Registration Data Editing Method, Registration Data Editing Device, and Image Processing Device

Abstract

To provide a registered data editing method, a registered data editing device, and an image processing device that reduce a burden on a device manager for editing registered data without increasing the number of device managers.SOLUTION: In a method, when management department data of target manager data is unrestricted data corresponding to all departments, a processor executes first data editing processing for editing all of a plurality of individual user data (S6). When the management department data of the target manager data is restricted data corresponding to a specific department, the processor executes second data editing processing for editing specific user data that is part of the plurality of individual user data (S7).The specific user data is data including belonging department data representing a department having a predetermined correspondence relation with the specific department corresponding to the management department data of the target manager data among the plurality of individual user data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a registration data editing method, a registration data editing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus that execute a process of editing registration data by a processor.

Background Art

[0002] An image processing apparatus may perform a login process and allow only a user who has succeeded in the login process to execute image processing.

[0003] The image processing includes a print process of forming an image on a sheet, or an image reading process of reading an image of a document. The image processing apparatus is, for example, a printer, a copier, a facsimile apparatus, or a multifunction machine.

[0004] The image processing apparatus executes the login process when input authentication data is input. In the login process, the image processing apparatus accesses registration data and searches for registration authentication data that matches the input authentication data.

[0005] The registration data includes a plurality of user data corresponding to a plurality of users who use the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus executes the image processing according to a processing request input when the registration authentication data that matches the input authentication data is included in the registration data.

[0006] Further, the registration data may include available range data representing a range of functions available for each user. In this case, the image processing apparatus executes the image processing according to the processing request within the range represented by the available range data.

[0007] In addition, the registration data may include administrator data associated with any one of the plurality of user data. The administrator data indicates that the corresponding user is a device administrator. In this case, the image processing device or a device capable of communicating with the image processing device functions as a data editing device that edits the registration data.

[0008] A management device that manages access to the registration data executes the login process when the input authentication data is input. Furthermore, the management device allows the data editing device to perform a data editing process when data among the plurality of user data, which includes the registration authentication data that matches the input authentication data, corresponds to the device administrator.

[0009] For example, in the data editing process, the data editing device can execute the data editing process with all of the plurality of user data as editing targets in accordance with an editing input to an operation device.

[0010] In addition, a user who fails to log in repeatedly may be locked out. It is also known that the authority to release the lockout for a specific user group in the registration data is set to a general user who is not the device administrator (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-65540 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] By the way, when the authority to edit the registration data is limited only to the device administrator, the burden on the device administrator is heavy. The device administrator often feels a particularly heavy burden when editing data related to users belonging to departments that have no direct relation to him / herself.

[0013] On the other hand, having too many device administrators is not preferable for managing the image processing apparatus.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a registration data editing method, a registration data editing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus that can reduce the burden on the device administrator for editing registration data without increasing the number of device administrators.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] The registration data editing method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method in which a processor executes a process of editing registration data accessed by an image processing apparatus. The registration data editing method is a method executed when the registration data includes a plurality of individual user data and a plurality of administrator data. The plurality of individual user data corresponds to a plurality of users who use the image processing apparatus, and each includes registration authentication data and department affiliation data. The plurality of administrator data is associated with any one of the plurality of individual user data, and each includes management department data corresponding to all departments or specific departments. The registration data editing method includes the processor identifying target user data including the registration authentication data that matches the input authentication data among the plurality of individual user data when the input authentication data is input. Further, the registration data editing method includes the processor identifying target administrator data associated with the target user data among the plurality of administrator data. Further, when the management department data of the target administrator data is unrestricted data corresponding to all departments, the registration data editing method includes the processor executing a first data editing process of editing all of the plurality of individual user data according to an editing input to an operation device. Further, when the management department data of the target administrator data is restricted data corresponding to the specific department, the registration data editing method includes the processor executing a second data editing process of editing specific user data that is a part of the plurality of individual user data as an editing target according to the editing input. The specific user data is data including the department affiliation data representing a department having a predetermined correspondence relationship with the specific department corresponding to the management department data of the target administrator data among the plurality of individual user data.

[0016] The registration data editing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a processor that implements the registration data editing method.

[0017] An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes an image processing unit, a control unit, and the registration data editing apparatus. The image processing unit is capable of executing image processing including print processing for forming an image on a sheet. The control unit controls the image processing unit. When the input authentication data is input, the control unit causes the image processing unit to execute the image processing according to the input processing request when the registration authentication data matching the input authentication data is included in the plurality of individual user data.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a registration data editing method, a registration data editing apparatus, and an image processing apparatus that can reduce the burden on the apparatus administrator for editing registration data without increasing the number of apparatus administrators.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are an example of embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0021] [Configuration of Image Forming System 100] The image forming system 100 includes one or more image processing apparatuses 10 and one or more host apparatuses 8.

[0022] The image processing apparatus 10 is capable of executing image processing including at least print processing. The print processing is processing for forming an image on a sheet 91.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a printing apparatus 1 that executes the print processing and an image reading apparatus 2 that executes image reading processing (see FIG. 1).

[0024] The printing apparatus 1 executes the print processing by a predetermined method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The image reading processing is processing for reading an image from a document 92.

[0025] For example, the image processing apparatus 10 is a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, or a multifunction machine. The multifunction machine has the functions of the copying machine and the facsimile apparatus.

[0026] The host apparatus 8 can communicate with the image processing apparatus 10. The host apparatus 8 generates print data and transmits a print request together with the generated print data to the image processing apparatus 10.

[0027] Furthermore, the host apparatus 8 is capable of executing a data editing process for editing registered data D01 accessed by the image processing apparatus 10. The host apparatus 8 is an example of a data editing apparatus that executes the data editing process.

[0028] The image processing apparatus 10 can communicate with the host apparatus 8 through a network 80 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a printing apparatus 1, an image reading apparatus 2, a user interface apparatus 3, a communication apparatus 4, a control apparatus 5, and a secondary storage apparatus 6, etc. The control apparatus 5 includes a CPU 51 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, etc.

[0030] The user interface apparatus 3 includes an operation apparatus 3a and a display apparatus 3b. The operation apparatus 3a is a device that accepts human operations. For example, the operation apparatus 3a includes operation buttons and a touch panel, etc. The display apparatus 3b can display information. For example, the display apparatus 3b includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel.

[0031] The communication apparatus 4 is a communication interface device that communicates with other devices such as the host apparatus 8 through the network 80. The control apparatus 5 performs all data transmission and reception with the other devices through the communication apparatus 4.

[0032] In the following description, the image read from the original document 92 by the image reading process of the image reading apparatus 2 is referred to as a read image.

[0033] The printing apparatus 1 can execute the printing process based on the data of the read image or a print request received from an information terminal (not shown) through the communication apparatus 4.

[0034] Also, the communication apparatus 4 can execute an image data transmission process of transmitting the data of the read image to a specified destination through the network 80.

[0035] The control apparatus 5 performs various operations, data processing, and control of various electrical devices included in the image processing apparatus 10.

[0036] The secondary storage device 6 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. The secondary storage device 6 can store computer programs and various data. For example, one or both of a hard disk drive and an SSD (Solid State Drive) are employed as the secondary storage device 6.

[0037] The secondary storage device 6 stores the computer program executed by the CPU 51 and the data referred to by the CPU 51. The CPU 51 is an example of a processor.

[0038] The CPU 51 is a processor that executes various data processing and controls by executing the computer program stored in the secondary storage device 6.

[0039] It is also conceivable that other processors such as a DSP execute the data processing and control instead of the CPU 51.

[0040] The RAM 52 is a computer-readable volatile storage device. The RAM 52 stores temporarily the computer program executed by the CPU 51 and the data output and referred to by the CPU 51 in the process of executing the computer program.

[0041] The CPU 51 includes a plurality of processing modules realized by executing the computer program. The plurality of processing modules in the CPU 51 include a main control unit 5a and a job control unit 5b, etc.

[0042] The main control unit 5a mainly monitors operations on the operating device 3a and data reception by the communication device 4. Further, when the main control unit 5a detects an operation on the operating device 3a or data reception, it controls the start of processing according to the detected content.

[0043] Furthermore, when the input authentication data is input, the main control unit 5a executes an authentication process on the input authentication data. For example, the input authentication data is input to the CPU 51 through the operation device 3a or the communication device 4.

[0044] In this embodiment, registration data D01 including registration authentication data D13 for each user is stored in the secondary storage device 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The registration data D01 is data accessed by the image processing apparatus 10.

[0045] The registration data D01 includes registration user data D1 (see FIG. 1). The registration user data D1 includes a plurality of individual user data D10 (see FIG. 3). The plurality of individual user data D10 corresponds to a plurality of users who can use the image processing apparatus 10. Each of the individual user data D10 includes registration authentication data D13 (see FIG. 3).

[0046] In the authentication process, the main control unit 5a collates the input authentication data with each of the registration authentication data D13.

[0047] The input authentication data matching any of the registration authentication data D13 means that the authentication process is successful. That is, when the registration authentication data D13 matching the input authentication data is included in the plurality of individual user data D10, the authentication process is successful.

[0048] On the other hand, the input authentication data not matching any of the registration authentication data D13 means that the authentication process fails.

[0049] The job control unit 5b controls the printing device 1, the image reading device 2, and the communication device 4. When the authentication process is successful, the job control unit 5b causes the required image processing to be executed on part or all of the printing device 1, the image reading device 2, and the communication device 4.

[0050] The printing device 1, the image reading device 2, and the communication device 4 are examples of an image processing unit capable of executing the above-described image processing. In the present embodiment, the image processing includes the printing process, the image reading process, and the image data transmission process.

[0051] The image processing device 10 is shared by a plurality of users. For example, each user operates the host device 8 and requests the image processing device 10 to perform the above-described image processing through the host device 8. Further, each user directly operates the operation device 3a to request the image processing device 10 to perform the above-described image processing.

[0052] When the authentication process is successful, the job control unit 5b causes the image processing unit to execute the image processing corresponding to the input processing request. For example, the processing request is input through the operation device 3a of the image processing device 10. Further, the processing request may be input through the host device 8 and the communication device 4.

[0053] The host device 8 is a computer capable of communicating with the image processing device 10 via the network 80. The host device 8 can access the registered data D01 through the network 80, the communication device 4, and the CPU 51 in the image processing device 10.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the host device 8 includes a CPU 81, a RAM 82, a secondary storage device 83, an operation device 84, a display device 85, and a communication device 86.

[0055] The operation device 84 is a device that receives human operations. For example, the operation device 84 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. Further, the operation device 84 may include a touch panel. The display device 85 can display information. For example, the display device 85 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel.

[0056] The communication device 86 is a communication interface device that communicates with other devices such as the image processing device 10 through the network 80. The CPU 81 performs all data transmission and reception with other devices through the communication device 86.

[0057] The secondary storage device 83 is a computer-readable non-volatile storage device. The secondary storage device 83 can store computer programs and various data. For example, one or both of a hard disk drive and an SSD (Solid State Drive) are employed as the secondary storage device 83.

[0058] The secondary storage device 83 stores computer programs executed by the CPU 81 and data referred to by the CPU 81.

[0059] The CPU 81 is a processor that executes various data processing and controls by executing the computer program stored in the secondary storage device 83. The CPU 81 is an example of a processor.

[0060] The RAM 82 is a computer-readable volatile storage device. The RAM 82 primary stores the computer program executed by the CPU 81 and data output and referred to by the CPU 81 during the execution of the computer program.

[0061] The CPU 81 includes a plurality of processing modules realized by executing the computer program. The plurality of processing modules in the CPU 81 include a main processing unit 8a, a job request unit 8b, a data editing unit 8c, and the like.

[0062] The main processing unit 8a executes controls such as starting various processes in response to operations on the operation device 84 and controls of the display device 85.

[0063] The job request unit 8b generates the data of the print job. Further, the job request unit 8b transmits the data of the print job to the image processing apparatus 10 through the communication device 86. Transmitting the data of the print job to the image processing apparatus 10 is an example of a request for the image processing to the image processing apparatus 10.

[0064] The data editing unit 8c executes a registered data editing process. The registered data editing process is a process of editing the registered data D01 stored in the secondary storage device 6 of the image processing apparatus 10.

[0065] The registered data D01 includes registered user data D1 (see FIG. 1). The registered user data D1 is data regarding a plurality of users who can use the image processing apparatus 10. The registered user data D1 includes registration authentication data D13 for each user (see FIG. 3).

[0066] Further, the registered data D01 further includes management master data D3 (see FIG. 1). The management master data D3 indicates that any one of the plurality of users registered in the registered user data D1 is a device administrator.

[0067] The main control unit 5a of the image processing apparatus 10 executes the login process when the input authentication data is input. In the present embodiment, the CPU 81 of the image processing apparatus 10 is an example of a management apparatus that manages access to the registered data D01.

[0068] Further, when the data including the registration authentication data that matches the input authentication data among the plurality of user data corresponds to the device administrator, the main control unit 5a permits the registered data editing process by the host device 8.

[0069] By the way, when the authority to edit the registered data D01 is limited only to the device administrator, the load on the device administrator is large. The device administrator often feels a particularly large load when editing data regarding users belonging to a department that has no direct relation to himself / herself.

[0070] On the other hand, having too many device administrators is not preferable for managing the image processing apparatus 10.

[0071] In the host device 8, the data editing unit 8c executes the registration data editing process according to, for example, the procedure shown in FIG. 6. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the burden on the device administrator for editing the registration data D01 without increasing the number of device administrators.

[0072] In the present embodiment, the registration data D01 includes registration user data D1, department master data D2, and management master data D3 (see FIG. 1).

[0073] As shown in FIG. 3, each piece of individual user data D10 includes a registrant code D11, registrant name data D12, registration authentication data D13, affiliated department code D14, and individual allowable function data D15 (see FIG. 3).

[0074] The registrant code D11 is an identification code of the user. The registrant name data D12 represents the name of the user. The registration authentication data D13 is the authentication data of the user. For example, the registration authentication data D13 includes a user ID and a password.

[0075] The affiliated department code D14 is an identification code of the department to which the user belongs. The affiliated department code D14 is an example of affiliated department data.

[0076] The individual allowable function data D15 represents the range of image processing functions allowed for the user. The image processing functions are functions of the image processing apparatus 10. For example, the individual allowable function data D15 represents whether each of a plurality of image processing functions provided in the image processing apparatus 10 can be used.

[0077] As described above, when the authentication process is successful, the job control unit 5b causes the image processing unit to execute the image processing corresponding to the processing request input thereto. At this time, the job control unit 5b causes the image processing unit to execute the image processing within the range of the image processing functions permitted by the individual permission function data D15.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 4, the department master data D2 includes a plurality of registered department data D20. The plurality of registered department data D20 respectively correspond to a plurality of departments that are candidates for the departments to which the plurality of users belong.

[0079] Each of the registered department data D20 includes department name data D21, a registered department code D22, a parent department code D23, and standard permission function data D24.

[0080] The department name data D21 represents the name of the department. The registered department code D22 is an identification code of the department. The parent department code D23 is an identification code of the upper-level department to which the department represented by the corresponding registered department code D22 directly belongs.

[0081] The parent department code D23 is set as an option from among the plurality of registered department codes D22 included in the department master data D2. By including the parent department code D23, the department master data D2 represents the subordinate relationship of the plurality of departments that are candidates for the departments to which the plurality of users belong. The department master data D2 is an example of department hierarchy data.

[0082] The standard permission function data D24 represents the standard range of the image processing functions permitted for use by the users belonging to the corresponding department. For example, the standard permission function data D24 indicates whether each of the plurality of image processing functions provided in the image processing apparatus 10 can be used.

[0083] When setting the department code D14 for each piece of individual user data D10, the data editing unit 8c sets the initial value of the corresponding individual permission function data D15. At this time, the data editing unit 8c sets the standard permission function data D24 corresponding to the registered department code D22 representing the same department as the department code D14 as the initial value of the individual permission function data D15.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 5, the management master data D3 includes a plurality of administrator data D30. The plurality of administrator data D30 corresponds to a plurality of administrators who have the right to edit the registration data D01. The plurality of administrators are part of the plurality of users corresponding to the plurality of individual user data D10. Each piece of administrator data D30 includes an administrator code D31 and a management department code D32.

[0085] The administrator code D31 is the identification code of the administrator. The administrator code D31 is set with the registrant code D11 in the plurality of individual user data D10 as an option. That is, the plurality of administrator data D30 is associated with any one of the plurality of individual user data D10 by the registrant code D11.

[0086] The management department code D32 is data corresponding to all departments or specific departments. The management department code D32 is an example of management department data.

[0087] In the present embodiment, the management department code D32 is set with a predetermined all-department code and a plurality of registered department codes D22 included in the department master data D2 as options. The all-department code is an example of data representing correspondence to all departments.

[0088] When the all-department code is set, the management department code D32 is an example of unrestricted data corresponding to all departments. Also, when any one of the plurality of registered department codes D22 is set, the management department code D32 is an example of restricted data corresponding to a specific department.

[0089] As will be described later, the management department code D32 is data used to specify an editable range in the registration data D01.

[0090] When any one of a plurality of registration department codes D22 is set as the management department code D32, the department represented by the code set as the management department code D32 is the specific department.

[0091] The user corresponding to the unrestricted data is a device administrator who has the authority to edit all of the registration data D01.

[0092] On the other hand, the user corresponding to the restricted data is a department administrator who has the authority to edit only the specific data related to the specific department corresponding to the management department code D32 in the registration data D01.

[0093] When an edit start operation on the operation device 84 is performed, the data editing unit 8c of the CPU 81 executes the registration data editing process.

[0094] By the data editing unit 8c executing the registration data editing process, an example of a registration data editing method is realized. Further, the host device 8 including the data editing unit 8c is an example of a registration data editing device.

[0095] [Registration Data Editing Process] Hereinafter, an example of the procedure of the registration data editing process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0096] In the following description, S1, S2,... represent identification codes of a plurality of steps in the registration data editing process. The data editing unit 8c first executes the process of step S1 in the registration data editing process.

[0097] [Step S1] In step S1, the data editing unit 8c causes the display device 85 to display a message prompting the input of input authentication data.

[0098] Furthermore, in step S1, when the input authentication data is input through the operating device 84, the data editing unit 8c accesses the registered user data D1 and executes an authentication process.

[0099] In the authentication process, the data editing unit 8c identifies the target user data. The target user data is data including registered authentication data D13 that matches the input authentication data among a plurality of individual user data D10.

[0100] If the data editing unit 8c can identify the target user data, the authentication process is successful. If the data editing unit 8c cannot identify the target user data, the authentication process fails.

[0101] If the authentication process fails, the data editing unit 8c executes the process of step S2. On the other hand, if the authentication process is successful, the data editing unit 8c executes the process of step S3.

[0102] <Step S2> In step S2, the data editing unit 8c executes a first error notification process and transfers the process to step S1.

[0103] The first error notification process is a process of notifying the user that the authentication process has failed. For example, in the first error notification process, the data editing unit 8c causes a predetermined error message to be displayed on the display device 85.

[0104] <Step S3> In step S3, the data editing unit 8c determines whether the target user data is data corresponding to the administrator.

[0105] Specifically, in step S3, the data editing unit 8c executes an administrator identification process while accessing the registered data D01. The administrator identification process is a process of identifying target administrator data from among a plurality of administrator data D30. The target administrator data is data associated with the target user data among the plurality of administrator data D30.

[0106] In the present embodiment, the data editing unit 8c identifies, as the target administrator data, data including an administrator code D31 that represents the same code as the registrant code D11 of the target user data from among the plurality of administrator data D30.

[0107] When the data editing unit 8c can identify the target administrator data, it determines that the target user data is data corresponding to the administrator. On the other hand, when the data editing unit 8c cannot identify the target administrator data, it determines that the target user data is not data corresponding to the administrator.

[0108] When the data editing unit 8c determines that the target user data is not data corresponding to the administrator, it executes the process of step S4. On the other hand, when the data editing unit 8c determines that the target user data is data corresponding to the administrator, it executes the process of step S5.

[0109] <Step S5> In step S5, the data editing unit 8c determines whether the management department code D32 of the target administrator data is either the all-department code or the registration department code D22.

[0110] When the data editing unit 8c determines that the management department code D32 of the target administrator data is the all-department code, it executes the process of step S6.

[0111] On the other hand, when the data editing unit 8c determines that the management department code D32 of the target administrator data is either the registration department code D22, it executes the process of step S7.

[0112] <Engineering S6> In Engineering S6, the data editing unit 8c executes a first data editing process that targets all of the registered data D01 for editing.

[0113] In the first data editing process, the data editing unit 8c causes the display device 85 to display a first data editing screen in which all of the registered data D01 is a candidate for editing.

[0114] Furthermore, in the first data editing process, the data editing unit 8c performs data editing in which all of the registered data D01 is a candidate for editing according to an editing input operation on the operation device 84.

[0115] The data editing includes changing existing data, deleting existing data, and adding new data.

[0116] In the first data editing process, when an end operation on the operation device 84 is performed, the data editing unit 8c ends the first data editing process and further ends the registered data editing process.

[0117] <Engineering S7> In Engineering S7, the data editing unit 8c executes an editing target specifying process. The editing target specifying process is a process for specifying an editable target in the registered data D01.

[0118] The editable target in the registered data D01 is the specific data related to the specific department corresponding to the management department code D32.

[0119] In the present embodiment, the specific data includes specific user data that is part of a plurality of individual user data D10 and specific administrator data that is part of a plurality of administrator data D30.

[0120] The specific user data is data including a department affiliation code D14 that represents a department having a predetermined correspondence relationship with the specific department corresponding to the management department code D32 of the target administrator data among a plurality of individual user data D10.

[0121] In the present embodiment, the specific user data includes first specific user data and second specific user data. The specific administrator data includes first specific administrator data and second specific administrator data.

[0122] Specifically, the data editing unit 8c specifies, as the first specific user data, data including a department affiliation code D14 that represents the same department as the specific department among a plurality of individual user data D10.

[0123] That is, the first specific user data includes a department affiliation code D14 that represents the same department as the specific department corresponding to the management department code D32 of the target administrator data.

[0124] Furthermore, the data editing unit 8c specifies, as the second specific user data, data including a department affiliation code D14 that represents a department set in a subordinate relationship to the specific department in the department master data D2 among a plurality of individual user data D10.

[0125] That is, the second specific user data includes a department affiliation code D14 that represents a subordinate department subordinate to the specific department corresponding to the management department code D32 of the target administrator data.

[0126] Furthermore, the data editing unit 8c specifies, as the first specific administrator data, data including a management department code D32 that represents the same department as the specific department among a plurality of administrator data D30.

[0127] Furthermore, the data editing unit 8c specifies, as the second specific administrator data, data including an administrative department code D32 representing a department set in a subordinate relationship to the specific department in the department master data D2 among the plurality of administrator data D30.

[0128] Note that in the editing target specifying process, the data editing unit 8c may include, among the plurality of individual user data D10, the third specific user data as the specific user data.

[0129] The third specific user data is data including an affiliated department code D14 representing a department set in a subordinate relationship to the specific department in the department master data D2 among the plurality of individual user data D10.

[0130] That is, the third specific user data includes an affiliated department code D14 representing a superior department having the specific department corresponding to the administrative department code D32 of the target administrator data as a subordinate department.

[0131] After executing the editing target specifying process, the data editing unit 8c executes the process of step S8.

[0132] <Step S8> In step S8, the data editing unit 8c executes a second data editing process for editing the specific data among the registered data D01.

[0133] In the second data editing process, the data editing unit 8c causes the display device 85 to display a second data editing screen for making the specific data an editing candidate.

[0134] Furthermore, in the second data editing process, the data editing unit 8c performs the data editing for making the specific data an editing candidate in accordance with an editing input operation on the operation device 84.

[0135] That is, in the second data editing process, the data editing unit 8c executes a data editing process on the specific user data among the plurality of individual user data D10 as the editing target. Similarly, in the second data editing process, the data editing unit 8c executes a data editing process on the specific administrator data among the plurality of administrator data D30 as the editing target.

[0136] In the second data editing process, when an end operation on the operation device 84 is performed, the data editing unit 8c ends the second data editing process and further ends the registered data editing process.

[0137] The device administrator and the department administrator can edit the registered data D01 through the host device 8. When the registered data editing process is adopted, the department administrator can edit a part of the data related to the specific department in the registered data D01.

[0138] Therefore, by registering the department administrator, the burden on the device administrator for editing the registered data D01 is reduced without increasing the number of device administrators.

[0139] For example, a user belonging to the specific department is registered as the department administrator. In this case, the department administrator will only edit the data related to the users belonging to the department with which he is related. Therefore, the burden on the department administrator is also small.

[0140] [First Application Example] Next, a first application example of the registered data editing process will be described.

[0141] As described above, it is conceivable that a user belonging to the specific department is registered as the department administrator. In this case, the department code D14 of the target user data and the management department code D32 corresponding to the specific department in the target administrator data represent the same department.

[0142] As described above, the fact that the management department code D32 corresponds to the specific department means that the management department code D32 is the restricted data.

[0143] Therefore, in this application example, the department code D14 associated with the plurality of administrator data D30 in the plurality of individual user data D10 also serves as the management department code D32 corresponding to the specific department in the plurality of administrator data D30.

[0144] In this application example, the management department code D32 is set as options including an unrestricted code indicating correspondence to all departments and a restricted code indicating non-correspondence to all departments. The management department code D32 set with the unrestricted code is an example of the unrestricted data.

[0145] In this application example, when the target administrator data is specified and the management department code D32 of the target administrator data is not the unrestricted data, the data editing unit 8c specifies the specific department.

[0146] Specifically, the data editing unit 8c executes the processes of step S7 and step S8 in the registration data editing process (see FIG. 6) with the department represented by the department code D14 of the target user data as the specific department.

[0147] By adopting this application example, the department administrator is granted the authority to edit the data within the range related to his / her own department in the registration data D01.

[0148] [Second Application Example] Next, a second application example of the registration data editing process will be described.

[0149] When editing the administrator data D30, the data editing unit 8c in this application example sets an allowable department range according to the department code D14 of the individual user data D10 corresponding to the administrator data D30. The allowable department range is the range of departments that can be set for the management department code D32.

[0150] Furthermore, when editing the administrator data D30 in this application example, the data editing unit 8c in this application example restricts the code of the specific department that can be set in the management department code D32 to the code of the department within the allowable department range.

[0151] For example, the data editing unit 8c sets the management department, which is the department represented by the department code D14 of the individual user data D10 corresponding to the administrator data D30 to be edited, within the allowable department range.

[0152] Also, the data editing unit 8c may set the management department and the departments set in the department master data D2 in a subordinate relationship to the management department within the allowable department range.

[0153] Also, the data editing unit 8c may set the management department, the departments set in the department master data D2 in a subordinate relationship to the management department, and the departments set in the department master data D2 in a relationship where the management department is a subordinate department within the allowable department range.

[0154] [Third Application Example] The CPU 51 of the image processing apparatus 10 may execute the registration data editing process. In this case, the control device 5 including the CPU 51 is an example of the registration data editing device.

[0155] Also, the CPU 81 of the host device 8 may execute a part of the registration data editing process, and the CPU 51 of the image processing apparatus 10 may execute the other part of the registration data editing process. In this case, the control devices 5 of the host device 8 and the image processing apparatus 10 are an example of the registration data editing device.

Explanation of Signs

[0156] 8: Host Device (Registration Data Editing Device) 10: Image Processing Apparatus 100: Image Forming System D01: Registration Data D1: Registered User Data D10: Individual User Data D2: Department Master Data D20: Registered Department Data

Claims

1. A registration data editing method for executing, by a processor, a process of editing registration data accessed by an image processing apparatus, wherein the registration data includes a plurality of individual user data corresponding to a plurality of users who use the image processing apparatus, each including registration authentication data and department affiliation data, and when including a plurality of administrator data respectively associated with any of the plurality of individual user data and each including management department data corresponding to all departments or specific departments, the processor identifies target user data including the registration authentication data matching the input authentication data among the plurality of individual user data when the input authentication data is input; the processor identifies target administrator data associated with the target user data among the plurality of administrator data; when the management department data of the target administrator data is unrestricted data corresponding to all departments, the processor executes a first data editing process of targeting all of the plurality of individual user data for editing according to an editing input to an operation device; when the management department data of the target administrator data is restricted data corresponding to the specific department, the processor executes a second data editing process of targeting specific user data that is a part of the plurality of individual user data for editing according to the editing input, wherein the specific user data is data including the department affiliation data representing a department having a predetermined correspondence with the specific department corresponding to the management department data of the target administrator data among the plurality of individual user data. The registration data editing method is as described above.

2. When the department affiliation data associated with the plurality of administrator data in the plurality of individual user data also serves as the management department data corresponding to the specific department in the plurality of administrator data, when the target administrator data is identified and the management department data of the target administrator data is not the unrestricted data, the processor executes the second data editing process with the department represented by the department affiliation data of the target user data as the specific department. The registration data editing method according to Claim 1.

3. When the registered data includes department hierarchy data representing the subordinate relationships of a plurality of departments that are candidates for the departments to which the plurality of users belong, the processor executes the second data editing process using, as the specific user data, first specific user data and second specific user data among the plurality of individual user data, the first specific user data is data including the department affiliation data representing the same department as the specific department among the plurality of individual user data, the second specific user data is data including the department affiliation data representing a department set in a subordinate relationship to the specific department in the department hierarchy data among the plurality of individual user data. The registered data editing method according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A registered data editing apparatus including a processor that realizes the registered data editing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. An image processing unit capable of executing image processing including printing processing for forming an image on a sheet, a control unit that controls the image processing unit, the registered data editing apparatus according to claim 4, and includes when the input authentication data is input, the control unit causes the image processing unit to execute the image processing according to a processing request to be input when the registered authentication data matching the input authentication data is included in the plurality of individual user data. An image processing apparatus.

Images