of the USB keyboard from the interface, while the login status acquisition unit refers to the attachment / detachment information acquired by the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit. The login status to the image forming apparatus during the USB keyboard connection period is acquired. Then, when the detachment information acquisition unit acquires the detachment information related to the removal of the USB keyboard, the access management unit causes the logout process to be performed based on the login state during the USB keyboard connection period.

  Therefore, for example, after a user connects a USB keyboard as an external device to the image forming apparatus via an interface, the user performs a key input operation related to login, and then performs a key input operation related to a required job. When the keyboard is removed after completing the process according to the key input operation contents related to the job, the logout process is automatically executed without any trouble of the user by the function of the access management unit. As a result, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus that contributes to improvement of user convenience.

  For the purpose of obtaining an image forming apparatus that contributes to improving user convenience when removing the USB keyboard from the image forming apparatus, when the attach / detach information relating to the removal of the USB keyboard is acquired by the attach / detach information acquiring unit, This is realized by an access management unit that performs logout processing based on the login status during the USB keyboard connection period.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Schematic configuration of image forming apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention permits use by a user who has been approved through user authentication in order to properly manage the use of the apparatus, such as reduction in operation costs related to consumables such as paper and toner. While having a user authentication function, it can perform various functions related to print output, fax transmission, mail transmission, or data transmission, and is controlled by the main control unit 11 including a microcomputer and a dedicated hardware circuit. The As an input / output device connected to the main control unit 11 and performing various functions, the image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit 21, an image processing unit 31, an engine unit 41, an operation panel unit 51, a facsimile communication unit 61, and an HDD (hard disk drive). 62, a network I / F (interface) unit 63, and a USB host unit 65 functioning as an interface in the present invention.

  The main control unit 11 includes a scanner controller 13 that performs operation control for realizing a scanner function, a facsimile controller 15 that performs operation control for realizing a facsimile function, and a printer controller that performs operation control for realizing a printer function. 17 and a copy controller 19 for controlling the operation for realizing the copy function are incorporated, and the overall operation of the apparatus is controlled.

  The scanner unit 21 includes an image irradiation lamp 23 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 25 constituting a scanner (not shown). The scanner unit 21 irradiates the document with the image irradiation lamp 23, receives the reflected light with the CCD sensor 25, reads an image from the document, and outputs image data corresponding to the read image to the image processing unit 31. .

  The image processing unit 31 includes a correction unit 33, an image processing unit 35, and an image memory 37. The image processing unit 31 processes the image data read by the scanner unit 21 with the correction unit 33 and the image processing unit 35 as necessary, and stores the processed image data in the image memory 37, the engine unit 41, Output to the facsimile communication unit 61 or the like. The correction unit 33 performs predetermined correction processing such as level correction and gamma correction on the image data read by the scanner unit 21. The image processing unit 35 performs various types of processing such as image data compression or expansion processing and enlargement or reduction processing.

  The engine unit 41 includes a sheet conveying unit 43 including a sheet feeding cassette and a sheet feeding roller (not shown), an image forming unit 45 including a photosensitive drum, an exposure device, a developing device, and the like, a transfer roller (not illustrated), and the like. And a fixing unit 49 including a fixing roller (not shown). The engine unit 41 stores image data read by the scanner unit 21, image data transmitted from a client PC (personal computer) or the like via a LAN (Local Area Network) via the network I / F unit 63, and a facsimile communication unit 61. The image is printed on paper using image data such as fax data received from an external facsimile machine. Specifically, the paper transport unit 43 transports the paper to the image forming unit 45, the image forming unit 45 forms a toner image corresponding to the image data, the transfer unit 47 transfers the toner image to the paper, The fixing unit 49 fixes the toner image on a sheet to form an image.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation panel unit 51 includes a touch panel unit 53 and an operation key unit 55 including a numeric keypad, a start key, and the like. The operation panel unit 51 is an operation unit that selectively inputs and operates various functions in this embodiment, and is used by a user to perform operations related to a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, a copy function, and the like. Commands and the like are given to the main control unit 11.

  The touch panel unit 53 (corresponding to the “display unit” of the present invention) has a function of displaying various screens including an input operation screen related to a job, and combines a touch panel and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Touch panel unit. The touch panel unit 53 displays various operation screens, for example, information related to the document size, copy size, number of copies, and the like when executing a copy function, and allows the user to input various operation commands by touching the corresponding part. Displays the operation buttons. In addition, when a USB keyboard 69 (described later) is connected to the USB host unit 65 and, for example, word processing software is activated at this time, the touch panel unit 53 displays a document that has been key-input operated using the USB keyboard 69. It has a function.

  The operation key unit 55 is used when the user selectively executes a key input operation of a required function from various functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, for example. This is used when inputting operation and copy execution commands.

  The facsimile communication unit 61 includes an encoding / decoding unit (not shown), a modem unit (not shown), and an NCU (Network Control Unit) (not shown). The facsimile communication unit 61 transmits image data of a document read by the scanner unit 21 to a facsimile apparatus or the like via a telephone line, or receives image data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus or the like.

  The network I / F unit 63 uses a network interface (10 / 100Base-TX) or the like to control transmission / reception of various data to / from a client PC connected via a LAN. For example, the network I / F unit 63 has been transmitted from the client PC or the like. Receive print data.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 62 stores image data read by the scanner unit 21 and various data such as an output format set in the image data. The image data stored in the HDD 62 is not only used inside the image forming apparatus, but also confirmed from the client PC or the like via the network I / F unit 63 as necessary, or the client PC or FTP server or the like. To a predetermined folder.

  The USB host unit (corresponding to the “interface” of the present invention) 65 conforms to the USB standard and includes a USB port 67 into which a USB connector 68 is inserted and connected. The USB host unit 65 is connected to a USB keyboard 69 conforming to the USB standard as an external device via a USB cable 66, a USB connector 68, and a USB port 67, respectively. The USB cable 66 can be omitted when the USB host unit 65 and the USB keyboard 69 are wirelessly connected via an appropriate wireless communication unit.

  Now, when removing the USB keyboard from the image forming apparatus, an image that contributes to improving the convenience of the user by causing the apparatus to perform an appropriate control operation according to the transition of the login status of the apparatus during the connection period. For the purpose of obtaining a forming apparatus, the main control unit 11 includes an attachment / detachment information acquisition unit 71 that acquires attachment / detachment information related to connection or removal of the USB keyboard 69 from the USB host unit 65 (USB port 67), and an attachment / detachment information acquisition unit. Referring to the attachment / detachment information acquired in 71, a login status acquisition unit 73 that acquires a login status to the image forming apparatus during the connection period of the USB keyboard 69, and a login status that stores the login status during the connection period of the USB keyboard 69 The storage unit 75 and the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit 71 are used to attach the USB keyboard 69. When the information is acquired, based on the login status during the connection period of the USB keyboard 69, specifically, when the USB keyboard 69 is connected, the image forming apparatus is not logged in, but when the USB keyboard 69 is removed. When the login to the image forming apparatus has been performed, the access management unit 77 that performs logout processing and the login to the image forming apparatus when the USB keyboard 69 is connected, and the attach / detach information acquiring unit 71 The display control unit 79 is configured to cause the touch panel unit 53 to perform panel clear processing when the attachment / detachment information related to the removal of the USB keyboard 69 is acquired.

  Next, a flow of operation control when the USB keyboard is connected and disconnected in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Operation when connecting and disconnecting a USB keyboard]
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart when the USB keyboard is connected to and removed from the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Prior to the description of the operation, referring to the premise of the configuration of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has authentication information with a card key (not shown) such as an IC tag possessed by the user. A card key authentication mode that permits use of the device through data exchange related to (for example, user identification information and a personal identification number), and a panel authentication mode that permits use of the device by requesting the user to perform a key input operation of authentication information. There are two ways. In the following embodiments, the operation of the image forming apparatus in the panel authentication mode (including login execution by a key input operation of authentication information using the USB keyboard 69), which is an exceptional process, will be described.

  A user who intends to perform a required job or process (including login execution) by using the USB keyboard 69 as an external device is connected between the USB keyboard 69 and the USB host unit 65 between the USB cable 66 and the USB. When connected via the connector 68 and the USB port 67 (step S11), the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit 71 attaches / detaches information indicating that the USB device is attached according to the hot plug function supported for the USB device, and The type information related to the type of the attached USB device is acquired. That is, the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit 71 recognizes that the USB device is the USB keyboard 69 based on the acquired USB device type information (step S12).

  Next, the login status acquisition unit 73 acquires the login status to the image forming apparatus when the USB keyboard 69 is connected (step S13), and also acquires the acquired login status (if necessary, the login status storage unit 75 Based on the stored content is referred to (the same applies hereinafter), it is determined whether or not the user has already logged in (step S14).

  As a result of the determination in step S14, when it is determined that the user has already been logged in (“Yes” in step S14), the login status acquisition unit 73 sets the pre-connection login flag in the login status storage unit 75 as “ A process of writing “login before connection” is executed (step S15).

  As a result of the determination in step S14, it is determined that the login has not been completed, or after execution of the writing process in step S15, the login status acquisition unit 73 sends the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus during the connection period of the USB keyboard 69. The login status is monitored (step S16). Note that during this monitoring period, the user performs a login process by a key input operation of user identification information and a personal identification number (authentication information) via the USB keyboard 69, a key input operation related to a required job, and the like. It will be.

  As a result of the monitoring in step S16, when it is determined that login has been executed by the corresponding user (“Yes” in step S16), the login status acquisition unit 73 sets the login flag after connection in the login status storage unit 75 as a login flag. Then, a process of writing “login after connection” is executed (step S17).

  On the other hand, the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit 71 monitors whether or not the USB keyboard 69 has been removed from the USB host unit 65 (step S18).

  As a result of the monitoring in step S18, when attachment / detachment information relating to removal of the USB keyboard 69 is acquired (“Yes” in step S18), the login status acquisition unit 73 acquires the login status at the time of removal of the USB keyboard 69. At the same time, based on the acquired login status, a determination is made as to whether or not the user is logged in when the USB keyboard 69 is removed (step S19).

  As a result of the determination in step S19, when it is determined that the user is not logged in when the USB keyboard 69 is removed, the main control unit 11 maintains the current logout state as it is and the display content on the touch panel unit 53. Is maintained as it is, and the flow of a series of processes is terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S19, when it is determined that the login is in progress when the USB keyboard 69 is removed, the login status acquisition unit 73 determines whether the login status storage unit 75 It is determined whether or not the login state continues from before the USB keyboard 69 is connected or whether the login state continues after the USB keyboard 69 is connected (step S20).

  Here, when the use state of the image forming apparatus is estimated when the login state at the time of removal of the USB keyboard 69 continues after the USB keyboard 69 is connected, the corresponding user presses the USB keyboard 69. There is a high probability that the USB keyboard 69 is removed after the required job or process has been completed after executing the login. In such a case, the corresponding user needs to perform logout processing separately. However, if this logout processing is performed in conjunction with the removal of the USB keyboard 69, the user's convenience can be improved. it can.

  From this point of view, when it is determined in step S20 that the login state at the time of removal of the USB keyboard 69 is continued after the USB keyboard 69 is connected, the access management unit 77 Performs logout processing (step S21), and then ends the flow of processing.

  On the other hand, if the login state at the time of removal of the USB keyboard 69 continues from before the USB keyboard 69 is connected, the user is logged in in the panel authentication mode when the usage state of the image forming apparatus is estimated. After executing the required job or process, the user notices that the use of the USB keyboard 69 increases the efficiency. After completing the required job or process using the USB keyboard 69, the USB keyboard 69 is used. The probability that 69 is removed is high. In such a case, since the corresponding user is logged in without using the USB keyboard 69, it is considered appropriate to leave the logout process to the operation of the corresponding user. In addition, an initial screen (so-called default screen) that can provide easy operability to a wide range of users is updated and displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53 instead of the information screen reflecting the previous user's usage history. If so, it is possible to contribute to improving the convenience of other users who will visit soon.

  From such a viewpoint, when it is determined in step S20 that the login state at the time of removal of the USB keyboard 69 is continued before the USB keyboard 69 is connected, the display control unit 79 Causes the touch panel unit 53 to perform a panel clear process (step S22), and then ends a series of processes.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, a user connects a USB keyboard 69 as an external device to the image forming apparatus via the USB host unit 65 and then performs login. When the key input operation is performed, and then the key input operation related to the required job is performed to complete the processing according to the key input operation content related to the job, and then the keyboard is removed, the access management unit 77 As a result of the logout process being automatically performed without any trouble for the user, an image forming apparatus that contributes to improving the convenience for the user can be obtained.

  On the other hand, for example, after the user executes login, the user can connect the USB keyboard 69 to the image forming apparatus via the USB host unit 65 and perform the key input operation related to the required job, thereby performing the key input operation related to the job. When the keyboard is removed after completing the process according to the contents, the panel clear process of the touch panel unit 53 is automatically performed without any trouble of the user by the operation of the display control unit 79. As a result, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus that contributes to improvement of user convenience.

[Others]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention read from the claims and the entire specification or the technical idea, and is accompanied by such changes. The image forming apparatus is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  Specifically, for example, in the embodiment of the present invention, an explanation will be given of an example in which the main control unit 11 executes the various processing procedures shown in the above-described operation flowchart while exchanging data with input / output devices according to a predetermined program. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and it goes without saying that the function of the main control unit 11 may be realized by hardware.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an external view illustrating an operation panel unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart when a USB keyboard is connected to and removed from the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

11 Main control unit 53 Touch panel unit (display unit)
65 USB host part (interface)
69 USB keyboard (external device)
71 Detachment Information Acquisition Unit 73 Login Status Acquisition Unit 75 Login Status Storage Unit 77 Access Management Unit 79 Display Control Unit

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus having a user authentication function and capable of performing various functions including an image forming function,
An interface for enabling connection of a USB keyboard as an external device;
A detachment information acquisition unit that acquires detachment information related to connection or detachment of the USB keyboard with respect to the interface;
A login status acquisition unit that acquires the login status to the image forming apparatus in the connection period of the USB keyboard with reference to the attachment / detachment information acquired by the attachment / detachment information acquisition unit;
An access management unit that performs logout processing based on a login status in a connection period of the USB keyboard when the detachment information related to detachment of the USB keyboard is acquired by the detachment information acquisition unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The access management unit
Login to the image forming apparatus is not performed when the USB keyboard is connected, but logout processing is performed when login to the image forming apparatus is performed when the USB keyboard is removed.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A display unit for displaying various information screens;
A display control unit for controlling display contents in the display unit;
Further comprising
The display control unit
When the USB keyboard is connected and the image forming apparatus is logged in, and the attach / detach information acquisition unit acquires attach / detach information related to the removal of the USB keyboard, a panel clear process is performed on the display unit. Let
An image forming apparatus.