Image Processing Device

Abstract

A low-cost Multi Function Peripheral (MFP) prevents a user from forgetting to cancel an authenticated state. The MFP includes a scanner unit, a printer unit, a touch screen, and a reset key for initializing various settings. When the user is authenticated, the MFP accepts various operations. Under a state in which the user is authenticated, when the reset key is operated, a control unit executes a logout process

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 in Japanese patent application no 2005-295729, filed on Oct. 7, 2005, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an image processing device such as a Multi Function Peripheral (MFP) including a copy function, a facsimile function and a scanner function or the like, a copier and a facsimile machine. In particular, the present invention relates to an image processing device which carries out an authentication of a user and cancellation of the authentication. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A conventional MFP carries out authentication of a user by accepting an entry of a user ID and a password and sending an inquiry to an authentication server. When the authentication succeeds, the MFP offers a facsimile function, a copy function or a scanner function to the user. Specific...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention has been made in order to overcome the problems described above. Since a user habitually initializes various settings by operating a reset key at an end of an operation of the image processing device, the reset key is less likely to be forgotten to be operated compared with a logout key. Thus, an advantage of the present invention is to provide an image processing device which prevents the user from forgetting to cancel an authenticated state by configuring the image processing device to cancel the authenticated state when the reset key is operated.

[0011] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an image processing device which visually urges a user to cancel an authenticated state by configuring the image processing device to display an indication to cancel the authenticated state and to accept cancellation of the authenticated state when a reset key is operated.

[0012] Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an image processing device which utilizes an existing reset key as an operation key for canceling an authenticated state and initializing various settings by configuring the image processing device to initialize various settings when the reset key is operated again under a state in which the reset key is operated and an indication to cancel an authenticated state is displayed. Further, such an image processing device can be manufactured economically.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, when a storage unit of an image processing device stores prescribed data indicating that a user has been authenticated, the image processing device accepts an operation and a setting relating to an image processing. The image processing device includes an initialization operation unit arranged to initialize the setting relating to the image processing. The image processing device also includes a deletion unit arranged to delete the prescribed data when the storage unit stores the prescribed data and the initialization operation unit is operated.

[0014] Under a state in which the storage unit stores the prescribed data indicating the state in which the user has been authenticated, when the initialization operation unit, e.g., a reset key is operated, the deletion unit deletes the prescribed data stored in the storage unit. That is, under a state in which the user is authenticated, when the initialization operation unit is operated, the deletion unit executes a process for canceling the state in which the user is authenticated. Since the user habitually initializes various settings after an operation of the image processing device has been completed, the user is less likely to forget to operate the initialization operation unit than a logout key. Therefore, compared with a conventional image processing device which cancels the authenticated state when the logout key is operated, the user is less likely to forget the operation for canceling the authenticated state.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, the image processing device also includes a display unit and an accepting unit. When the initialization operation unit is operated, the display unit displays an indication to delete the prescribed data. When the display unit displays the indication to delete the prescribed data, the accepting unit accepts an instruction to delete the prescribed data. When the accepting unit accepts the instruction to delete the prescribed data, the deletion unit deletes the prescribed data.

Problems solved by technology

The above-described problem occurs not only with the MFP but also with an image processing device such as a copier and a facsimile machine including an authentication function.

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