JP3478624B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a method of limiting communication functions to system users.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication function (immediate transmission, timer transmission, polling reception, and the like) of a facsimile apparatus which involves calling, a calling operation is performed by setting a document and inputting a telephone number. That is, at the time of communication, the manuscript could be transmitted to the facsimile machine of the other party simply by inputting the telephone number and setting the manuscript.

In addition, the recording function (copy, manual report,
With regard to output of image files by manual operation, etc.), anyone could operate the facsimile machine. In the facsimile machine, unlike a copier for office work, there is no limitation by a card, a copy counter, etc., and copying is permitted to anyone.

In particular, a facsimile machine is always powered on.
Since it is generally used in this state, it was possible to always use copying and original transmission.

[0005]

Therefore, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, there is a possibility that an unauthorized user may use the communication and recording without permission, which is disadvantageous to the original user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a function capable of properly restricting the use of a communication function and a recording function in a facsimile machine.

[0007]

The present invention provides image data
The memory that stores the data and the originals are scanned,
Reading means for accumulating in the memory, and
Calling and transmitting means for facsimile transmission of images
And communication restriction switch to select whether to restrict or not restrict communication.
Switch means and a password that restricts communication.
Storage means and the communication restriction switch means
A switch determination means for determining no limitation, and the above memory
Password for judging whether the password is set or not
Enter the password setting method and password setting determination method.
Password entered and remembered
Password match to determine if and match
Before activating the mismatch determination means and the facsimile communication function
The switch determination means to execute the determination,
Communication restriction switch means select not to restrict communication
Call, you can make a normal call and restrict communication.
When and are selected, the above password is set / not set.
Causes the judging means to execute the above judgment, and the password is not set.
In some cases, all users are prohibited from using the transmission function that involves calling.
In order to do so, no call is made and the password is set
If there is, the password match / mismatch determination means described above is used.
If the passwords match, the call is made.
Do not make a call if the passwords do not match
A facsimile apparatus having control means for controlling
It

The present invention also provides a report for creating a report.
And a recording means for recording the above report,
Record to select whether to limit / not limit report recording
Limit switch means and password to limit the recording of reports
Storage means for storing the mode, and the recording limit switch means
Switch determination means for determining whether or not to limit
And setting / not setting the password in the storage means
Password setting / non-setting judging means for judging and the above-mentioned pass
You will be prompted for a word and it will be remembered as the password you entered.
Determine whether the password matches or does not match
Activate the password match / mismatch determination means and the recording function.
Before making the above-mentioned judgment to the switch judgment means.
The recording limit switch means limits the recording.
When the report recording operation is allowed,
When restricting recording, the above password setting / unset
Setting means to execute the above determination and the password is not set.
Report recording function to output manually when it is fixed
Report recording operation to prohibit all users from
If you reject all and the above password is set,
The above judgment is executed by the password match / mismatch judgment means.
If the above passwords match, the report recording
Operation is allowed, and if the above passwords do not match, the report
Control means for controlling the record recording operation to be rejected.
It is a facsimile machine that does. Further, the present invention provides an image
The memory for storing data and the original data
Data in the memory and the memory
Recording means for recording the stacked images and copy recording
Recording limit switch means for selecting limit / no limit
And remember the password to restrict copy recording
Limiting / control of the storage means and the recording limit switch means
Switch determination means for determining whether the
The password that determines whether the password is set or not
Password setting / non-setting judgment means and password entry
Prompted for password, entered password and remembered path
A password that determines whether words match / do not match
Before activating match / mismatch determination means and copy recording function
The switch determination means to execute the determination,
Copy recording limit switch means does not limit copy recording
When is selected, copy recording operation is allowed and copy
When selecting the limits to over recording, the password
Mode setting / non-setting determining means to execute the above determination, and
If the password is not set, the command to output manually
Copy recording is prohibited to prohibit all users from copying.
-All recording operations are rejected and the above password is set.
If the password match / mismatch determination means
Perform the settings, and if the above passwords match, copy
-When the recording operation is allowed and the passwords do not match
Is a control means for controlling the copy recording operation to be rejected.
And a facsimile apparatus having

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a CPU 1 controls the entire system of the facsimile machine.
The recording device 2 is a printer device for recording and outputting a facsimile reception image, a copy image, and various reports and image files.

The modem 3 is a modulator / demodulator that modulates / demodulates image data during transmission / reception of a facsimile.
Is a network control device for connecting to a public line and making a call.
The operation panel 5 includes various operation keys for facsimile and LC
D, which has an LED display unit, and is a reading device 6
Is a scanner device that reads an image of a document and stores it in an image memory (not shown) in the RAM 12.

The ROM 7 is a storage means for storing a facsimile control program and the like, and the RAM 12 is a storage means for storing various data and the like.

In particular, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the switch (communication control switch) 8 for limiting the communication function of the facsimile and the switch (recording limit switch) for limiting the recording function of the facsimile are stored in the RAM 12. 9 and
It has a password storage area 10 for performing communication control and a password storage area 11 for restricting recording.

The various switches and the password data are secured as a data area for one word in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 12.

Then, the switch data 8 and 9 are stored as data of [Yes] = 1 and [No] = 0, and the password data is password not set = 0 × FFFF.
(Hexadecimal number), password setting = 0x0000 (16
It is stored as BCD data from a decimal number to 0x9999 (hexadecimal number).

Next, as a first embodiment of the present invention, limitation of the facsimile communication function (claims 1 to 4) will be described. The configuration of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is common to the following examples.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation at the time of memory transmission corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention.

The memory transmission first starts with the input of the destination in S13, the transmission destination is designated by the one-touch dial or the speed dial, the ten-key dial with the ten-key pad, and the redial key, and after the destination is confirmed, the set key is pressed.

After the set key is pressed, if the time-out (2 seconds has not elapsed) is reached, the next destination can be input and the broadcast transmission can be performed.

In the LCD display (S14) at the time of inputting such a destination, the destination is displayed in the upper part of the LCD, and the sender name and the user abbreviation are displayed in the lower part of the LCD. The sender name and user abbreviation are specified before the memory transmission.

After that, the start key is pressed in S15, or after the lapse of 2 seconds in S16 (a state in which all the starting conditions for making a call are fixed), the process proceeds to S17. And S1
7, the state of the communication limit switch 8 is referred to (first determination means), and when the communication limit is set to [No], the document is confirmed in S20 and the memory is stored in S21 to enter the standby mode, as in normal memory transmission. It returns and shifts to the calling operation.

If the communication is restricted in S17, the password setting is confirmed (second determining means) in S18. When the communication control password of the storage area 10 is set to [Yes] (password setting), S19.
Password check (third determination means).

When the password is "none" (password not set), the process returns to the standby (standby state) in S22 and the call is not made. When the password is not set, the communication-related functions of the device are locked, and the communication operation cannot be accepted until the communication-related user restriction is set to [Disable] again.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation at the time of password check (third judging means) in S19.

When the password check is started, the LCD display (S24) is waited for, and when the numeric key (S25) is pressed, only the cursor moves without displaying the input characters, and when the cursor key (S26, S27) is pressed, When the cursor moves in the direction indicated by the cursor and the clear key (S28) is pressed, the entered password is cleared and the next entry is waited for. With the above operation, the LCD display will show S30.
~ Change as shown in S33.

After inputting the four-digit number, the set key is pressed in S29 to confirm the password, and in S34, it is checked whether the password matches the communication restriction password (storage area 10). If they match, the process returns (S35), S
After confirming the document in 20 and accumulating in the memory in S21, the process returns to the standby and shifts to the calling operation.

If they do not match, the LCD display in S24 is waited again. That is, in this password check, it cannot be interrupted until the stop key is pressed, and when interrupted by the stop key, the process returns to the standby without proceeding to the subsequent steps.

The above is the communication-related user restriction operation.
In the above description, the timer transmission and the polling reception are performed instead of the memory transmission, whereby the operations corresponding to claims 3 and 4 of the present invention are performed.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, limitation of the recording function of the facsimile (claims 8 and 9) will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of copying corresponding to claim 9 of the present invention.

This copy operation is started by pressing the copy key (S37), referring to the state of the recording restriction switch 9 (S38), and when the restriction of the recording function is [No], the normal copying operation is performed. Similar to, L at the time of copying in S41
When the CD is displayed, the start key (S15) is pressed, the document is read by the reading device 6, and the memory (RAM
8), the accumulated image data is recorded by the recording device 2, and the process returns to the standby.

Further, the number key (S25) is pressed to specify the number of copies (S43) shown in FIG. 5, and after the start key is pressed, the copy operation is performed in the same manner as described above.

Here, designation of the number of copies in S43 is performed by L in S44.
Waiting for the CD to be displayed and entering the number of copies in S45
Input the number keys up to 99 or set the number of copies by default 01, and return.

Further, in S38, the recording function is restricted [Yes].
If it is, the password setting is confirmed in S39 (second determining means), and if the setting of the recording restriction password in the storage area 11 is [Yes] (password setting), the password is checked in S19 (third determining means). ), [No]
If the password has not been set, the process returns to the standby (standby state) in S22 and recording is not performed.

When the password is not set, the recording-related functions of the device are locked, and the recording operation cannot be accepted until the communication-related user limit is set to [No]. However, the recording of the received image including the output of the proxy received image and the automatic report output are not limited.

Further, in the password check of S19, similar to the first embodiment, the match or non-match of the recording restriction password (storage area 11) is checked in S34.

After returning from the password check, the copying operation is performed as in the case where the recording is not restricted, and the operation returns to the standby.

The above is the recording-related user limiting operation.

Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, limitation of the recording function of the facsimile (claims 5 to 7) will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation at the time of outputting a manual report according to claim 6 of the present invention.

This manual report output operation (report output of user data) is started by first pressing the registration key (S46) and then the report key (S47), and referring to the state of the start limiting switch 9. (S48) When the recording restriction is set to [OFF], the LCD display during the report output of S50 is performed as in the normal report output operation.
The report image is stored in the memory by creating the report image in S51, the stored image data is recorded by the recording device 2, and various reports in S52 (user data list, one-touch dial telephone number list, speed dial telephone number list, group dial). After outputting the telephone number list), it returns to standby.

Further, in S48, the recording function is restricted [Yes].
If it is, the password setting is confirmed in S49 (second determining means), and if the recording restriction password is set to [Yes] (password setting), the process moves to the password check in S19 (third determining means). If there is [No] (password not set), return to standby (standby state) in S22,
Do not record.

When the password is not set, the recording-related functions of the apparatus are locked, and manual report output operations are accepted until the communication-related user limit is reset to [No]. Disappear. However,
Recording of the received image including output of the substitute received image and automatic report output are not limited.

Further, in the password check of S19, similar to the first embodiment, the match or non-match with the recording restriction password (recording area 11) is checked in S34.

After returning from the password check (S19), the report is output as in the case where the recording is not restricted, and the process returns to the standby.

The above is the recording-related user restriction operation.

In the third embodiment described above, the determination means of the user restriction function in S48, S49, and S19 after pressing the report key does not depend on the type of output report, and outputs all by pressing the report key. Applies to reports. For example, even if the report key is pressed in the standby state, the communication management report is output via the determination means.

Further, when the memory list is output after the memory inquiry key is pressed and the memory is printed (the image file is output by manual operation: claim 7), various output operations can be executed through the determination means.

[0049]

According to the present invention, the limit switch is "limited".
Is set to "Yes" and the password is set
If not, for some users who do not know the password
Operation can be limited, while the limit switch
Set to "Restrict" and no password is set
If it is fixed, restrict the operation to all users
There is an effect that can be.

[0050]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a memory transmission operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a password check operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a copy operation in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation when inputting the number of copies in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a manual report output operation in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 2 ... recording device, 3 ... modem, 4 ... NCU, 5 ... Operation panel, 6 ... reader, 7 ... ROM, 8 ... communication control switch, 9 ... Recording limit switch, 10, 11 ... Storage area, 12 ... RAM.

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Toru Fujino               3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo               Within Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Akemi Sato               3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo               Within Canon Inc.                (56) Reference JP-A-4-306973 (JP, A)                 JP-A-6-22066 (JP, A)                 JP-A-5-75818 (JP, A)                 JP-A-4-144364 (JP, A)                 JP-A-4-331175 (JP, A)                 JP-A-1-170258 (JP, A)                 JP 63-146556 (JP, A)                 JP-A-3-145872 (JP, A)                 JP-A-5-276400 (JP, A)

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A memory for accumulating image data; a reading means for reading an original and accumulating it in the memory as image data; a calling and transmitting means for transmitting an image on the memory by facsimile; and a communication limitation. Communication restriction switch means for selecting whether to enable / not restrict; storage means for storing a password for restricting communication; switch determination means for determining restriction / non-restriction by the communication restriction switch means; Password setting / non-setting judging means for judging setting / non-setting; and password matching / non-matching judging means for judging whether or not the entered password matches the stored password, and asks for the password input; Before activating the facsimile communication function, make the above judgment in the switch judgment means. When the communication restriction switch means selects not to restrict communication, a normal call is made, and when the communication restriction is selected to restrict communication, the password setting / unset judging means If the password is not set, if no password is set and the password is not set in order to prohibit all users from the transmission function that involves calling, And a control means for executing a judgment by the password matching / non-matching judging means so as to make a call when the passwords match and not making a call when the passwords do not match. apparatus. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile communication function is memory transmission. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile communication function is timer transmission. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile communication function is polling reception. 5. Report creating means for creating a report
And ; recording means for recording the above report ; and recording for selecting whether or not to limit the recording of the report
Limit switch means; storage means for storing a password for limiting report recording; switch determination means for determining whether the recording limit switch means is restricted or not; determination of password setting / non-setting in the storage means Password setting / non-setting determining means: Password matching / mismatch determining means for determining whether the entered password matches the stored password, and the recording function is activated. Before, when the switch determination means performs the determination, and the recording restriction switch means restricts the recording, the recording operation of the report is permitted,
When limiting recording of the report, to the password setting-unset determination means, to execute the above determination, when the password is not set, outputs manually les
In order to prohibit the port recording function to all of the user, repo
If all the password recording operations are rejected and the password is set, the password match / mismatch determining means executes the above determination, and when the passwords match, the
A facsimile apparatus comprising: control means for permitting a port recording operation and rejecting the report recording operation when the passwords do not match. 6. memory and for storing the image data; and a recording unit to record the stored image in the memory; reading a document, reading means and for storing as image data in the memory limits the copy recording / do not limit A recording limit switch means for selecting a password; a storage means for storing a password for limiting copy recording; a switch determination means for determining whether or not the recording limit switch means is restricted; a password in the storage means Password setting / non-setting judging means for judging setting / non-setting; and password matching / non-matching judging means for judging whether the entered password matches the stored password or not. ; before starting the copy recording function, to execute the above judgment to the switch determination means, above When copying recording limit switch means is selecting not to limit the copy recording, co
If the "Permit record operation and limit copy recording" is selected, the password setting / non-setting judging means executes the judgment, and if the password is not set, the copy is manually output. To prohibit the recording function for all users, all copy recording operations are rejected,
When the password is set, the password matching / non-matching judging means executes the judgment. When the passwords match, the copy recording operation is permitted, and when the passwords do not match, the copy recording operation is performed. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for controlling to reject.