JP2012105000A - Multifunction peripheral control system, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the labor and time of a user.SOLUTION: A multifunction peripheral (MFP) control system 100 includes an MFP 1 and a controller 3. The MFP 1 includes: a job reception section 10a for receiving job data on a print job; and a transmission source specification section 10c for specifying the transmission source of the job data and transmitting transmission source information indicating the specified transmission source to the controller 3. The controller 3 includes: a storage device 32 for previously storing the transmission sources which are permitted to use a print job performance function in the MFP 1; and an authentication processing section 31b for performing job authentication processing on the basis of the transmission source information received from the MFP 1. The authentication processing section 31b does not give permission to the MFP 1 to perform the job when the transmission source indicated by the transmission source information received from the MFP 1 is not stored in the storage device 32, and gives permission to the MFP 1 to perform the print job when the transmission source indicated by the transmission source information is stored in the storage device 32.

Description

  The present invention includes a multifunction peripheral and a control device (control server) that is communicably connected to the multifunction peripheral, and the multifunction peripheral operates in cooperation with an application stored in the control device. The present invention relates to a multifunction device control system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a scan function, a print function, and a FAX transmission / reception function is known. In recent years, such multi-function machines are connected to a control server (application server) or the like via a communication network to perform various kinds of processing. In other words, application software that operates on the control server (hereinafter simply referred to as “application”) and functions of the multifunction device can be linked to operate the multifunction device as a part of the total application system. Thereby, it is possible to easily construct a flexible service by appropriately combining the functions of the multifunction peripheral and the control server.

  In the total application system as described above, information used in authentication processing and tabulation processing (accounting function) and information obtained by these processing can be centrally managed by a control server.

  Further, in such a system, when job data of a print job is input to the multifunction device 1, the multifunction device 1 and the control server cooperate to determine whether or not the user has authority to use the print job function (hereinafter referred to as “job authentication processing”). There is something that is supposed to do. This job authentication process will be described below. First, a user inputs authentication information (login information such as a password) and a print execution command to a printer driver of a terminal device connected to the multifunction device. In response to this input, the printer driver transmits job data of the print job including the authentication information to the multi-function peripheral. The multi-function peripheral transmits authentication information included in the received job data to the control server. Based on the authentication information, an external application (authentication processing application) of the control server determines whether or not the user has authority to use the print job function (job authentication processing). If the external application determines “Yes”, the external application sends a permission notice to the multi-function peripheral, and the multi-function peripheral that has received the permission notice executes the print job. On the other hand, if the external application determines that it is “None”, the external application sends a non-permission notification to the multi-function peripheral, and the multi-function peripheral that has received this non-permission notification transmits the print job data without executing the print job. It is supposed to be erased.

  Also, many recent multifunction peripherals have a direct printing function. Direct printing means that a print job is transmitted from an external apparatus to the multi-function peripheral without using a printer driver. In this direct printing, for example, there is a form in which an image file (for example, a PDF file) of a terminal device is transferred to an MFP by the FTP communication protocol and printed (the terminal device can print the PDF file without opening the PDF file). If dragged to the icon, the PDF file is FTP-transferred to the multi-function peripheral as a print job). Direct printing also includes a mode in which image data is transmitted from a USB device connected by USB to the multifunction device to the multifunction device, and printing is performed based on the image data.

  According to the direct printing function, since a printer driver is not used, authentication information is not added to print job data sent to the multi-function peripheral, and the above-described job authentication processing cannot be performed. To deal with this drawback, Patent Document 2 discloses that when authentication information is not added to the print data input to the multifunction device (that is, in the case of direct print data), the print data is temporarily stored in the memory, and A technique has been proposed in which an authentication screen is displayed on the operation panel, allowing the user to input authentication information, and job authentication processing is performed using this authentication information.

JP 2008-40675 A (publication date: February 21, 2008) JP 2010-124409 A (publication date: June 3, 2010)

  In other words, in the conventional method, in order to realize job authentication processing, at least one authentication information is obtained in both cases of normal printing processing using a printer driver and direct printing. Is required. For this reason, there has been a trouble for the user that the authentication information must be input.

  Also, in the terminal device, when the device is activated, the user inputs authentication information, performs a process of determining the presence or absence of operation authority based on this authentication information (hereinafter referred to as “operation authentication process”), and sets the operation authority. Some users can only operate. When performing a printing process using the printer driver of such a terminal device, first, the authentication information for the operation authentication process is input to make the terminal device usable, and then the job authentication process is performed. The authentication information needs to be input by the printer driver, and the user has to input the authentication information twice, resulting in excessive labor.

  Furthermore, since the multifunction peripheral disclosed in Patent Document 2 displays an authentication screen for requesting input of authentication information for job authentication processing on the multifunction peripheral after a direct print job is transferred to the multifunction peripheral. The user has to input a direct printing execution instruction in the terminal device, then move to the multifunction device and input authentication information from the operation panel of the multifunction device.

  As described above, if the job authentication process can be performed without causing the user to input authentication information for the job authentication process (determination of whether or not the print job function is used), the authentication information is input by the user. The number of times can be reduced to zero, or the user's trouble can be reduced.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the time and effort of the user compared to the conventional one in a multi-function device control system that determines the presence / absence of authority to use a job function of a multi-function device (job authentication process).

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a multifunction device control system including a multifunction device and a control device that controls the multifunction device. A job receiving unit that receives job data indicating a job execution instruction for the multifunction peripheral according to a possible communication protocol; a transmission source information that identifies the transmission source of the job data; If the control device does not allow the execution of the job, the multifunction device does not execute the job, and the control device permits the execution of the job. A job control unit that causes the multifunction device to execute the job, and the control device receives an information reception unit that receives the transmission source information from the multifunction device, and the job execution function in the multifunction device. A storage device that preliminarily stores a transmission source that is permitted to use, and whether or not the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is stored in the storage device, and the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information When it is determined that the job is not stored in the storage device, the MFP is not permitted to execute the job, and when it is determined that the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is stored in the storage device And a permission / rejection unit that allows the multifunction device to execute the job.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not there is an authority to use the job function (determination of job execution permission) without adding authentication information (login information) to the job data. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate or reduce the work of inputting authentication information (login information) of the user who uses the multi-function peripheral, and it is possible to reduce the user's labor as compared with the related art.

  In the MFP control system of the present invention, the communication protocol is a protocol that can specify a source IP address on the receiving side, and the source specifying unit is the IP address or a host that can be converted from the IP address. A name may be used as the transmission source information.

  In the MFP control system of the present invention, the communication protocol may be an e-mail communication protocol, and the transmission source specifying unit may use the e-mail address of the transmission source as the transmission source information. .

  Note that the present invention may be realized by a computer. In this case, a control program that causes the computer to function as each unit included in the multifunction machine and a computer-readable recording medium that records the control program are also included in the present invention. Enter the category. Further, a control program that causes a computer to function as each unit provided in the control device and a computer-readable recording medium that records the control program also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not there is authority to use a job function (determination of whether to execute a job) without adding authentication information (login information) to the job data. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate or reduce the work of inputting authentication information (login information) of the user who uses the multi-function peripheral, and it is possible to reduce the user's labor as compared with the related art.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication processing performed between the multifunction device and the control device during the operation authentication process of the multifunction device. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a login screen displayed on a display unit of the multifunction machine. It is the figure which illustrated the table for authentication processing memorize | stored in the memory | storage device of the control apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of job authentication processing performed in the multifunction peripheral control system of the present embodiment. 4 is an example of data transmitted when authentication information is transmitted from the multi-function peripheral to the control apparatus using SOAP. It is an example of the data transmitted when transmitting an authentication permission notification using SOAP. It is an example of the data transmitted when transmitting an authentication error notification using SOAP.

  A multifunction device control system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction machine control system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device control system 100 according to the present embodiment includes a multifunction device 1, a terminal device 2, and a control device 3, and the multifunction device 1, the terminal device 2, and the control device 3 communicate with each other. They are connected via a network 50 so that they can communicate with each other. For convenience of explanation, only one terminal device 2 is shown in FIG. 1, but a plurality of terminal devices 2 are actually included in the MFP control system 100. Further, the number of multifunction devices 1 included in the multifunction device control system 100 may be plural, and the number of control devices 3 may be plural. As the communication network 50, a communication line such as the Internet, a telephone line, a serial cable, or another wired line or a wireless line can be used. Each device (multifunction device 1, terminal device 2, control device 3) included in the multifunction device control system 100 performs communication based on TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). In particular, communication using HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), e-mail communication protocol (SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), POP (Post Office Protocol), etc. It is possible to do.

  When the multifunction device 1 receives job data indicating a print job, the multifunction device control system 100 according to the present embodiment performs determination processing (job authentication processing) for determining whether or not the print job function is used, according to the following procedure. It is like that. First, when the multifunction device 1 receives job data, the MFP 1 transmits authentication information (login name and password) added to the job data or transmission source information indicating the transmission source of the job data to the control device 3. It has become. When receiving the authentication information or the transmission source information from the multifunction device 1, the control device 3 uses the authentication information or the transmission source information to determine whether or not the print job function is used (job authentication process). If the control device 3 determines that the user has authority to use the print job function, the control device 3 sends an authentication permission notice permitting execution of the print job to the multifunction device 1. If the controller 3 determines that the user has no authority to use the print job function, Is sent to the multi-function device 1. The MFP 1 executes a print job when receiving an authentication permission notification, and deletes job data of the print job without executing a print job when receiving an authentication error notification. . Hereinafter, the multifunction peripheral control system 100 will be described in detail.

<About MFP 1>
First, the multifunction device 1 in the multifunction device control system 100 will be described. The multifunction device 1 is a digital multifunction device that executes various job functions (for example, a scan job function, a print job function, a FAX job function, and the like). The multifunction device 1 includes a device control unit 10, an operation unit 11, an image reading unit 12, an image forming unit 13, and a first communication unit 14.

  The operation unit 11 functions as a user interface that notifies the user of various types of information and receives input from the user. The operation unit 11 includes an input unit 11a including various input keys, and a display unit 11b such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The operation unit 11 may be a touch panel in which the input unit 11a and the display unit 11b are integrally formed.

  The image reading unit 12 includes a scanner and a document conveying unit that conveys a document to the position of the scanner, and reads characters and images printed on the document as image data. Note that the image reading unit 12 reads an image with a predetermined resolution.

  The image forming unit 13 is for printing an image (character / photo / graphic) of image data included in job data of an input print job on a sheet (paper, etc.), and includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, An exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, a paper tray, and the like are included. Specifically, in the image forming unit 13, the charging device charges the surface of the photosensitive drum with static electricity. Then, the exposure device irradiates the photosensitive drum with light corresponding to the image data, and charges the same pattern as the image indicated by the image data. Thereafter, toner is attracted to the surface of the photosensitive drum by the developing device, and the transfer device transfers the toner image onto the sheet. Finally, the fixing device applies heat to the toner and fuses it to the sheet, whereby an image is formed on the sheet. As a result, print processing corresponding to the image data included in the job data of the input print job is executed. The print job includes a job for printing an image based on the image data input from the image reading unit 12 of the multifunction device 1 (copy job), a job for printing an image based on the image data input from the terminal device 2, and the like. is there.

  The first communication unit 14 is an interface that communicates with external devices such as the control device 3 and the terminal device 2 via the communication network 50.

  The device control unit 10 controls the operation of each unit such as the operation unit 11, the image reading unit 12, the image forming unit 13, and the first communication unit 14. For example, the device control unit 10 controls the operation of the image reading unit 12 to acquire scan image data. Further, the device control unit 10 controls the operation of the image forming unit 13 to form and output an image indicated by job data of the input print job on a sheet.

<About the terminal device 2>
Next, the terminal device 2 will be described. The terminal device 2 is used by a user of the multifunction device control system 100, and includes various software such as an OS (Operating System), document creation software, spreadsheet software, drawing software, image editing software, and multifunction devices. 1 is a personal computer in which a printer driver for remotely operating 1 is installed. Although not particularly illustrated, the terminal device 2 includes a display device, an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a ROM (like a normal personal computer). And a computer main body including a read only memory (HDD), a hard disk drive (HDD), and the like. When a user who operates the terminal device 2 creates image data with document creation software or the like and sets a print job for causing the MFP 1 to print an image of the image data, the job of the print job is set. Data is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the multifunction device 1. As will be described later, a user who operates the terminal device 2 can input a print job execution instruction based on an image file (such as a PDF file) stored in the terminal device 2 without activating the printer driver. By this input, the job data of the print job is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the multi function device 1 (so-called direct printing).

<About the control device 3>
Next, the configuration of the control device 3 will be described. The control device 3 is a computer device that includes an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU and a dedicated processor, and a RAM, ROM, HDD, and the like. The control device 3 stores application software and various information used in the multifunction device 1 and the terminal device 2. It functions as a centrally managed server. The control device 3 also functions as a control server that controls various functions of the multifunction device 1 by application software of the device itself.

  The control device 3 includes a second communication unit 30, an application unit 31, and a storage device 32.

  The second communication unit 30 is an interface that communicates with external devices such as the multifunction device 1 and the terminal device 2 via the communication network 50.

The application unit 31 performs an operation according to a predetermined application. More specifically, the application unit 31 executes various types of information processing based on applications installed in the storage device 32.
For example, the application unit 31 performs processing for transmitting HTML data indicating an operation screen of the application to the multifunction device 1 based on the application that has received the activation request from the multifunction device 1. As a result, the multifunction device 1 displays the operation screen on the display unit 11b and accepts a user command from the operation screen.
In addition, when a user command is input to the multifunction device 1 from the operation screen, the multifunction device 1 transmits the user command to the application of the control device 3, but the application of the control device 3 The control command is generated by performing information processing based on the person command, and the generated control command is transmitted to the multi-function device 1 via the second communication unit 30. The device control unit 10 of the multifunction device 1 performs various processes according to the control command.
Furthermore, when user authentication information is sent from the multifunction device 1 or the terminal device 2, the application unit 31 performs authentication processing based on the authentication application. That is, the control device 3 of this embodiment also functions as an authentication server.

<Operation authentication process>
The multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment causes the user to input authentication information at the time of activation, and causes the control device 3 to perform processing (operation authentication processing) for determining whether or not the multifunction device 1 has the operation authority based on the authentication information. Only a user having the operation authority is allowed to operate. Hereinafter, the operation authentication process will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating communication processing performed between the multifunction device 1 and the control device 3 during the operation authentication process of the multifunction device 1. First, when the multifunction device 1 is activated by turning on the power of the multifunction device 1 and the user authentication function is enabled, the device control unit 10 of the multifunction device 1 controls the control device (authentication server) 3. An activation notification is transmitted (F1). This activation notification includes MFP information for identifying the MFP 1.

  When receiving the activation notification from the multifunction device 1, the application unit 31 of the control device 3 detects that the multifunction device 1 has been activated and that the user authentication function has been enabled and is stored in the storage device 32. Add MFP 1 to the MFP management list. The MFP management list is a list of MFPs that are active and registered as management targets of the control device 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, after receiving the activation notification, the application unit 31 of the control device 3 returns a response to the activation notification to the multifunction device 1 (F2), and the multifunction device 1 responds to the reply with a login screen. Is sent to the control device 3 (F3). When a request for a login screen is sent from the multifunction device 1, the control device 3 sends HTML data indicating the login screen to the multifunction device 1, and the multifunction device 1 displays a login screen based on the HTML data on the display unit 11b. (F4). An example of a login screen displayed on the display unit 11b is shown in FIG.

  Then, the user inputs authentication information for logging in to the operation authority of the multifunction device 1 to the multifunction device 1 via the login screen shown in FIG. The authentication information input here is a login name (user name) and a password.

  The login information input by the user to the MFP 1 is transmitted to the application unit 31 of the control device 3 via the first communication unit 14 and the second communication unit 30. The storage device 32 of the control device 3 stores an authentication processing table (see FIG. 4) indicating authentication information (login name and password) of each user for each registered user. The unit 31 performs a process of collating the authentication information sent from the multifunction device 1 with the authentication processing table.

  Specifically, the application unit 31 sends a permission notice to the multifunction device 1 when the authentication information matching the authentication information sent from the multifunction device 1 is shown in the authentication processing table. Upon receiving the permission notification, the device control unit 10 of the multifunction device 1 clears the login screen displayed on the display unit 11b and accepts subsequent input of various operation commands as valid (that is, the user). To the MFP 1 and the user can operate the MFP 1).

  On the other hand, the application unit 31 sends a non-permission notice to the multi-function device 1 when authentication information that matches the authentication information sent from the multi-function device 1 is not shown in the authentication table. The device control unit 10 of the multifunction device 1 that has received the notification of disapproval continues to display the login screen on the display unit 11b and prompts the user to re-enter the authentication information, and inputs other than the authentication information while the login screen is displayed ( (Input of various operation commands) is not accepted (that is, the user cannot operate the multifunction device 1).

  Therefore, in the MFP control system 100 according to the present embodiment, only the user who has input the authentic authentication information (the user's registered login name and password) from the operation unit 11 can operate the MFP 1. Thus, a user who cannot input genuine login information from the operation unit 11 cannot operate the multifunction device 1.

  Although the operation authentication process in the multifunction device 1 has been described above, the same operation authentication process as the operation authentication process described above is also performed in the terminal device 2.

  That is, the terminal device 2 acquires the HTML data of the login screen from the control device 3 by communicating with the control device 3 in the same processing sequence as the processing sequence of the multifunction machine 1 shown in FIG. The displayed login screen is displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the terminal device 2. When the user inputs authentication information (login name and password) for logging in to the operation authority of the terminal device 2 to the terminal device 2, the authentication information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the application unit 31 of the control device 3. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the authentication processing table of the storage device 32 of the control device 3 has the authentication information (login name and password) of each user and each user for each registered user. A combination with the host name of the terminal device 2 is shown. Upon receiving the authentication information sent from the terminal device 2, the application unit 31 detects the IP address (Internet Protocol Address) of the transmission source terminal device 2 from the header of the communication information, and the DNS (Domain Name) (not shown). The system) server converts the IP address into the host name of the terminal device 2.

  Then, the application unit 31 performs a process of collating the authentication information received from the terminal device 2 with the host name of the terminal device 2 and the authentication processing table. When the application unit 31 of the control device 3 determines that the same combination as the combination of the authentication information and the host name sent from the terminal device 2 is shown in the authentication processing table as a result of the collation, a permission notification is given. Send to terminal device 2. Upon receiving the permission notification, the terminal device 2 clears the login screen displayed on the terminal device 2 and treats subsequent input of various commands as valid (that is, the terminal device 2 indicates to the user). The user can operate the terminal device 2).

  On the other hand, when the application unit 31 of the control device 3 determines that the same combination as the combination of the authentication information and the host name sent from the terminal device 2 is not shown in the authentication processing table as a result of the collation, A non-permission notice is sent to the terminal device 2. The terminal device 2 that has received the notification of disapproval continues to display the login screen and prompts the user to re-enter authentication information, and does not accept inputs other than the authentication information (inputs of various operation commands) while the login screen is displayed. (That is, the user cannot operate the terminal device 2).

  Therefore, in the MFP control system 100 according to the present embodiment, only the user who has input the genuine login information (pre-registered user login information) from his / her terminal device 2 can operate the terminal device 2. Thus, a user who cannot input authentic login information to the terminal device 2 cannot operate the terminal device 2.

<About print jobs>
In the MFP control system 100, job data of a print job is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the MFP 1, and the MFP 1 executes the print job. The print job includes a normal print job and a print job. There are two types of jobs, direct print jobs. Hereinafter, the normal print job and the direct print job will be described in order.

  The normal print job is a print job set by the printer driver of the terminal device 2, and a print job executed by the multifunction device 1 based on job data transmitted from the printer driver of the terminal device 2 to the multifunction device 1. means. The printer driver according to the present embodiment prompts the user to input authentication information before transmitting job data of a print job, and transmits job data to which the authentication information (login name and password) is added to the multifunction device 1. It is supposed to be. That is, in this embodiment, job data of a normal print job is not transmitted to the multifunction device 1 unless authentication information is input.

  Next, the direct print job will be described. The direct print job of the present embodiment means a print job that is executed in the multifunction device 1 based on job data transferred from the terminal device 2 to the multifunction device 1 by FTP without using a printer driver. More specifically, when a user inputs a direct print job instruction for desired image data to the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2 uses the image data as print job job data without activating a printer driver. As shown in FIG. That is, since the printer driver is not used in the direct print job, the authentication information is not added to the job data of the direct print job.

  The input of the direct print job instruction is performed, for example, by the user dragging a desired image data file (for example, PDF file) to a printer icon without opening the file.

<Job authentication processing>
Next, job authentication processing performed in the MFP control system 100 of this embodiment will be described in detail. First, the components involved in the job authentication process in the multifunction device 1 and the control device 3 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the device control unit 10 of the multifunction machine 1 includes a job reception unit 10a, an authentication information detection unit 10b, a transmission source identification unit 10c, and a job control unit 10d. The application unit 31 of the control device 3 includes an information receiving unit 31a and an authentication processing unit (permission / rejection unit) 31b.

  The job receiving unit 10 a is a block that receives job data (image data to be printed and data indicating printing conditions) from the terminal device 2 as a print job execution instruction for the multifunction device 1.

  The authentication information detection unit 10b detects authentication information from the job data received by the job reception unit 10a, and transmits the detected authentication information to the control device 3 via the first communication unit 14 and the second communication unit 30. It is. There are various communication protocols used for transmitting authentication information, but SOAP is used in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is an example of data to be transmitted when authentication information is transmitted using SOAP.

  Note that if the job data is data of a normal print job, the authentication information is added to the job data, so that the authentication information detection unit 10b can detect the authentication information from the job data. However, if the job data is direct print job data, the authentication information is not added to the job data, so the authentication information detection unit 10b cannot detect the authentication information from the job data.

  When the authentication information detection unit 10b cannot detect the authentication information from the job data, the transmission source specifying unit 10c specifies the transmission source of the job data, and transmits the transmission source information indicating the transmission source to the first communication unit 14. And a block to be transmitted to the control device 3 via the second communication unit 30.

  More specifically, since the MFP control system 100 of this embodiment performs data communication by TCP / IP, the receiving side in data communication acquires the IP address of the data transmission source from the communication header. Thus, the data transmission source can be specified. Therefore, the transmission source specifying unit 10c specifies the transmission source (terminal device 2) of the job data by acquiring the IP address (IP address of the terminal device 2) embedded in the communication header at the time of job data communication. It is supposed to be. Then, the transmission source specifying unit 10c transmits the acquired IP address (IP address of the terminal device 2) to the control device 3 as transmission source information indicating the transmission source of the job data.

  When the job control unit 10d receives an authentication permission notification described later from the control device 3, the job control unit 10d causes the image forming unit 13 to execute a print job related to the job data received by the job reception unit 10a, and issues an authentication error notification described later. When accepted from the control device 3, the job data is deleted without causing the image forming unit 13 to execute the print job related to the job data received by the job receiving unit 10a.

  The information receiving unit 31 a provided in the application unit 31 of the control device 3 is transmitted from the authentication information transmitted from the authentication information detecting unit 10 b of the multifunction device 1 or the transmission source specifying unit 10 c of the multifunction device 1. This is a block for receiving incoming source information (IP address of the terminal device 2).

  The authentication processing unit (permission / rejection unit) 31b is for the user (or terminal device 2) who has input (transmitted) the job data to the multi-function device 1 based on the authentication information or the transmission source information received by the information receiving unit 31a. Determines whether to use the print job function. If the authentication processing unit (permission / rejection unit) 31b determines that the use authority is present, the authentication processing unit (permission / rejection unit) 31b sends an authentication permission notification permitting the execution of the print job to the multi-function peripheral 1. An authentication error notification to be disapproved is sent to the multifunction device 1. This point will be described in detail below.

  First, a case where the information receiving unit 31a receives authentication information will be described. In this case, the authentication processing unit 31b determines whether the same authentication information as the authentication information (combination of login name and password) received by the information receiving unit 31a is shown in the authentication processing table (FIG. 4) of the storage device 32. Determine. If the authentication processing unit 31b determines that the same authentication information as the authentication information received by the information receiving unit 31a is indicated in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32, the authentication processing unit 31b determines that the print job function is authorized to use. Then, an authentication permission notification is transmitted to the multifunction device 1. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 31b determines that the same authentication information as the authentication information received by the information receiving unit 31a is not shown in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32, it indicates that there is no authority to use the print job function. The authentication error notification is transmitted to the multifunction device 1.

  Note that there are various communication protocols used for transmitting the authentication permission notification and the authentication error notification. In this embodiment, SOAP is used. FIG. 7 is an example of data transmitted when an authentication permission notification is transmitted using SOAP, and FIG. 8 is an example of data transmitted when an authentication error notification is transmitted using SOAP.

  Next, a case where the information receiving unit 31a receives transmission source information will be described. In this case, the authentication processing unit 31b first converts the data format of the transmission source information received by the information receiving unit 31a. Specifically, the authentication processing unit 31b refers to the DNS server and converts the data format of the transmission source information received by the information receiving unit 31a from an IP address to a host name. Such conversion is performed after the transmission source information received by the information receiving unit 31a and the transmission source registered in the authentication processing table are collated, but registered in the authentication processing table. This is because the transmission source is indicated by the host name as shown in FIG.

  Then, the authentication processing unit 31b determines whether or not the transmission source (host name) indicated in the transmission source information is indicated in the authentication processing table (FIG. 4) of the storage device 32. The authentication processing unit 31b determines that the transmission source indicated by the transmission source information (host name) received by the information reception unit 31a and converted in data format is indicated in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32. In this case, it is determined that the user has authority to use the print job function, and an authentication permission notification is transmitted to the multifunction device 1. On the other hand, in the authentication processing unit 31b, the transmission source indicated by the transmission source information (host name) received by the information receiving unit 31a and converted in data format is indicated in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32. If it is determined that there is no authority to use the print job function, an authentication error notification is transmitted to the multifunction device 1.

  Next, the processing procedure of job authentication processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. First, upon receiving job data of a print job from the terminal device 2 (S101), the multifunction device 1 determines whether authentication information is included in the job data (S102). If the authentication information is included in the job data (Yes in S102), that is, if the job data is data related to a normal print job, the multi-function device 1 uses the authentication information included in the job data as the control device 3. (S103).

  After S103, the control device 3 determines whether or not the same authentication information as the received authentication information is shown in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32. If the control device 3 determines that the same authentication information as the received authentication information is indicated in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32, the control device 3 determines that the print job function is authorized (execution permission for execution of the print job). Then, an authentication permission notification for permitting execution of the print job is sent to the multi-function device 1 (Yes in S104). Note that the authentication information shown in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32 is authentication information of a user who is permitted in advance to use the print job execution function in the multifunction device 1.

  The multifunction device 1 that has received the authentication permission notification executes the print job related to the job data received in S101 (S105), and ends the processing.

  Further, after S103, when the control device 3 determines that the same authentication information as the received authentication information is not shown in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32, the control device 3 determines that there is no authority to use the print job function (printing). A job execution non-permission is determined), and an authentication error notification for disabling the print job execution is sent to the multi-function device 1 (No in S104). Upon receiving this authentication error notification, the multifunction device 1 deletes the job data without executing the print job related to the job data received in S101 (S106), and ends the processing.

  If it is determined in S102 that the authentication information is not included in the job data, that is, if the job data is data related to the direct print job, the multi-function device 1 transmits the transmission source information indicating the transmission source of the job data ( The transmission source is specified by acquiring (IP address) (Yes in S111), and this transmission source information is transmitted to the control device 3 (S112).

  After S112, the control device 3 converts the data format of the received transmission source information from an IP address to a host name, and the transmission source (host name) indicated in the transmission source information is for authentication processing of the storage device 32. It is determined whether or not it is shown in the table. When the control device 3 determines that the transmission source (host name) indicated in the transmission source information is indicated in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32, the control device 3 determines that the user has authority to use the print job function ( An execution permission of the print job is determined), and an authentication permission notification for permitting the execution of the print job is sent to the multi function device 1 (Yes in S104). The host name shown in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32 is information indicating the terminal device 2 (transmission source) that is permitted in advance to use the print job execution function in the multifunction device 1.

  The multifunction device 1 that has received the authentication permission notification executes the print job related to the job data received in S101 (S105), and ends the processing.

  After S112, if the control device 3 determines that the transmission source (host name) indicated in the transmission source information is not indicated in the authentication processing table of the storage device 32, the right to use the print job function It is determined that the print job is not permitted (no print job execution is permitted), and an authentication error notification for not permitting the print job execution is sent to the MFP 1 (No in S104). Upon receiving this authentication error notification, the multifunction device 1 deletes the job data without executing the print job related to the job data received in S101 (S106), and ends the processing.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the authentication information is not included in the job data, the multifunction device 1 cannot acquire the transmission source information (IP address) indicating the transmission source of the job data (No in S111). The job data is deleted without executing the print job related to the job data, and the process is terminated.

  The MFP control system 100 of the present embodiment described above includes the MFP 1 and the control device 3 that controls the MFP 1. Then, the multifunction device 1 specifies and specifies the job reception unit 10a that receives job data of a print job by a communication protocol (TCP / IP) in which the transmission source can be specified on the reception side, and the transmission source of the job data The transmission source specifying unit 10c that transmits the transmission source information indicating the transmitted transmission source to the control device 3 and the image forming unit 13 of the multi-function device 1 when the control device 3 does not permit the execution of the print job. When the control device 3 does not execute the print job and permits the execution of the print job, the image forming unit 13 of the multifunction device 1 has a job control unit 10d that executes the print job. On the other hand, the control device 3 stores in advance an information reception unit 31a that receives the transmission source information from the multifunction device 1 and a transmission source (host name) that is permitted to use the print job execution function. 32 and an authentication processing unit (permission / rejection unit) 31b for determining whether or not the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is stored in the storage unit. If the authentication processing unit 31b determines that the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is not stored in the storage device 32, the authentication processing unit 31b does not allow the multifunction device 1 to execute the print job and is indicated in the transmission source information. When it is determined that the transmission source is stored in the storage device 32, the multifunction device 1 is permitted to execute the print job.

  According to such a configuration of the MFP control system 100, even if authentication information (login information) is not added to the job data, it is determined whether or not the user has authority to use the print job function (determination of whether or not to execute the print job). ) Becomes possible. Therefore, the input operation of the authentication information (login information) of the user who uses the multi-function device 1 can be unnecessary or reduced, and the user's labor can be reduced more than before.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the terminal device 2 having the host name shown in the authentication processing table can be operated only by performing an operation authentication process and acquiring an operation authority. Therefore, job data originating from the terminal device 2 can be handled as data created by a user having operation authority, and there is no problem even if the execution of a print job based on the job data is permitted. It is considered a thing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the conversion process from the IP address to the host name is performed on the control device 3 side, but may be performed on the multifunction device 1 side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transmission source authorized to use the print job function in the authentication processing table is indicated by the host name, but may be indicated by the IP address. In this case, however, the IP address to host name conversion process is not performed. In addition, when the IP address of each terminal device is assigned by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), the IP address assigned to each terminal device 2 is randomly different, so the user performs an operation authentication process for the terminal device 2. In such a case, if the IP address of the terminal device 2 is registered in the authentication processing table, an appropriate operation can be performed.

  Furthermore, the print job includes an email direct print job. The email direct print job means a print job that is executed in response to job data attached to an e-mail when the multi-function device 1 receives an e-mail (Email) attached with job data from the terminal device 2. . The multi-function device 1 can detect the e-mail address of the transmission source when the e-mail attached with the job data is received by the e-mail protocol. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the e-mail addresses of the senders authorized to use the print job function are listed in the authentication processing table. When an e-mail attached with job data is input to the multi-function device 1, the transmission source specifying unit 10c of the multi-function device 1 transmits the e-mail address of the e-mail transmission source to the job data transmission source. The original information may be transmitted to the control device 3, and the control device 3 may perform job authentication processing based on the transmission source information and the e-mail address indicated in the authentication processing table.

  Further, the direct print job of the present embodiment is a form in which the user operates the terminal device 2 to transfer the image file of the terminal device 2 to the MFP 1 by FTP. However, in the MFP control system 100 according to the present embodiment, the user operates the operation unit 11 of the MFP 1 to directly transfer the image file of the terminal device 2 to the MFP 1 for printing. (In this case, the printer driver is not used). The process shown in FIG. 5 can also be performed on the job data of the direct print job. In this case, the job authentication process is performed based on the transmission source information.

  In this embodiment, when a print job is set using a printer driver, authentication information must be input via the printer driver. However, a printer driver that does not require input of authentication information is used. May be. When a print job is set using a printer driver that does not require input of authentication information, the authentication information is not added to the job data input to the multifunction device 1. In this case, the transmission source specifying unit 10c may detect transmission source information indicating the transmission source of the job data, and perform job authentication processing based on the transmission source information. Thus, job authentication processing can be realized without inputting authentication information in a print job using a printer driver.

  In addition, the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment can perform a copying process, and can also perform a printing process based on image data extracted from a USB device connected to the multifunction device 1. In these processes, the transmission source information is not acquired because communication via the communication network is not performed. However, since the operation authentication process is performed when the MFP 1 is activated, these processes must be performed if the user is not a genuine user. I can't do it.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Each block included in the device control unit 10 and the application unit 31 may be realized by software using a CPU as follows. That is, each of the device control unit 10 and the application unit 31 includes a CPU that executes a command of a control program that realizes functions of each unit included in the device control unit 10 and the application unit 31, a ROM that stores the control program, and the control A RAM for expanding the program, a storage device (computer-readable recording medium) such as a memory for storing the control program and various data, and the like are provided. When the CPU reads and executes the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program, the functions of the units included in the device control unit 10 and the application unit 31 are realized. The control program may be recorded on a removable recording medium such as a CD-R, and the CPU may execute the control program recorded on the removable recording medium.

  The present invention can be used in a multifunction machine control system including a multifunction machine that realizes a plurality of functions such as copying, scanning, and FAX, and a control device that controls the multifunction machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction device 2 Terminal device 3 Control device 10a Job receiving unit 10b Authentication information detecting unit 10c Transmission source specifying unit 10d Job control unit 31a Information receiving unit 31b Authentication processing unit (permission / rejection unit)
32 storage device 50 communication network 100 multifunction device control system

Claims (6)

A multifunction device control system comprising a multifunction device and a control device for controlling the multifunction device,
The MFP is
A job receiving unit that receives job data indicating a job execution instruction for the multifunction peripheral by means of a communication protocol capable of specifying a transmission source on the receiving side;
A transmission source identifying unit that identifies a transmission source of the job data and transmits transmission source information indicating the identified transmission source to the control device;
If the control device does not permit execution of the job, the multifunction device does not execute the job, and if the control device permits execution of the job, causes the multifunction device to execute the job. A job control unit,
The controller is
An information receiving unit for receiving the transmission source information from the multifunction device;
A storage device that stores in advance a transmission source permitted to use the job execution function in the multifunction peripheral;
If it is determined whether the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is stored in the storage device, and if it is determined that the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is not stored in the storage device, the multifunction device And a permission / refusal unit that permits the multifunction device to execute the job when it is determined that the transmission source indicated in the transmission source information is stored in the storage device. A multi-function machine control system. The communication protocol is a protocol that can specify a source IP address on the receiving side,
The multifunction device control system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission source specifying unit uses the IP address or a host name that can be converted from the IP address as the transmission source information. The communication protocol is an email communication protocol;
The multifunction device control system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission source specifying unit uses the transmission source e-mail address as the transmission source information.   A control program that causes a computer to function as each unit included in a multifunction peripheral of the multifunction peripheral control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   A control program for causing a computer to function as each unit provided in the control device of the multifunction device control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the control program according to claim 4 is recorded.

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