Electronic device and notification method

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus and a notification method capable of notifying only limited persons of a manager password.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 100 includes a first reception processing section 32 that receives a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period that starts when the image forming apparatus 100 is started for the first time and ends when a predetermined end timing arrives, and a notification processing section 33 that, when the specific operation is received by the first reception processing section 32, notifies an operator of the specific operation of an administrator password that is used to authenticate an administrator having management authority over the image forming apparatus 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device and a notification method. [Background technology]

[0002] In electronic devices such as printers, an administrator password is set in advance to be used for authenticating an administrator who has administrative authority over the electronic device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-196821 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the administrator password is displayed in a place where it can be seen by anyone, such as on the outside of the housing of the electronic device, there is a risk that the administrator password may become known to someone other than the person who is supposed to be the administrator, and the administrator password may be used fraudulently.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a notification method that can notify only limited people of an administrator password. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an electronic device includes a first reception processor and a notification processor. The first reception processor accepts a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period from an initial startup of the device to a predetermined end timing. When the first reception processor accepts the specific operation, the notification processor notifies the operator of the specific operation of an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator who has administrative authority over the device.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notification method executed in an electronic device, the method including a receiving step and a notification step. In the receiving step, a predetermined specific operation is accepted only during a period from when the electronic device is initially started up until a predetermined termination timing is reached. In the notification step, when the specific operation is accepted in the receiving step, an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator having management authority over the electronic device is notified to an operator of the specific operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the administrator password can be notified only to limited people. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the operation display unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a setting operation reception process executed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific operation receiving process executed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example of the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] [Configuration of image forming apparatus 100] First, the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Here, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0012] Image forming apparatus 100 is a multifunction peripheral having multiple functions such as a scanning function, a printing function, a fax function, and a copying function. Image forming apparatus 100 is an example of an electronic device of the present invention. Note that the electronic device of the present invention may also be a printer, a scanner, a fax machine, a copier, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a vending machine, an ATM (automated teller machine), or the like.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet conveying unit 4, an operation display unit 5, a communication unit 6, a memory unit 7, a human presence sensor 8, and a control unit 9.

[0014] The ADF 1 transports an original document to be read by the image reading unit 2. The ADF 1 includes an original document setting unit, a plurality of transport rollers, an original document holder, and a paper discharge unit.

[0015] The image reading unit 2 reads an image of a document. That is, the image reading unit 2 realizes the scanning function. The image reading unit 2 includes a document table, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).

[0016] The image forming unit 3 forms an image on a sheet based on image data. In other words, the image forming unit 3 realizes the printing function. Specifically, the image forming unit 3 forms an image using an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an optical scanning unit (LSU), a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and a fixing device. Note that the image forming unit 3 may also form an image using a method other than the electrophotographic method, such as an inkjet method.

[0017] The sheet transport unit 4 transports a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 3. The sheet transport unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette and a plurality of transport rollers.

[0018] The operation display unit 5 is a user interface of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation display unit 5 includes a display unit 11, a touch panel 12, and an operation key unit 13. The display unit 11 displays various information in response to control instructions from the control unit 9. For example, the display unit 11 is a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display. The touch panel 12 inputs various information to the control unit 9 in response to user operations on the display unit 11. The operation key unit 13 inputs various information to the control unit 9 in response to user operations. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation key unit 13 includes an F1 key, an F2 key, an F3 key, a numeric keypad, a reset key, a stop key, and a start key.

[0019] The communication unit 6 is a communication interface that can execute wired or wireless data communication with an external communication device.

[0020] The human presence sensor 8 can detect the presence or absence of a person operating the operation display unit 5. For example, the human presence sensor 8 is a pyroelectric infrared sensor that detects the presence or absence of a person within a predetermined detection range based on the presence or absence of infrared light emitted from the human body.

[0021] The control unit 9 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 9 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, and a RAM 23. The CPU 21 is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM 22 is a non-volatile storage device that stores in advance information such as control programs for causing the CPU 21 to execute various types of processing. The RAM 23 is a volatile or non-volatile storage device that is used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various types of processing executed by the CPU 21. In the control unit 9, the CPU 21 executes the various control programs that are pre-stored in the ROM 22. In this way, the control unit 9 performs overall control of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0022] The storage unit 7 is a nonvolatile storage device. For example, the storage unit 7 is a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory. The storage unit 7 may also be a storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0023] A character string indicating an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator who has administrative authority over the image forming apparatus 100 is stored in advance in a predetermined specific storage area in the storage unit 7. The administrator has authority (administrative authority) that ordinary users do not have, such as the authority to change security-related settings of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0024] For example, the control unit 9 displays an administrator authentication screen on the operation and display unit 5, which is used to authenticate the administrator, in response to a predetermined operation on the operation and display unit 5. The administrator authentication screen accepts an operation to input a verification string to be used for verification against the administrator password. When the verification string is input on the administrator authentication screen, the control unit 9 determines whether the input verification string matches a string stored in the specific storage area. If the control unit 9 determines that the input verification string matches a string stored in the specific storage area, it determines that the user currently using the image forming apparatus 100 is the administrator, and allows the administrator to log in to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0025] The administrator password for the image forming apparatus 100 at the time of shipment from the factory is a unique password set by the vendor for each apparatus. The administrator can change the administrator password at will by performing a predetermined operation.

[0026] However, if the administrator password is displayed in a place where it can be seen by anyone, such as on the outside of the housing of the image forming device 100, there is a risk that the administrator password may become known to someone other than the person who is supposed to be the administrator, and the administrator password may be used fraudulently.

[0027] In contrast to this, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the administrator password can be notified only to limited people, as will be described below.

[0028] Specifically, an operation control program is stored in advance in the ROM 22 of the control unit 9 for causing the CPU 21 of the control unit 9 to execute a setting operation reception process (see the flowchart in FIG. 5) and a specific operation reception process (see the flowchart in FIG. 6), which will be described later. The operation control program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a flash memory, and may be read from the recording medium and installed in a storage device such as the memory unit 7.

[0029] 2, the control unit 9 includes a second reception processing unit 31, a first reception processing unit 32, a notification processing unit 33, and a detection processing unit 34. Specifically, the control unit 9 uses the CPU 21 to execute the operation control program stored in the ROM 22. As a result, the control unit 9 functions as each of the above-mentioned processing units.

[0030] Note that some or all of the processing units included in the control unit 9 may be configured with electronic circuits. Also, the operation control program may be a program for causing multiple processors to function as the processing units included in the control unit 9.

[0031] The second reception-processing unit 31 receives a setting operation for setting predetermined setting items when the image forming apparatus 100 is started up for the first time.

[0032] Here, the initial startup of the image forming apparatus 100 refers to the first time that the power is turned on for the first time when the image forming apparatus 100 is in the factory default state. Note that the administrator can reset the image forming apparatus 100 to the factory default state by performing a predetermined reset operation.

[0033] For example, the setting items include a first setting item and a second setting item. The first setting item is the language to be displayed on the operation display unit 5. The second setting item is the date and time.

[0034] For example, when the image forming apparatus 100 is started up for the first time, the second reception process unit 31 causes the operation display unit 5 to display the reception screen X10 shown in FIG.

[0035] The reception screen X10 is a screen for receiving a selection operation to select whether or not to set up the image forming apparatus 100. The selection operation is an example of the setting operation. The reception screen X10 shown in FIG. 3 includes an operation key X11 and an operation key X12.

[0036] In response to a user's operation on the operation key X11, the second reception processing unit 31 causes the operation display unit 5 to display a language setting screen used for receiving a first setting operation for setting a language (the first setting item) to be displayed on the operation display unit 5. The first setting operation is an example of the setting operation.

[0037] Furthermore, when the language to be displayed on the operation display unit 5 is set on the language setting screen, the second reception processing unit 31 causes the operation display unit 5 to display a date and time setting screen used to accept a second setting operation for setting a date and time (the second setting item). The second setting operation is an example of the setting operation.

[0038] Furthermore, when the date and time are set on the date and time setting screen, the second reception processing unit 31 ends the setup of the image forming apparatus 100 and displays a predetermined home screen on the operation display unit 5. The home screen is a screen that is displayed first on the operation display unit 5 after the image forming apparatus 100 is started up, and is different from the screen displayed at the time of initial start-up.

[0039] Furthermore, the second reception processor 31 displays the home screen on the operation display unit 5 in response to a user's operation on the operation key X12. In this case, each of the setting items is set based on a predetermined initial value. Note that each of the setting items may be changed arbitrarily in response to a predetermined operation by the administrator.

[0040] The first reception process unit 32 receives a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period from the initial startup of the image forming apparatus 100 until a predetermined end timing arrives.

[0041] For example, the end timing is a timing that arrives before the end of acceptance of the setting operation. For example, the end timing is a timing when the selection operation is accepted on the acceptance screen X10. Note that the end timing may also be a timing when the second setting operation is accepted on the date and time setting screen.

[0042] For example, the specific operation is an operation using the operation key unit 13 of the operation display unit 5. That is, the operation display unit 5 is used for the specific operation.

[0043] For example, the specific operation is an operation of first simultaneously pressing the F1 key and the "3" key included in the numeric keypad, then simultaneously pressing the F2 key and the "6" key included in the numeric keypad, and finally simultaneously pressing the F3 key and the "9" key included in the numeric keypad. Note that the specific operation may be any operation using the operation key unit 13. The specific operation may also be an operation using the touch panel 12.

[0044] The end timing may be a timing when a predetermined first time has elapsed since the initial startup of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the first time is a time that is arbitrarily set between 1 minute and 10 minutes.

[0045] When the specific operation is accepted by the first acceptance processing unit 32, the notification processing unit 33 notifies the operator of the specific operation of the administrator password used to authenticate the administrator who has administrative authority over the image forming device 100.

[0046] For example, when the specific operation is accepted by the first acceptance processing unit 32, the notification processing unit 33 causes the operation display unit 5 to display the administrator password. For example, the notification processing unit 33 causes the operation display unit 5 to display a display screen X20 shown in FIG.

[0047] The display screen X20 is a screen for displaying the administrator password. The display screen X20 shown in Fig. 4 includes an operation key X21.

[0048] The notification processor 33 ends the display of the display screen X20 in response to a user's operation of the operation key X21. In this case, the operation display unit 5 displays the screen that was displayed immediately before the display screen X20 was displayed.

[0049] Furthermore, when a predetermined second time has elapsed since the start of displaying the administrator password, the notification processor 33 ends the display of the administrator password, i.e., ends the display of the display screen X20. For example, the second time is a time that can be set arbitrarily between one minute and three minutes.

[0050] The detection processing unit 34 detects whether or not the operator is present.

[0051] For example, the detection processing unit 34 periodically detects the presence or absence of the operator while the display screen X20 is being displayed, using the human presence sensor 8. For example, the detection processing unit 34 detects the presence or absence of the operator every second.

[0052] When the detection processing unit 34 detects the absence of the operator, the notification processing unit 33 ends the display of the administrator password, that is, ends the display of the display screen X20.

[0053] The notification processor 33 may notify the operator of the specific operation of the administrator password by printing the administrator password. The notification processor 33 may also notify the operator of the specific operation of the administrator password by voice.

[0054] Below, an example of the procedure of each process executed by the control unit 9 and the notification method of the present invention will be described.

[0055] [Settings operation acceptance process] First, an example of the procedure of the setting operation reception process executed by the control unit 9 in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Here, steps S11, S12, etc. represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 9. The setting operation reception process is executed when the image forming apparatus 100 is powered on.

[0056] <Step S11> First, in step S11, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 is being started for the first time.

[0057] Here, if the control unit 9 determines that it is the first time that the image forming apparatus 100 is started (Yes in S11), the control unit 9 shifts the process to step S12. If it is not the first time that the image forming apparatus 100 is started (No in S11), the control unit 9 shifts the process to step S14.

[0058] <Step S12> In step S12, the control unit 9 receives the setting operation. The process of step S12 is executed by the second reception processing unit 31 of the control unit 9.

[0059] Specifically, the control unit 9 displays the reception screen X10 shown in FIG. 3 on the operation display unit 5 to receive the selection operation.

[0060] Furthermore, when a user operation on the operation key X11 is accepted on the acceptance screen X10, the control unit 9 displays the language setting screen on the operation display unit 5 and accepts the first setting operation.

[0061] Furthermore, when the first setting operation is accepted on the language setting screen, the control unit 9 causes the operation display unit 5 to display the date and time setting screen, and accepts the second setting operation.

[0062] <Step S13> In step S13, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the acceptance of the setting operation has been completed.

[0063] Specifically, when a user operation on the operation key X12 on the reception screen X10 is received, the control unit 9 determines that the reception of the setting operation has ended.

[0064] Furthermore, when the second setting operation is accepted on the date and time setting screen, the control unit 9 determines that acceptance of the setting operation has ended.

[0065] Here, when the control unit 9 determines that the acceptance of the setting operation has ended (Yes in S13), it shifts the process to step S14. On the other hand, when the acceptance of the setting operation has not ended (No in S13), the control unit 9 waits for the acceptance of the setting operation to end in step S13.

[0066] <Step S14> In step S14, the control unit 9 causes the operation display unit 5 to display the home screen.

[0067] [Specific operation reception process] Next, an example of the procedure of a specific operation reception process executed by the control unit 9 in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Note that the specific operation reception process is executed separately from the setting operation reception process when the process of step S12 of the setting operation reception process is executed.

[0068] <Step S21> First, in step S21, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the reception period has ended.

[0069] Specifically, the control unit 9 determines that the reception period has ended when the selection operation is received on the reception screen X10.

[0070] Here, if the control unit 9 determines that the reception period has ended (Yes in S21), it ends the specific operation reception process. On the other hand, if the reception period has not ended (No in S21), the control unit 9 shifts the process to step S22.

[0071] <Step S22> In step S22, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the specific operation has been accepted.

[0072] Here, when the control unit 9 determines that the specific operation has been accepted (Yes in S22), it shifts the process to step S23. On the other hand, when the specific operation has not been accepted (No in S22), the control unit 9 shifts the process to step S21. As a result, the specific operation is accepted until the acceptance period ends. The processes of steps S21 and S22 are examples of acceptance steps of the present invention, and are executed by the first acceptance processing unit 32 of the control unit 9.

[0073] <Step S23> In step S23, the control unit 9 displays the administrator password on the operation display unit 5. The process of step S23 is an example of a notification step of the present invention, and is executed by the notification processing unit 33 of the control unit 9.

[0074] Specifically, the control unit 9 causes the operation display unit 5 to display a display screen X20 shown in FIG.

[0075] <Step S24> In step S24, the control unit 9 determines whether or not the termination condition for terminating the display of the administrator password is satisfied.

[0076] Specifically, the control unit 9 determines that the termination condition is met when a user operation on an operation key X21 included in the display screen X20 is accepted.

[0077] Furthermore, the control unit 9 determines that the termination condition is satisfied when the second time has elapsed since the start of displaying the administrator password.

[0078] Furthermore, when the detection processing unit 34 detects the absence of the operator, the control unit 9 determines that the termination condition is satisfied.

[0079] Here, if the control unit 9 determines that the termination condition is satisfied (Yes in S24), it shifts the process to step S25. On the other hand, if the termination condition is not satisfied (No in S24), the control unit 9 waits for the satisfaction of the termination condition in step S24.

[0080] <Step S25> In step S25, the control unit 9 ends the display of the administrator password. In this case, the operation display unit 5 displays the screen immediately before the display screen X20 is displayed.

[0081] The control unit 9 may shift the process to step S21 after executing the process of step S25. That is, the number of times the administrator password is displayed during the reception period does not have to be limited to one.

[0082] In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 accepts the specific operation for displaying the administrator password only during the acceptance period that begins when the image forming apparatus 100 is first started up. This makes it possible to limit the recipients of notification of the administrator password to the user who operates the image forming apparatus 100 when the image forming apparatus 100 is first started up. Therefore, the administrator password can be notified only to a limited number of people.

[0083] [Notes on the Invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0084] <Appendix 1> An electronic device comprising: a first reception processing unit that accepts a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period from the initial startup of the device until a predetermined end timing arrives; and a notification processing unit that, when the specific operation is accepted by the first reception processing unit, notifies the operator of the specific operation of an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator who has management authority over the device.

[0085] <Appendix 2> The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the termination timing is a timing when a predetermined first time has elapsed since the electronic device was first started.

[0086] <Appendix 3> The electronic device described in Appendix 1 is provided with a second reception processing unit that receives setting operations related to the setting of predetermined setting items when the electronic device is first started up, and the termination timing is a timing that arrives before the termination of reception of the setting operations.

[0087] <Appendix 4> The electronic device described in any one of Appendices 1 to 3, further comprising an operation display unit used for the specific operation, wherein the notification processing unit displays the administrator password on the operation display unit and ends the display of the administrator password when a predetermined second time has elapsed since the start of displaying the administrator password.

[0088] <Appendix 5> An electronic device as described in any of Appendices 1 to 4, comprising an operation display unit used for the specific operation and a detection processing unit that detects the presence or absence of the operator, wherein the notification processing unit displays the administrator password on the operation display unit and terminates the display of the administrator password when the detection processing unit detects the absence of the operator.

[0089] <Appendix 6> 6. The electronic device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, comprising either or both of an image reading unit that reads an image of a document and an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data.

[0090] <Appendix 7> An alert method executed in an electronic device, the alert method including: a reception step for receiving a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period from the initial startup of the electronic device until a predetermined termination timing arrives; and a notification step for, when the specific operation is received by the reception step, notifying the operator of the specific operation of an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator who has management authority over the electronic device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 1 ADF 2 Image reading unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Sheet transport section 5 Operation display section 6. Communications Department 7 Memory section 8. Motion Sensor 9 Control Unit 11 Display section 12 Touch Panel 13 Operation key section 21 CPU 22 ROM 23 RAM 31 Second Reception Processing Section 32 First reception processing section 33 Notification processing section 34 Detection processing section 100 Image forming device

Claims

1. a first reception processing unit that receives a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period from the initial startup of the device to the arrival of a predetermined end timing; a notification processing unit that, when the specific operation is accepted by the first acceptance processing unit, notifies an operator of the specific operation of an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator having management authority over the device; An electronic device comprising:

2. The termination timing is a timing when a predetermined first time has elapsed since the initial startup of the electronic device. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. a second reception processing unit that receives a setting operation related to setting of a predetermined setting item at the time of initial startup of the electronic device; The end timing is a timing that arrives before the end of acceptance of the setting operation. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

4. an operation display unit used for the specific operation, the notification processing unit displays the administrator password on the operation display unit, and ends the display of the administrator password when a predetermined second time has elapsed since the start of displaying the administrator password.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1.

5. an operation display unit used for the specific operation; a detection processing unit that detects the presence or absence of the operator; Equipped with the notification processing unit causes the operation display unit to display the administrator password, and ends the display of the administrator password when the detection processing unit detects that the operator is not present.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1.

6. The image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document and / or an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1.

7. A notification method executed in an electronic device, comprising: a receiving step of receiving a predetermined specific operation only during a reception period from the initial startup of the electronic device until a predetermined termination timing arrives; a notification step of notifying an operator of the specific operation of an administrator password used to authenticate an administrator having management authority of the electronic device when the specific operation is accepted by the accepting step; A notification method including:

Images