JP4888271B2 - Image communication processing apparatus and user specifying method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for specifying a user who uses an image communication processing apparatus in an image communication processing apparatus capable of facsimile transmission.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a digital multi-function peripheral (hereinafter simply referred to as “multi-function peripheral”) in which functions such as a printer, a copy, a scanner, and a facsimile are integrated and mounted in one device. In addition to being able to be used as a printer or scanner by itself, some multifunction devices function as copiers without going through a computer. In addition, there is also known one having a telephone line connection port and a function of transmitting and receiving a facsimile document.

In recent years, such multi-function devices have been proposed that have a user authentication function using a non-contact IC card or the like so as to enhance security and understand who used the multi-function device. . For example, in Patent Document 1, when using the facsimile transmission function, a user authentication function is provided such that a password for designating whether or not to permit the use is provided and authentication is performed regarding whether or not the transmission operation is permitted. It is disclosed that the user is restricted by newly providing and the confidentiality of communication is effectively performed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187184 JP 2006-303563 A

  By the way, it has been pointed out that in a multi-function device that does not have a user authentication function as described above, it is not possible to specify who operated the device, and thus security remains uneasy. Further, it has been pointed out that a similar problem occurs even in a multifunction machine having a user authentication function when the user authentication function is turned off. Since it is impossible to deny the possibility that the user authentication function is turned off due to a setting error of the system administrator or the like, it is difficult to say that the security is perfect even for a device having the user authentication function.

  On the other hand, conventionally, computer usage and communication records are generally stored as event logs. For example, Patent Document 2 includes a log management unit for storing image data as a log in a multifunction peripheral, and allows setting of a log storage form (aggregation, reduction, etc.), and image data based on the setting contents. The creation and management of logs is disclosed.

  However, there are many cases where event logs such as computers are collected for the time being without any special vision of utilization. In the current situation where the establishment of internal control systems and compliance are no longer essential for companies, log management and utilization is a very important issue. Nevertheless, it is the actual situation in many companies that when something happens, we use a log analysis tool, but even if information leakage occurs, it is required by internal control. A quick leak route cannot be identified at all. Further, since the file size of image data is generally large, simply storing image data as a log has room for improvement in terms of the utilization efficiency of the storage apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and some aspects according to the present invention include an image communication processing apparatus that does not originally include a user authentication function, or an image communication process that includes a user authentication function. Even if the user authentication function is set to OFF even if the device is used, necessary operations are recorded as appropriate among the operations performed on the image communication processing device or the facsimile image data transmitted as a result of the operations. Thus, an apparatus is provided that allows an administrator to specify a user who has transmitted a document by facsimile.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image communication control device according to the present invention includes an operation unit that receives an operation from a user, and a facsimile communication control unit that transmits facsimile image data based on the operation received by the operation unit. Of the information received by the operation unit or the facsimile image data transmitted from the facsimile communication control unit as a result of the operation, information that can identify the user who transmitted the facsimile image data, And a processing device that performs processing for storing in a storage device accessible only by the user.

  According to this invention, the user who has transmitted the document by facsimile is appropriately recorded by appropriately recording the operation performed on the image communication processing apparatus or the facsimile image data transmitted as a result of the operation. The administrator can specify.

  Preferably, when the image communication control device does not have an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely identify a user, or the image communication control device has an authentication function, the processing device has the authentication function. Only when is set to OFF, processing for storing information that can identify the user who transmitted the facsimile image data to the storage device is performed.

  According to this invention, even if the user authentication function of the image communication processing apparatus that does not originally include the user authentication function or the image communication processing apparatus that includes the user authentication function is set to OFF, The administrator can specify the user who sent the document by facsimile.

  The processing device preferably stores at least the image file of the first page of the document related to the facsimile image data transmitted by the facsimile communication control unit in the storage device. In particular, in a business scene, when a document is transmitted by facsimile, it is common to attach a facsimile transmission slip to the first page (cover). Therefore, according to the invention, a facsimile transmission slip of a document transmitted by facsimile is used. Images can be saved. Since the facsimile transmission slip describes the facsimile destination, transmission source, business, etc., the administrator can use the facsimile based on the name written in the transmission source described in the facsimile transmission slip. The user who sent the document can be specified.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the processing device stores information related to the operation received by the operation unit in the storage device. Preferably, the operation-related information includes a destination facsimile number of facsimile image data, or a key operation time and interval when the user operates the operation unit.

  According to this invention, since the information operated by the user is stored together with the image of the facsimile transmission slip, the administrator can more reliably identify the user who transmitted the facsimile. In particular, the key operation time and interval are easy to make a user's habit and differ from user to user, which is effective in identifying the user.

  A user specifying method according to the present invention is a method for specifying a user who has transmitted facsimile image data in an image communication processing apparatus including an operation unit, a facsimile communication control unit, and a processing device. A step of accepting an operation from a user, a step in which the facsimile communication control unit transmits facsimile image data based on an operation accepted by the operation unit, and an operation received by the operation unit, or Storing information that can identify the user who has transmitted the facsimile image data, among the information regarding the facsimile image data transmitted from the facsimile communication control unit as a result of the operation, in a storage device. Then, the administrator specifies the user who transmitted the facsimile image data based on the information stored in the storage device.

  The program of the present invention is characterized by causing a computer functioning as an image communication processing apparatus to execute each step of the user specifying method of the present invention. The program of the present invention can be installed or loaded on a computer through various recording media such as an optical disk such as a CD-ROM, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory, or via a communication network.

  In this specification and the like, the means does not simply mean a physical means, but includes a case where the functions of the means are realized by software. Further, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image communication processing system 100 including a facsimile server (hereinafter referred to as “FAX server”) 10 according to an embodiment of the image communication processing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the image communication processing system 100, a FAX server 10 and a storage device 20 are connected to each other via a communication network 30, and the FAX server 10 is connected to a public line network 40. Consists of. A facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as “FAX machine”) 50 is connected to the public line network 40.

  The FAX server 10 is an embodiment of the image communication processing apparatus, and has a function of transmitting / receiving facsimile image data to / from the FAX machine 50. Further, the FAX server 10 has a function of recording operations performed on the FAX server 10 and images created by the operations in the storage device 20. Then, by confirming the operation and image information recorded in the storage device 20, the user who uses the FAX server 10 can be specified. The FAX server 10 can be a dedicated or general-purpose computer.

  The storage device 20 is configured by a storage such as a hard disk. In this embodiment, an operation performed on the FAX server 10 and an image created by the operation are stored in the storage device 20. In addition, it is preferable that access authority is set in the storage device 20 so that only the system administrator of the image communication processing system 100 can view information stored in the storage device 20.

  The communication network 30 is a communication line for connecting the FAX server 10 and the storage device 20 and transmitting / receiving arbitrary data including images between them. Preferably, the communication network 30 is configured by a LAN, but may be any of, for example, the Internet, a dedicated line, a packet communication network, a corporate network, other communication lines, a combination thereof, It does not matter whether it is wired or wireless.

  The public line network 40 is a public line network for connecting the FAX server 10 and the FAX machine 50 and transmitting / receiving facsimile image data between them, and is preferably a public telephone line network. The public line network 40 may be an analog line, a digital line, or a combination thereof, and may be wired or wireless.

  The FAX machine 50 is a device having at least a function of transmitting facsimile image data. For example, a commercially available facsimile machine can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the FAX server 10 according to an embodiment of the image communication processing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the FAX server 10 includes a processing device 11, a file creation unit 12, an operation unit 13, a storage area 14, a display unit 15, a first communication control unit 16, and a second communication control. The unit 17 and the scanner unit 18 are included.

  The processing device 11 is a processor that performs processing such as control of each unit and various calculations. For example, acquisition of user operation information, image reading, facsimile transmission / reception, and operation and image recording in the storage device 20 are controlled.

  The file creation unit 12 has a function of creating an image file or the like to be recorded in the storage device 20 based on the facsimile image data. For example, a black and white, color, and mixed color / monochrome facsimile document is filed as an image file, but when transmitting / receiving black and white data, TIFF compressed with MMR is converted to a file in PDF format, and when transmitting / receiving color data, JPEG (RGB) is used. Is filed in PDF format. The operation unit 13 is an input interface that receives an operation by a user.

  The storage area 14 functions as a storage or work area for data necessary for processing of the FAX server 10. In the present embodiment, for example, user operation information received by the operation unit 13 and an image read by the scanner unit 18 are temporarily stored.

  The display unit 15 is a display output interface such as a liquid crystal panel. The first communication control unit 16 is a communication interface that performs communication between the FAX server 10 and the storage device 20 through a communication network 30 such as a LAN. The second communication control unit 17 is a communication interface that performs communication between the FAX server 10 and the FAX machine 50 through the public line network 40 such as a public telephone line. The scanner unit 18 functions as a scanner for reading an image when the FAX server 10 performs facsimile transmission.

  The FAX server 10 may be configured by a single computer or may be configured by a plurality of computers distributed on a network. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a multifunction device, and the function of the FAX server 10 according to the present embodiment may be provided as one function of the multifunction device. The FAX server 10 stores a program for executing the user specifying process according to the present invention in the storage area 14 or the like, and executes the user specifying process based on this program.

  Next, an outline of the operation of the FAX server 10 in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the user specifying process by the FAX server 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Note that the FAX server 10 executes the user specifying process shown in FIG. 3 when it does not have an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely specify a user. When the FAX server 10 has an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely identify a user, the processing device 11 determines whether the authentication function is on or off, and when the authentication function is off. Only the user specifying process shown in FIG. 3 is executed. On the other hand, when the authentication function is on, the authentication process using the authentication function is executed without executing the user specifying process shown in FIG.

  First, the FAX server 10 starts its operation when a facsimile transmission is instructed by a user operation or when facsimile image data is received from the FAX machine 50. At this time, the FAX server 10 detects whether it is a facsimile transmission process or a reception process based on a user operation or received data (S61).

  In the case of facsimile transmission processing, the FAX server 10 stores the facsimile transmission operation performed by the user through the operation unit 13 in the storage area 14 (S62). At the same time, the facsimile image data to be transmitted by the user is stored in the storage area 14 (S63). The facsimile image data to be transmitted by facsimile may be created from the image data read using the scanner unit 18, or the image data is transferred from the client PC (not shown) connected to the communication network 30 to the FAX server 10. Facsimile transmission may be instructed.

  On the other hand, in the case of facsimile reception processing, the FAX server 10 stores the facsimile image data received from the FAX machine 50 via the public line network 40 in the storage area 14 (S64).

Thereafter, during the facsimile transmission / reception process or after the transmission / reception process is completed, the FAX server 10 selects data necessary for specifying the user who uses the FAX server 10 from the data stored in the storage area 14. Then, a file to be stored in the storage device 20 is created (S65). Then, the created file is stored in the storage device 20 (S66).

  4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating examples of contents recorded in the storage device 20 when the FAX server 10 is used. FIG. 4 is an example of contents recorded when the authentication function is set to ON when the FAX server 10 has an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely identify a user. On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a case where the FAX server 10 does not have such an authentication function, or when the FAX server 10 has an authentication function but the authentication function is set to OFF. It is an example of the content recorded. 4 and 5 assume that the FAX server 10 is applied to a multi-function peripheral, and therefore it is assumed that it has a copy function in addition to a facsimile transmission / reception function.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the start date 202, the usage time 203, the operation content 204, the usage number 205, the page count 206, the communication time 207, and the transmission destination 208 indicate whether or not there is an authentication function. Regardless of whether the authentication function is on or off, it is recorded in the storage device 20. In the start date 202, the date when the operation of the FAX server 10 or the start of facsimile reception is recorded. The usage time 203 records the time when the FAX server 10 was used. In the operation content 204, the operation content of the FAX server is recorded as copy, FAX transmission, FAX reception, and the like. The number of used sheets 205 records the number of printed sheets when printing is executed by the FAX server 10. In the page number 206, the page number of the document related to the image data handled by the FAX server 10 is recorded. In the communication time 207, the communication time connected to the public line network 40 when facsimile transmission / reception is executed by the FAX server 10 is recorded. In the transmission destination 208, the facsimile number of the transmission destination input by the user from the operation unit 13 when facsimile transmission is performed is recorded. The communication time 207 and the transmission destination 208 do not need to be recorded when the FAX server 10 is used for functions other than facsimile.

  When the user authentication function of the FAX server 10 is set to ON, as shown in FIG. 4, the identifier of the user using the FAX server 10 is stored in the storage device 20 in the column of the user 201. Is recorded. When the user authentication function is set to ON, a user who uses the FAX server 10 presents a contactless IC card in which a user ID is recorded on a card reader (not shown) of the FAX server 10, for example. After performing authentication by ID, the FAX server 10 can be used. The user ID used for this authentication is recorded in the storage device 20 in association with the user operation content (start date 202 to transmission destination 208).

  On the other hand, if the FAX server 10 does not have a user authentication function, or has a user authentication function but is set to OFF, as shown in FIG. The key operation 209 and the created image 210 are recorded. On the other hand, when the authentication function cannot be used, the FAX server 10 cannot acquire the user ID, so nothing is recorded in the column of the user 201 of the storage device 20 as shown in FIG.

  In the key operation 209, information related to key input by the user operating the FAX server 10 is recorded. For example, it is preferable to record the type of key pressed by the user, the time during which the user pressed, the interval from one key operation to the next key operation, and the like. Since there is a trap for each user in the key operation, the user identification rate can be increased by analyzing the order and timing of the key operation.

  In the created image 210, at least a part of a document image related to facsimile image data transmitted by facsimile using the FAX server 10 is recorded. In particular, when facsimile transmission is performed, it is preferable to record the image of the first page (cover) of the transmitted document as a file. More preferably, information including the name of the sender is cut out and recorded from the image on the first page. Alternatively, the image file of the first page may be read by OCR, and information including the sender name may be stored in the form of text data.

  When transmitting a document by facsimile, it is common in business situations to attach a facsimile transmission slip to the cover separately from the body of the document to be transmitted. In this facsimile transmission form, the name of the other party and the transmission source, the department to which it belongs, a telephone number, a facsimile number, etc. are usually written. Therefore, the created image 210 column is scheduled to store an image file of a facsimile transmission slip of a document transmitted by facsimile. Therefore, the administrator browses the image file stored in the column of the created image 210 and confirms the name of the transmission source described in the facsimile transmission slip, so that the user authentication function is not used or is not used. Even so, it can be expected that the user who transmitted the facsimile can be specified.

  In addition to the information illustrated in FIG. 4 or 5, it is preferable that the storage device 20 appropriately records information useful for specifying a user who uses the FAX server 10. For example, when the FAX server 10 has a plurality of modes and resolutions, the mode and resolution selected by the user may be recorded.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the case of facsimile transmission, a cover is attached separately from the text, and information such as a destination and a transmission source is often described there and transmitted at the same time. By checking the cover part of the stored image file, the user can be identified even in the case of the FAX server 10 that does not have or is not used for the user authentication function. Further, by recording the operation information performed by the user together with the display of the document transmitted by facsimile, the user specifying rate can be increased more reliably. Further, based on the operation information, it is possible to specify what processing the user using the FAX server 10 has performed.

  The storage device 20 does not simply record the image data transmitted by facsimile. In the case of the FAX server 10 having the user authentication function, only when the user authentication function is set to OFF, FIG. By performing the processing as shown in FIG. 4, the utilization efficiency of the storage device 20 can be improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For this reason, the said embodiment is only a mere illustration in all points, and is not interpreted limitedly. For example, the above-described processing steps can be executed in any order or in parallel as long as there is no contradiction in the processing contents.

  In this embodiment, the example of the FAX server 10 has been described as an example of the image communication processing apparatus. However, the present invention may be applied to a multi-function peripheral. In this case, the multi-function device may have a function of printing facsimile image data transmitted / received via a public line network such as a telephone line or outputting it to other output destinations including a shared folder and a mail server on the communication network 30. preferable. In this case, instead of storing the user's operation content and the cover image file in the storage device 20, the user's operation content and the cover image file may be sent to the administrator by e-mail.

  Furthermore, the processing device 11 may automatically identify the user by analyzing the cover image file recorded in the storage device 20.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image communication processing system 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a FAX server 10. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of user specifying processing by the FAX server 10. It is an example of the content recorded when the authentication function is set to ON. It is an example of the content recorded when the authentication function is not provided or the authentication function is set to off.

Explanation of symbols

10 FAX server (image communication processing device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Processing apparatus 12 File preparation part 13 Operation part 14 Storage area 15 Display part 16 1st communication control part 17 2nd communication control part (facsimile communication control part)
18 Scanner unit 20 Storage device 30 Communication network 40 Public network 50 FAX machine 100 Image communication processing system

Claims (5)

In the image communication processing device, the image communication processing device includes:
An operation unit for receiving an operation from the user;
A facsimile communication control unit for transmitting facsimile image data based on an operation received by the operation unit;
A processing device that performs processing for storing in a storage device at least part of the facsimile image data transmitted from the facsimile communication control unit as a result of the operation, or information relating to the operation received by the operation unit;
With
The processor is
When the image communication processing apparatus does not have an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely identify a user, or when the image communication processing apparatus has the authentication function but the authentication function is off , Executing user specifying processing for storing at least part of the information related to the operation or the facsimile image data in the storage device ,
When the image communication processing apparatus has an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely identify a user, or when the image communication processing apparatus has the authentication function but the authentication function is on Does not execute the user identification process,
Is,
The information related to the operation includes time and interval of key operation,
At least a part of the facsimile image data includes information of a facsimile sender name,
An image communication processing device. 2. The image communication processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the facsimile image data includes an image of a first page of a document related to the facsimile image data transmitted by the facsimile communication control unit. In an image communication processing apparatus comprising an operation unit, a facsimile communication control unit, and a processing device, a method for specifying a user who has transmitted facsimile image data,
The operation unit accepting an operation from a user;
The facsimile communication control unit transmitting facsimile image data based on an operation received by the operation unit;
The processing device stores in a storage device at least a part of information relating to an operation accepted by the operation unit or facsimile image data transmitted from the facsimile communication control unit as a result of the operation; When the image communication processing device does not have an authentication function using an identifier that can uniquely identify a user, or the image communication processing device has the authentication function, the processing device has the authentication function. Is turned off, user identification processing for storing at least part of the operation-related information or the facsimile image data in the storage device is executed, and the image communication processing device uses an identifier that can uniquely identify the user. Or the image communication processing apparatus has the authentication function, but the authentication function is If the emissions does not perform the user identification process, the steps,
With
The information related to the operation includes time and interval of key operation,
At least a part of the facsimile image data includes information of a facsimile sender name,
The processing device specifies a user who has transmitted facsimile image data based on information stored in the storage device. 4. The user specifying method according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the facsimile image data includes an image of a first page of a document related to the facsimile image data transmitted by the facsimile communication control unit. The program for making the computer which functions as the said image communication processing apparatus perform the user specific method of Claim 3 or 4 .

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