Information processing device, printing device and control method for the same, as well as program

Abstract

To solve the problem that a user as a visitor to an office, who does not have an IC card or a user ID for authentication nor a password, cannot utilize an information processing device that can utilize a direct radio communication mode only when logged in.SOLUTION: An information processing device, equipped with a radio communication function, comprises an operation part that receives operation by a user, which makes the operation part display a log-in screen for log-in. The information processing device makes the operation part display a screen for enabling the radio communication function to be directed, after a user authenticated based on user information inputted through the log-in screen logs in the information processing device, while makes the operation part display the log-in screen for the user to log in, before the user logs in the information processing device, which further makes the operation part display a setting screen for establishing radio communication using the radio communication function, when the operation part receives specific button operation without receiving log-in, where the setting screen includes an instruction part for instructing the user to stop printing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a printing device, and a control method and program thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Communication devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and printers are equipped with a wireless LAN function. A direct wireless communication mode in which multiple communication devices are directly connected to each other without going through an access point is known as a wireless LAN function.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a printing device and a mobile terminal directly communicate wirelessly using an access point mode, which is an example of a direct wireless communication mode.

[0004] When using a communication device in the direct wireless communication mode, the user needs to instruct the communication device to start operation in the direct wireless communication mode. For example, a "start button" for starting operation in the direct wireless communication mode is displayed on the communication device, and the communication device starts operation in the direct wireless communication mode when the user presses this "start button."

[0005] Some communication devices are equipped with a user authentication function. In this case, for example, the user authenticates the user by holding an IC card over an IC card reader equipped in the communication device, or by inputting a user ID and password into the communication device. If the user authentication is successful, the user can log in to the communication device and use the functions provided by the communication device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-98916 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the case of conventional communication devices, the communication device starts operating in the direct wireless communication mode after the user logs in to the communication device. In other words, the user can use the direct wireless communication mode only when he logs in to the communication device, and in order to do so, the user needs to be authenticated in advance. Therefore, a user who does not have an IC card, user ID, or password for authentication, such as a user who comes from outside the company, cannot log in to the printing device in the company. Therefore, there was a problem that the data stored in the mobile terminal owned by the user could not be printed using the printing device in the company.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an information technology that allows even a user who has not been authenticated by an information processing device having an authentication function to use the functions of the information processing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, an information processing device according to one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. An information processing device having a wireless communication function, an operation unit that accepts user operations; a display control means for causing the operation unit to display a login screen for logging in to the information processing device in which a user authentication function can be enabled, the display control means causes the operation unit to display a screen on which the wireless communication function can be instructed after a user authenticated based on user information input via the login screen logs into the information processing device; When a user is not logged in to the information processing device, a login screen for logging in to the information processing device in which the user authentication function can be enabled is displayed, and by accepting operation of a specific button on the operation unit without accepting a login, a setting screen for establishing wireless communication using the wireless communication function is displayed on the operation unit, and the setting screen includes an instruction section for instructing to cancel printing. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, even a user who has not been authenticated by an information processing device having an authentication function can use the functions of the information processing device.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components throughout the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view of an operation unit of the printing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 5A to 5C are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on a display unit of an operation unit of the printing device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1A shows an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of an operation unit of the printing device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B shows an example of a user management table. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are diagrams showing an example of a direct wireless connection screen displayed on an operation unit of the printing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7]5 is a flowchart for explaining a process executed by the printing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a view showing an example of a direct wireless setting screen displayed on an operation unit of a printing device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process executed by a printing device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0015] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] This communication system includes a printing device 100, which is an example of an information processing device according to the present invention, and a mobile terminal 101. The printing device 100 has a wireless LAN function, which has two types of wireless communication modes: infrastructure mode and access point mode. The infrastructure mode is a wireless communication mode in which the printing device 100 wirelessly connects to a relay device such as an access point (not shown) and communicates with devices on a network, such as a PC (personal computer). On the other hand, the access point mode is a wireless communication mode in which a software access point is activated in the printing device 100, causing the printing device 100 itself to act as an access point.

[0017] A mobile terminal 101 such as a smartphone wirelessly connects to a printing device 100 operating in access point mode and transmits print data for printing electronic files such as photographs to the printing device 100. The access point mode allows direct wireless communication to be established between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101 without going through an intermediate device such as an access point. The access point mode is an example of a direct wireless communication mode in which the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101 directly establish wireless communication.

[0018] Instead of the access point mode, other wireless communication methods such as Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark) may be applied to this embodiment. In this embodiment, a communication method for directly establishing wireless communication, such as the access point mode or Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark), is described as direct wireless. In addition, the printing device 100 has a user authentication function, which will be described in detail later.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printing device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0020] The CPU 201 loads the control program stored in the ROM 202 into the RAM 203 and controls the operation of the printing device 100 by executing the loaded program. The ROM 202 stores the control program and various data. The RAM 203 is used as a temporary storage area such as the main memory and work area of ​​the CPU 201. The HDD (hard disk drive) 204 is a non-volatile storage medium that stores various data, and may be a non-volatile memory other than the HDD. Note that, in the printing device 100 according to the first embodiment, one CPU 201 executes the processing shown in the flowchart described later, but other modes may be used. For example, multiple CPUs may cooperate to execute the processing shown in the flowchart described later. Also, a part of the processing shown in the flowchart described later may be executed using a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

[0021] The wireless LAN I / F (interface) 205 executes wireless LAN communication between the mobile terminal 101 and external devices such as an access point. The wireless LAN communication executed by the wireless LAN I / F 205 is wireless communication such as IEEE802.11a / b / g / n / ac. The wireless LAN I / F 205 can operate in an infrastructure mode and an access point mode. The wireless LAN I / F 205 selects and operates in either the infrastructure mode or the access point mode according to a device setting set in advance by a user.

[0022] The network I / F 210 is connected to a wired LAN via a LAN cable. The network I / F 210 can communicate with an external device (e.g., a PC) on the wired LAN. The printer 206 is a printer engine that prints an image on a sheet based on print data received via the wireless LAN I / F 205 or the network I / F 210. The scanner 207 reads an image of an original document and generates image data corresponding to the image. The image data generated by the scanner 207 is printed by the printer 206 or stored in the HDD 204. The operation unit 208 includes a display unit with a touch panel function, a keyboard, and the like, and displays various operation screens on the display unit. A user can input instructions and information to the printing device 100 via the operation unit 208. The IC card reader 209 reads user information stored in an IC card. In the first embodiment, an IC card owned by a user stores the user ID and password of the user. The printing device 100 performs user authentication based on the user information read from the IC card by the IC card reader 209.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view of the operation unit 208 of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0024] The display unit 301 has a touch panel function and displays various operation screens. The home button 302 is a button for instructing the user to return to the home screen that is the basis of all operations. The logout button 303 is a button for the user to log out after completing operations. The back button 304 is a button for instructing the user to return from the currently displayed screen to the previous screen. The clear button 305 is a button for canceling input letters and numbers. The numeric keypad 306 is a button for inputting numbers and letters.

[0025] Next, the operation screen provided by the printing device 100 and the operation procedure when the user uses direct wireless will be described.

[0026] 4 and 5A are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 208 of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0027] 4A shows the login screen. This login screen is displayed when the startup of the printing device 100 is completed. Here, the user can be authenticated by holding his / her own IC card over the IC card reader 209.

[0028] FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of a user management table stored in the printing device 100, for example, in the HDD 204. As shown in FIG.

[0029] This user management table holds information for managing user information (user name, user ID, password) of users who are permitted to log in to the printing device 100. Therefore, users registered in this user management table can log in to the printing device 100.

[0030] When a user holds his / her IC card over IC card reader 209, IC card reader 209 reads user information (user ID and password) from the IC card. CPU 201 then determines whether or not the user information read from the IC card by IC card reader 209 is registered in the user management table. If the user information read from the IC card is registered in the user management table, authentication is successful, and the display of operation unit 208 transitions to the menu screen of FIG. 4(B). A user who is thus successfully authenticated is placed in a state of logging in to printing device 100 and can use the functions of printing device 100. On the other hand, if the user information read from the IC card is not registered in the user management table, authentication fails, and operation unit 208 notifies the user that authentication has been rejected, and the menu screen is not displayed.

[0031] In the first embodiment, the user may input a user ID and a password via the operation unit 208 into the input field 401 and the input field 402 of the login screen in FIG. 4A, respectively, without using the IC card reader 209. When the user inputs a user ID and a password into the input field 401 and the input field 402 and presses the login button 403, the printing device 100 executes user authentication. Also, instead of the printing device 100 having a user management table, an external authentication server may have the table. If the authentication server has this user management table, the printing device 100 transmits the user information input from the IC card reader 209 or the operation unit 208 to the authentication server. Then, the printing device 100 executes user authentication by receiving the result of the authentication process by the authentication server (authentication successful or authentication failed) from the authentication server.

[0032] 4B displays buttons that allow the user to use functions provided by the printing device 100. A copy button 411 is a button that allows the user to use the copy function. When the user presses this copy button 411, the operation unit 208 displays a copy screen (not shown).

[0033] The print cancel button 412 is a button for allowing the user to execute print cancel (a function for the printer 206 to interrupt printing and discard the print data). When the user presses the print cancel button 412, the operation unit 208 displays a print cancel screen (not shown).

[0034] The direct wireless connection button 413 is a button for the user to use direct wireless communication. When the user uses direct wireless communication, the user first presses the direct wireless connection button 413.

[0035] The setting button 414 is a button for allowing the user to perform device settings of the printing apparatus 100. When the user presses the setting button 414, the operation unit 208 displays various setting screens in accordance with the user's operations.

[0036] Fig. 4C shows a setting screen for direct wireless printing, which is one of the setting screens that is displayed when the setting button 414 is pressed on the menu screen in Fig. 4B. Below, the items that can be set on this setting screen will be described in detail.

[0037] The setting screen for direct wireless printing is a screen that can be accessed by a user with special authority such as a system administrator. An item 421 is a setting for setting permission to use printing by direct wireless communication when a user is not logged in. A registration button 422 is a button for reflecting the setting of the setting screen for direct wireless printing in the printing device 100. When the system administrator presses the registration button 422, the contents set in the setting screen for direct wireless printing are stored in the HDD 204, and the setting in the setting screen is reflected in the printing device 100. When a user selects "Do not permit" 423 in the setting screen for direct wireless printing and presses the registration button 422, printing by direct wireless communication is enabled only when the user logs in to the printing device 100 by user authentication. That is, when "Do not permit" 423 is set in the setting screen for direct wireless printing, the menu screen in FIG. 4(B) is displayed after login authentication is performed on the login screen in FIG. 4(A). In this case, since the user has already logged in, all functions are displayed and selectable on the menu screen in FIG. 4(B).

[0038] On the other hand, if the user selects "Allow" 424 on this direct wireless printing setting screen and presses the registration button 422, user authentication enables printing via direct wireless communication even if the user is not logged in. If "Allow" 424 is set on the direct wireless printing setting screen, pressing the home button 302 in Fig. 3 while the login screen in Fig. 4(A) is displayed displays the menu screen in Fig. 5(A).

[0039] When the menu screen of FIG. 5(A) is displayed, the user is not logged in, so only the direct wireless connection button 501 and the print cancel button 502 are selectable on this menu screen, limiting the functions of the printing device 100 that can be used.

[0040] In addition, while the menu screen of FIG. 5(A) is displayed when the home button 302 is pressed while the login screen of FIG. 4(A) is displayed, this menu screen may also be displayed when another button, such as the logout button 303 of FIG. 3, is pressed.

[0041] In response to the user pressing the direct wireless connection button 413 or 501 on the screen of FIG. 4B or FIG. 5A, the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen of FIG. 6A.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a direct wireless connection screen displayed on the operation unit 208 of the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0043] A start button 601 is displayed on the wireless connection screen in FIG. 6A. This start button 601 is a button for the user to instruct the printing device 100 to start the operation of direct wireless communication. When the operation unit 208 displays this wireless connection screen, the printing device 100 has not started the direct wireless operation. Therefore, even if the mobile terminal 101 searches for surrounding access points, it cannot find the printing device 100, and a wireless connection cannot be established between the mobile terminal 101 and the printing device 100. In order to establish a wireless connection between the mobile terminal 101 and the printing device 100, the user needs to press the start button 601 to make the printing device 100 start the operation of direct wireless communication. When the user presses the start button 601, the printing device 100 starts the operation of direct wireless communication. Then, the operation unit 208 displays the wireless connection screen in FIG. 6B.

[0044] When the printing device 100 operates in direct wireless communication, the printing device 100 generates an SSID and a connection key (for example, a WEP key). In an area 611 of the wireless connection screen in FIG. 6B, the SSID and connection key generated by the printing device 100 are displayed. After checking the contents displayed in this area 611, the user searches for surrounding access points using his / her own mobile terminal 101, and selects an access point with the SSID displayed in this area 611 from the list of search results. Then, the user inputs the connection key displayed in this area 611 into the mobile terminal 101, and a direct wireless connection is established between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101. After the mobile terminal 101 is thus wirelessly connected to the printing device 100 using the direct wireless communication function, the user selects data to be printed on the mobile terminal 101. Then, when the user inputs a print instruction on the mobile terminal 101, the mobile terminal 101 transmits print data for printing the data selected by the user to the printing device 100 using the wireless communication function by direct wireless communication. The printing device 100 receives this print data and executes printing processing based on the received print data.

[0045] On the other hand, when the printing device 100 starts the operation of direct wireless communication, the printing device 100 goes into a standby state for receiving a request to establish a wireless connection from an external device such as the mobile terminal 101. When the printing device 100 starts the operation of direct wireless communication, the mobile terminal 101 can find the printing device 100 when searching for surrounding access points. Then, when the printing device 100 receives a request to establish a wireless connection from the external device, it establishes a wireless connection with the external device by direct wireless communication. After this wireless connection is established, actual data communication (for example, transmission of print data from the mobile terminal 101 to the printing device 100) is performed between the printing device 100 and the external device.

[0046] A stop button 612 is displayed on the wireless connection screen in FIG. 6(B). This stop button 612 is a button for a user to issue a stop instruction to stop the operation of direct wireless communication. The user presses the stop button 612 when he / she wants to stop the operation of direct wireless communication of the printing device 100. When the user presses the stop button 612, the printing device 100 stops the operation of direct wireless communication. In addition, in order to prevent the printing device 100 from remaining in the operation of direct wireless communication, the wireless connection screen in FIG. 6(B) is displayed before switching the display to the login screen in FIG. 4(A). Then, only when the user presses the stop button 612 on the wireless connection screen in FIG. 6(B) and the printing device 100 stops the operation of direct wireless communication, the login screen in FIG. 4(A) is displayed.

[0047] Next, a process executed by the printing device 100 when a user uses direct wireless without logging in to the printing device 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0048] Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing executed by the printing device 100 according to the first embodiment. The processing of each step shown in this flowchart is achieved by the CPU 201 expanding a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 into the RAM 203 and executing it. The printing device 100 may be configured so that at least some of the steps in the flowchart of Fig. 7 are executed by the CPU 201, and the remaining steps are executed by another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201.

[0049] First, in S701, the CPU 201 displays the login screen shown in Fig. 4A on the operation unit 208. Here, the IC card reader 209 reads user information from the IC card, or the user inputs a user ID and password in the input fields 401 and 402 of the login screen and presses the login button 403, and the process proceeds to S702 and executes user authentication. In S702, the CPU 201 judges whether or not the user is permitted to log in based on the input user information. This judgment is made by checking whether or not the user information is registered in the above-mentioned user management table. Here, if the user information is registered in the user management table (judging that the authentication is successful), the process proceeds to S703. On the other hand, if the user information is not registered in the user management table (judging that the authentication is unsuccessful), the process proceeds to S705.

[0050] In S703, the CPU 201 displays the menu screen of Fig. 4B on the operation unit 208, and permits the user to use all functions. In S704, the CPU 201 performs various operations to execute the functions instructed on the menu screen, and executes S704 and S705 until it is determined in S705 that a logout operation has been performed. When the logout operation has been performed in this manner, the process returns to S701 and the login screen is displayed. Note that the various operations in S704 are not directly related to the present invention, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] On the other hand, if the user authentication has not been performed in S702, the process proceeds to S705, where the CPU 201 determines whether or not a specific button on the operation unit 208 has been pressed. The specific button here is the home button 302 as described above, but may be the logout button 303 or another button. If the specific button has not been pressed, the process proceeds to S701, but if it is determined that the specific button has been pressed, the process proceeds to S707. In S707, the CPU 201 determines whether or not permission to use direct wireless printing is set in the setting screen of FIG. 4C when the user is not logged in. This determination is made by referring to information on the HDD 204 that holds the items set in the setting screen of FIG. 4C. Here, if "Do not permit" 423 has been selected in the setting screen, the process returns to S701 and displays the login screen. On the other hand, if "Permit" 424 has been selected in the setting screen, the process proceeds to S708, where the CPU 201 performs display control to display the menu screen shown in FIG. 5A, and then proceeds to S709. In S708, since the user is not logged in, only the direct wireless connection button 501 and the print cancel button 502 can be selected. Note that, in S708, if the print cancel button 502 is pressed on the menu screen in Fig. 5(A), the printing process of the print data transmitted using direct wireless communication is canceled, but a detailed description of this will be omitted.

[0052] In S709, the CPU 201 determines whether the direct wireless connection button 501 is selected on the menu screen of FIG. 5A and the start button 601 is pressed on the wireless connection screen of FIG. 6A to instruct the start of the direct wireless connection. If the CPU 201 determines in S709 that the start of the direct wireless connection is instructed, the process proceeds to S710, but if not, the process proceeds to S708. In S710, the CPU 201 starts wireless communication operation in the access point mode. Specifically, when the start button 601 is pressed, the CPU 201 causes the operation unit 208 to display the direct wireless connection screen of FIG. 6B. Here, the user of the mobile terminal 101 inputs the connection key displayed in the area 611 of the wireless connection screen into the mobile terminal 101, thereby establishing a direct wireless connection between the printing device 100 and the mobile terminal 101. Then, the user of the mobile terminal 101 transmits print data for printing data selected by the user to the printing device 100 using a wireless communication function by direct wireless communication. The printing device 100 receives this print data and executes print processing based on the print data. Then, the process proceeds to S711, where the CPU 201 determines whether the stop button 612 on the wireless connection screen in Fig. 6B has been pressed, and proceeds to S712 if it is determined that the stop button 612 has been pressed. In S712, the CPU 201 stops the direct wireless communication operation, returns to S701, and displays the login screen.

[0053] In addition, in S710, the wireless connection screen in Fig. 6(B) is displayed before switching the display to the login screen in Fig. 4(A) in order to prevent the printing device 100 from remaining in operation of direct wireless communication.

[0054] As described above, according to the first embodiment, even if a user is not authenticated on the printing device, the printing device can be switched to the direct wireless communication mode by performing a specific operation on the printing device. This allows the unauthenticated user's terminal to send print data to the printing device via direct wireless communication and have the print data printed.

[0055] [Embodiment 2] In the above-described first embodiment, an example has been described in which the printing device can be used by switching to the direct wireless communication mode by performing a printing device-specific operation without the user logging in to the printing device.

[0056] In contrast, in the second embodiment, an example is described in which an authentication screen for direct wireless communication is displayed when a specific button on the operation unit of the printing device is pressed, and only when this authentication is performed, the printing device transitions to the direct wireless communication mode. Note that the communication system and the hardware configuration of the printing device according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore their description is omitted.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a direct wireless setting screen displayed on the operation unit 208 of the printing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment.

[0058] The items that can be set on the direct wireless setting screen in FIG. 8(A) will be described in detail.

[0059] This direct wireless setting screen is a screen that can be accessed by a user with special authority such as a system administrator. Item 801 is a setting for whether or not to perform authentication for direct wireless communication when using printing by direct wireless communication when not logged in. A registration button 803 is a button for reflecting the setting by this direct wireless setting screen in the printing device 100. When the system administrator presses the registration button 803, the contents set on this direct wireless setting screen are stored in the HDD 204 and reflected in the printing device 100. When "Use" 804 is selected in item 801, use of printing by direct wireless communication is permitted only when authentication of direct wireless communication is successful and login is performed. Therefore, when "Use" 804 is selected, it is necessary to set a password 802 for authentication of direct wireless communication. When "Use" 804 is selected, the menu screen of FIG. 5(A) is displayed only when user authentication is successful on the login screen of FIG. 8(B) and the user logs in.

[0060] On the other hand, when "Do not use" 805 is selected in the item 801, the menu screen of FIG. 5(A) is displayed without displaying the authentication of direct wireless communication.

[0061] Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the processing executed by the printing device 100 according to the second embodiment. The processing of each step shown in this flowchart is achieved by the CPU 201 expanding a control program stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 into the RAM 203 and executing it. The printing device 100 may be configured so that at least some of the steps in the flowchart in Fig. 9 are executed by the CPU 201, and the remaining steps are executed by another CPU (not shown) different from the CPU 201. In Fig. 9, the same processing steps as those in the flowchart in Fig. 7 described above are indicated by the same reference numbers, and their description will be omitted.

[0062] In S707 of Fig. 9, if permission to use printing via direct wireless communication is set, the process proceeds to S901. In S901, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the direct wireless communication setting screen in Fig. 8A is set to perform authentication of direct wireless communication, based on information from the HDD 204. Here, if "Not Used" 805 is selected, that is, if authentication of direct wireless communication is not set to be performed, the process proceeds to S708, and the menu screen in Fig. 5A is displayed, as in the first embodiment described above.

[0063] On the other hand, in S901, when the CPU 201 has set "Use" 804, that is, when authentication of direct wireless communication is set to be performed, the process proceeds to S902, where the CPU 201 displays the login screen shown in Fig. 8(B) on the operation unit 208. If the user enters a password in the input field 811 and presses the login button 812, the process proceeds to S903, where the CPU 201 compares the password 802 set on the setting screen of Fig. 8(A) with the password entered in the input field 811 on the login screen. If these match, it is determined that authentication of direct wireless communication has been successful, and the process proceeds to S708. On the other hand, if they do not match, it is determined that authentication has failed, and the process proceeds to S902, where the login screen of Fig. 8(B) is redisplayed.

[0064] As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, even a user who is not logged in can switch the printing device to the direct wireless communication mode if the user authentication for wireless communication is successful. This allows the unauthenticated user's terminal to send print data to the printing device via direct wireless communication and have it printed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 100: Printing device, 101: Mobile terminal, 201: CPU, 202: ROM, 203: RAM, 204: HDD, 208: Operation unit

Claims

1. An information processing device having a wireless communication function, an operation unit that accepts user operations; a display control means for causing the operation unit to display a login screen for logging in to the information processing device in which a user authentication function can be enabled, the display control means causes the operation unit to display a screen on which the wireless communication function can be instructed after a user authenticated based on user information input via the login screen logs into the information processing device; When a user is not logged in to the information processing device, a login screen for logging in to the information processing device in which the user authentication function can be enabled is displayed, and a setting screen for establishing wireless communication using the wireless communication function is displayed on the operation unit by accepting an operation of a specific button without accepting a login on the operation unit; The information processing apparatus, wherein the setting screen includes an instruction section for instructing to cancel printing.

2. a first setting unit that sets whether or not wireless communication using the wireless communication function is permitted by accepting an operation of the specific button, The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display control means causes the operation unit to display the setting screen for establishing wireless communication when the setting by the first setting means is a setting that permits wireless communication using the wireless communication function.

3. a second setting means for setting whether or not to perform user authentication for wireless communication when the first setting means sets wireless communication using the wireless communication function to be permitted, The information processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the second setting means is set to perform user authentication, the display control means causes the operation unit to display the setting screen for establishing the wireless communication if the user authentication is successful.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means causes the operation unit to display a wireless connection screen including a button for starting the wireless communication.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen for establishing wireless communication includes an SSID for the wireless communication.

6. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the wireless connection screen further includes a button for instructing to stop the operation of the wireless communication, and the display control means causes a login screen to be displayed on the operation unit in response to the instruction of the button.

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the login screen is a login screen for logging in with an IC card.

8. 8. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means causes the operation unit to display a logout button for logging out from the information processing device when a user is not logged in to the information processing device.

9. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the login screen is a screen for inputting a user ID and a password.

10. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication process by the user authentication function is executed in an authentication server connected to the information processing apparatus.

11. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication process by the user authentication function is executed in the information processing apparatus.

12. An information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the authentication processing by the user authentication function is executed by transmitting the user information entered via the login screen to an authentication server connected to the information processing device, and receiving the result of the authentication processing from the authentication server.

13. 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printer unit that prints an image on a sheet.

14. 14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scanner unit that reads an image of an original and generates image data.

15. A printing device having a wireless communication function, an operation unit that accepts user operations; a display control unit that displays a login screen for logging in to the printing device in which a user authentication function can be enabled, on the operation unit; the display control means causes the operation unit to display a screen on which the wireless communication function can be instructed after a user authenticated based on user information input via the login screen logs into the printing device; A printing device characterized by displaying a login screen for logging in to the printing device in which the user authentication function can be enabled when a user is not logged in to the printing device, and by accepting operation of a specific button on the operation unit without accepting a login, causing a setting screen for establishing wireless communication using the wireless communication function to be displayed on the operation unit.

16. 16. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the setting screen includes an instruction section for instructing to cancel printing.

17. 17. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a scanner unit that reads an image of an original and generates image data.

18. a first setting unit that sets whether or not wireless communication using the wireless communication function is permitted by accepting an operation of the specific button, The printing device according to claim 15, characterized in that the display control means causes the operation unit to display the setting screen for establishing wireless communication when the setting made by the first setting means is a setting that permits wireless communication using the wireless communication function.

19. a second setting means for setting whether or not to perform user authentication for wireless communication when the first setting means sets wireless communication using the wireless communication function to be permitted, The printing device according to claim 18, characterized in that, when the second setting means is set to perform user authentication, the display control means causes the operation unit to display the setting screen for establishing the wireless communication if the user authentication is successful.

20. 20. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display control unit causes the operation unit to display a wireless connection screen including a button for starting the wireless communication.

21. 21. The printing device according to claim 15, wherein the setting screen for establishing wireless communication includes an SSID for the wireless communication.

22. The printing device according to claim 20, wherein the wireless connection screen further includes a button for instructing to stop the operation of the wireless communication, and the display control means causes a login screen to be displayed on the operation unit in response to the instruction of the button.

23. 23. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the login screen is a login screen for logging in with an IC card.

24. 24. The printing device according to claim 15, wherein the display control means causes the operation unit to display a logout button for logging out of the printing device when a user is not logged in to the printing device.

25. A control method for controlling an information processing device having an operation unit that accepts user operations and has a wireless communication function, comprising: a display control step of displaying a login screen for logging in to the information processing device in which a user authentication function can be enabled on the operation unit; The display control step causes the operation unit to display a screen on which the wireless communication function can be instructed after the user authenticated based on the user information input via the login screen logs into the information processing device, When a user is not logged in to the information processing device, a login screen for logging in to the information processing device in which the user authentication function can be enabled is displayed, and a setting screen for establishing wireless communication using the wireless communication function is displayed on the operation unit by accepting an operation of a specific button without accepting a login on the operation unit; The control method according to claim 1, wherein the setting screen includes an instruction section for instructing to cancel printing.

26. a first setting step of setting whether or not wireless communication using the wireless communication function is permitted by accepting an operation of the specific button, The control method according to claim 25, characterized in that the display control step causes the operation unit to display the setting screen for establishing the wireless communication when the setting made by the first setting step is a setting that permits wireless communication using the wireless communication function.

27. a second setting step of setting whether or not to perform user authentication for wireless communication when the first setting step is a setting to permit wireless communication using the wireless communication function, The control method according to claim 26, characterized in that, when the second setting step is set to perform user authentication, the display control step causes the operation unit to display the setting screen for establishing the wireless communication if the user authentication is successful.

28. 28. The control method according to claim 25, wherein the display control step causes the operation unit to display a wireless connection screen including a button for starting the wireless communication.

29. 29. The control method according to claim 25, wherein the setting screen for establishing wireless communication includes an SSID for the wireless communication.

30. The control method according to claim 28, wherein the wireless connection screen further has a button for instructing to stop the operation of the wireless communication, and the display control step causes a login screen to be displayed on the operation unit in response to the instruction of the button.

31. The control method according to any one of claims 25 to 30, characterized in that the display control step causes the operation unit to display a logout button for logging out of the information processing device when a user is not logged in to the control method.

32. 1. A control method for controlling a printing device having an operation unit that accepts user operations and a wireless communication function, comprising: a display control step of displaying a login screen for logging in to the printing device in which a user authentication function can be enabled on the operation unit; the display control step causes a screen on the operation unit to be displayed on which the wireless communication function can be instructed after a user authenticated based on user information input via the login screen logs into the printing device; A control method characterized by displaying a login screen for logging in to the printing device in which the user authentication function can be enabled when a user is not logged in to the printing device, and by accepting operation of a specific button on the operation unit without accepting a login, causing a setting screen for establishing wireless communication using the wireless communication function to be displayed on the operation unit.

33. A program for causing a computer to execute all the steps of the control method according to any one of claims 25 to 32.

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