Information processing device

Abstract

To reduce the operation for reregistering a user who has been deregistered.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: registration means which registers a user; function information storage means which stores the user in association with function information on a function to be used by the user registered by the registration means; and deletion means which deletes, upon occurrence of an event determined as a trigger for reducing the number of users registered by the registration means, registrations of one or more users and function information, in accordance with a predetermined rule. When the user deregistered by the deletion means is reregistered by the registration means, the function information storage means stores function information according to a history associated with the reregistered user in association with the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Information processing devices equipped with functions such as printing, copying, scanning, facsimile, and email are known. Generally, information processing devices are shared by multiple users. However, allowing unlimited use by multiple users can lead to problems such as information leakage, so user authentication is performed. For example, a system is known in which a database containing registered user information (user ID, password, domain name, etc.) is stored in the information processing device, and user information entered by a user is compared with the database to determine whether the user is authorized to use the information processing device. Furthermore, when multiple information processing devices are operated, storing the database in a server connected to the multiple information processing devices via a network allows the server to centrally manage all users of the multiple information processing devices.

[0003] Additionally, each authenticated user is associated with authorization information that indicates whether or not they can use each function (e.g., copying is permitted, faxing is not permitted). Authorization information is usually entered by an administrator with default values determined in advance according to the user's field of responsibility or job rank, but if a user wishes to use a function that is not permitted by the default values, they may be permitted to use it by requesting the administrator.

[0004] In addition, to avoid problems such as increased operational costs and congestion, a limit is placed on the number of users. However, it would be inconvenient if new users could not register once the maximum number of registered users was reached. Therefore, when the maximum number of registered users is reached, the registration of the user who last logged in the oldest or the user with the lowest preset priority is deleted.

[0005] Here, there is an issue to be resolved regarding deregistration. When deregistration of a user is performed, it is common to also delete the authorization information corresponding to that user. However, there are cases where a user whose registration has been deregistered wishes to re-register. In such cases, in addition to the re-registration work, work must also be done to associate authorization information according to the area of responsibility, job rank, etc. If a user wishes to be permitted to use a function that is not permitted by the default authorization information, they must request the administrator again, which places a burden on both the administrator and the user. In particular, if the upper limit on the number of users is too low compared to the size of the organization, deregistrations will occur frequently, resulting in a heavy burden. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-286956 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] To address the above problem, Patent Document 1 proposes a technology that automatically grants authority to register new users to already registered users. In this case, the workload of the administrator is reduced, but the workload of the entire organization is not reduced because work is still required for already registered users.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device that can reduce the work involved in re-registering a user whose registration has been cancelled. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the information processing device of the present invention comprises a registration means for registering users, a function information storage means for storing function information regarding functions used by the users registered by the registration means in association with the users, a history storage means for storing a history of execution of the functions in association with the users, and an erasure means for erasing the registration and the function information of one or more users in accordance with predetermined rules when an event occurs that has been determined as an opportunity to reduce the number of users registered by the registration means, and when a user whose registration has been erased by the erasure means is re-registered by the registration means, the function information storage means stores the function information corresponding to the history associated with the re-registered user in association with the user.

[0010] The function information may include authorization information indicating whether or not each of the functions is permitted to be used.

[0011] The function information storage means may be configured to store, in association with a user who has been re-registered by the registration means, the authorization information with the initial value changed to permitted when the history of successfully executing the function for which the initial value of the authorization information is not permitted is stored.

[0012] The function information storage means may be configured to extract, from the history of a user re-registered by the registration means for a predetermined period, the history of successful execution of the function for which the initial value is not permitted.

[0013] The information processing device may include a designation unit that accepts designation of the predetermined period. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the work involved in re-registering a user whose registration has been cancelled. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1]1 is a block diagram illustrating an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing registration information according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing authorization information included in function information according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a job execution history according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a flow diagram of account management according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart of an authorization information storage process according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing setting values included in function information according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An information processing system 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First, we will explain the overall configuration of the information processing system 400. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the information processing system 400. The information processing system 400 includes a server 200, a plurality of PCs 300 (Personal Computers), and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100 (an example of an information processing apparatus) connected via a LAN 410 (Local Area Network).

[0018] The server 200 mainly manages information relating to users who use the information processing system 400. The PC 300 mainly performs document editing, sending jobs to the image forming apparatus 100, and the like.

[0019] 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of image forming apparatus 100. Image forming apparatus 100 includes printer 1, scanner 110, and document feeder 120. Document feeder 120 feeds a document along a feed path that passes through the reading position of scanner 110. Scanner 110 is a flatbed image scanner that reads a document and generates image data. Printer 1 forms an image based on the image data on a sheet.

[0020] The control unit 2 is also called a controller and includes a calculation unit 2P, a storage unit 2M, and a communication unit 2C. The calculation unit 2P is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU). The storage unit 2M includes storage media such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and a hard disk drive (HDD). The calculation unit 2P performs various processes by reading and executing control programs stored in the storage unit 2M. The communication unit 2C is a communication interface that communicates via a LAN 410. The control unit 2 may be configured to operate using only an integrated circuit without using software.

[0021] The display operation unit 19 includes a display panel, a touch panel superimposed on the display surface of the display panel, and a keypad adjacent to the display panel. The control unit 2 displays screens showing operation menus and statuses of the printer 1 and scanner 110 on the display panel, and controls each part of the printer 1 and scanner 110 in response to operations detected by the touch panel and keypad.

[0022] 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of image forming apparatus 100. The following functions are realized by calculation unit 2P of control unit 2 reading and executing a control program stored in memory unit 2M. Image forming apparatus 100 includes registration means 21 for registering users, function information storage means 22 for storing function information related to functions used by users registered by registration means 21 in association with the users, history storage means 23 for storing function execution history in association with the users, and deletion means 24 for deleting the registration and function information of one or more users in accordance with a predetermined rule when an event occurs that is determined as an opportunity to reduce the number of users registered by registration means 21. When a user whose registration has been deleted by deletion means 24 is re-registered by registration means 21, function information storage means 22 stores function information according to the history associated with the re-registered user in association with the user.

[0023] [Method of registration] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing registration information. The registration means 21 registers users. User registration refers to inputting registration information via a user registration screen displayed on the display operation unit 19 and storing the input registration information in the memory unit 2M. The registration information includes a user ID (identifier), password, user name, domain name, user registration date and time, most recent login date and time, etc. As described above, the information processing system 400 according to this embodiment includes multiple image forming apparatuses 100, and one user can register with multiple image forming apparatuses 100.

[0024] The user ID is information for identifying the user. The password is information that can be known only by the user or only by the user and the administrator. If the combination of the user ID and password entered by the user into the display operation unit 19 is stored in the memory unit 2M, the control unit 2 permits login to the image forming apparatus 100. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may be configured so that users who do not log in cannot use it, or may be configured so that users who do not log in can use only a minimum set of predetermined functions. In either case, when a user logs in, the function information (authorization information) described below is applied to each function of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0025] The user name is information that makes it easier to identify a user than the user ID, such as the user's name. The domain name is a name that represents part of the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) corresponding to the IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to PC300. The user registration date and time is the date and time when the user was registered. The latest login date and time is the date and time when the user most recently logged in, and is updated every time the user logs in.

[0026] The user registration work may be performed by an administrator who manages the information processing system 400, or may be performed by the user himself / herself under the supervision of the administrator. The server 200 stores user information (user ID, etc.) of users who are permitted to register. Users who are permitted to register are, for example, related parties (employees, employees of cooperating companies, etc.) of the organization that operates the information processing system 400. When registration information is input via the display operation unit 19, the control unit 2 inquires of the server 200 whether user information corresponding to the input registration information is stored, and registers the user who wishes to be registered only if user information corresponding to the registration information is stored in the server 200.

[0027] [Functional information storage means] The function information storage means 22 stores function information related to functions used by users registered by the registration means 21 in association with the users. Specifically, when user registration is complete, the control unit 2 displays a screen for inputting function information on the display operation unit 19, and stores the input function information in association with the user ID in the storage unit 2M. The function information is, for example, a collection of authorization information indicating whether or not each function can be used. The authorization information is either "permitted" or "not permitted." The authorization information is entered by an administrator with default values determined in advance according to the field of responsibility, job rank, etc., but if a user wishes to use a function that is not permitted by the default values, the user may be permitted to use it by requesting the administrator.

[0028] When a user logs in to image forming apparatus 100, control unit 2 displays buttons corresponding to each function on display operation unit 19, and the user selects a function by operating the button. Control unit 2 reads authorization information corresponding to the logged-in user from storage unit 2M and determines whether each function can be used according to the authorization information. If the user selects a function for which the authorization information is "permitted," control unit 2 executes processing using the selected function. On the other hand, if the user selects a function for which the authorization information is "not permitted," control unit 2 does not execute processing using the selected function.

[0029] The button display mode (for example, density) may be different between functions whose authorization information is "permitted" and functions whose authorization information is "not permitted."

[0030] 5 is a diagram showing authorization information included in function information. In this example, the initial values of authorization information for the black and white printing function, color printing function, copy function, scan and send function, and facsimile sending function are shown. The initial values of authorization information for the black and white printing function, color printing function, and scan and send function are "permitted." The initial values of authorization information for the copy function and facsimile sending function are "not permitted."

[0031] [History storage means] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the history of job execution. The history storage unit 23 stores the history of function execution in association with the user. Specifically, the control unit 2 stores the history of all jobs for which execution instructions were given to the image forming apparatus 100 via the PC 300 or the display operation unit 19. In reality, the history of all users is stored, but the example in Fig. 6 shows the history of only one user (user ID = g066f093).

[0032] The history includes the date and time the job was accepted, the user ID, the functions specified in the job, and the job results. When a job (black and white printing, color printing) is accepted from PC 300, the user ID associated with PC 300 is stored. When a job is accepted from display operation unit 19, the user ID of the user who logged in to image forming apparatus 100 is stored.

[0033] When a job is accepted, the control unit 2 refers to the function information corresponding to the user ID and determines whether the function can be used. If the authorization information for the function specified in the job is "permitted," the control unit 2 executes the process using the selected function and stores "success" as the job result. However, if the job is not completed due to some abnormality, the control unit 2 stores "failure." On the other hand, if the authorization information for the function specified in the job is "not permitted," the control unit 2 does not execute the process using the selected function and stores "failure" as the job result.

[0034] Authorization information is entered by an administrator in accordance with the agreements of the organization that operates the information processing system 400, but the authorization information may also be changed in response to requests from users or the departments to which the users belong. For example, in the example shown in Figures 5 and 6, the authorization information for the copy function is "not permitted," so the result of the first copy function job (February 7, 2018, 1:10 PM) is "failed." Later, at the user's request, the administrator changes the authorization information for the copy function to "permitted," so the result of the copy function job is "success."

[0035] [Method of erasure] The deletion means 24 deletes the registration and function information of one or more users in accordance with a predetermined rule when an event occurs that is determined as a trigger for reducing the number of users registered by the registration means 21. An example of a trigger for reducing the number of users registered by the registration means 21 is when the number of registered users reaches an upper limit. The upper limit is determined based on the storage capacity of the storage unit 2M, the processing speed of the image forming apparatus 100, the number of people involved in the organization that operates the information processing system 400, etc. The predetermined rule is, for example, that the user with the oldest registration date and time is registered.

[0036] If a user whose registration has been deleted by the deletion means 24 wishes to use the image forming apparatus 100, the user must re-register using the registration means 21. When the user is re-registered, the function information storage means 22 executes the following process.

[0037] When a user whose registration has been deleted by the deletion means 24 is re-registered by the registration means 21, the function information storage means 22 stores function information corresponding to the history associated with the re-registered user in association with the user. Specifically, when the function information storage means 22 stores a history of successful execution of a function whose predetermined initial value is "prohibited" for the user re-registered by the registration means 21, the function information storage means 22 stores authorization information in which the initial value has been changed to "permitted" in association with the user. Furthermore, the function information storage means 22 extracts records of successful processing using a function whose initial value is "prohibited" from the history of the user re-registered by the registration means 21 for a predetermined period.

[0038] [Specification means] The designation means 25 accepts designation of a predetermined period for extracting a history of successful execution of a function whose initial value is not permitted. For example, the designation of the predetermined period is configured to be accepted on an account management screen displayed on the display operation unit 19 when the administrator logs in.

[0039] Next, a description will be given of the details of the account management executed by the control unit 2. Fig. 7 is a flowchart of the account management. When the image forming apparatus 100 is powered on, the control unit 2 executes the account management in accordance with the flowchart in Fig. 7.

[0040] First (step S01), the control unit 2 determines whether or not a login has been requested via the display operation unit 19. If it is determined that a login has not been requested (step S01: NO), the control unit 2 repeats the process of step S01.

[0041] On the other hand, if it is determined that a login has been requested (step S01: YES), the control unit 2 inquires of the server 200 whether or not user information corresponding to the user who has requested the login is stored (step S02). If a response is received from the server 200 indicating that the corresponding user information is not stored (step S03: NO), the control unit 2 causes the display operation unit 19 to display a message indicating that the login has failed (step S04).

[0042] On the other hand, if a response is received from server 200 indicating that the corresponding user information is stored (step S03: YES), control unit 2 determines whether the user who requested login has already been registered in image forming apparatus 100 (step S05). Specifically, control unit 2 refers to the registration information stored in memory unit 2M, and if registration information corresponding to the user who requested login is stored (step S05: YES), control unit 2 causes display operation unit 19 to display a message indicating that login was successful (step S06).

[0043] On the other hand, if the registration information corresponding to the user who has requested login is not stored (step S05: NO), the control unit 2 determines whether the number of registered users of the image forming apparatus 100 has reached the upper limit (step S11). If it is determined that the number of registered users has not reached the upper limit (step S11: NO), the control unit 2 registers the user who has requested login (step S12) and proceeds to the processing of step S14.

[0044] On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of registered users has reached the upper limit (step S11: YES), the control unit 2 deletes the registration and authorization information of the user with the oldest registration date and time (step S13), then registers the user who requested login (step S12), and proceeds to processing in step S14.

[0045] In step S14, the control unit 2 performs function information storage processing. Fig. 8 is a flowchart of the function information storage processing. First (step S21), the control unit 2 sets N to 1. N is a counter that indicates the function number shown in Fig. 5.

[0046] Next (step S22), the control unit 2 refers to the authorization information included in the function information (see FIG. 5) and determines whether the initial value of the authorization information for function number N is "not permitted." If the initial value is not "not permitted" (step S22: NO), the control unit 2 proceeds to the processing of step S26, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the initial value is "not permitted" (step S22: YES), the control unit 2 extracts the history of function number N within a predetermined period (step S23). The predetermined period is, for example, 120 days.

[0047] Next (step S24), the control unit 2 determines whether the extracted history contains a history of successful execution of the function with function number N. If a history of successful execution is included (step S24: YES), the control unit 2 sets the authorization information of function number N to "permitted" (step S26).

[0048] On the other hand, if the history of successful execution is not included (step S24: NO), the control unit 2 sets the authorization information of the function number N to "not permitted" (step S25).

[0049] Next (step S27), the control unit 2 determines whether N has reached 5. Five is the number of authorization clauses included in the function information. If it is determined that N has not reached 5 (step S27: NO), the control unit 2 adds 1 to N (step S29) and repeats the processing from step S22 onwards. On the other hand, if it is determined that N has reached 5 (step S27: YES), the control unit 2 associates the authorization information with the user and stores it in the memory unit 2M (step S28).

[0050] The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment described above includes a registration unit 21 that registers users, a function information storage unit 22 that stores function information related to functions used by users registered by the registration unit 21 in association with the users, a history storage unit 23 that stores a history of function execution in association with the users, and a deletion unit 24 that deletes the registration and function information of one or more users in accordance with a predetermined rule when an event occurs that is determined as an opportunity to reduce the number of users registered by the registration unit 21. When a user whose registration has been deleted by the deletion unit 24 is re-registered by the registration unit 21, the function information storage unit 22 stores function information according to the history associated with the re-registered user in association with the user. This configuration eliminates the need to store function information when a user is re-registered, thereby reducing the work involved in re-registering a user whose registration has been deleted.

[0051] Furthermore, according to the image forming device 100 of this embodiment, the function information includes authorization information indicating whether or not each function can be used, thereby reducing the work of inputting authorization information when re-registering a user.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, when a history of successful execution of a function whose initial value of the authorization information is "not permitted" is stored for a user re-registered by the registration means 21, the function information storage means 22 stores the authorization information in which the initial value has been changed to "permitted" in association with the history. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the use of a function that was permitted before the registration was deleted from becoming "not permitted" after re-registration.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the function information storage unit 22 extracts history of successful execution of functions whose initial value is not permitted from the history of a user re-registered by the registration unit 21 over a predetermined period. The authorization information may change between the user's registration and deletion. In such cases, it is less detrimental to the user to use the latest authorization information before the deletion after re-registration. To achieve this, for example, by using the history over a predetermined period up to the deletion, it becomes more likely that the latest authorization information before the deletion can be used after re-registration. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to increase the likelihood that the latest authorization information before the deletion can be used after re-registration.

[0054] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a designation unit 25 that accepts designation of a predetermined period for extracting a history of successful execution of a function whose initial value is not permitted. This configuration allows the predetermined period to be adjusted, further increasing the possibility that the latest authorization information before deregistration can be used after re-registration.

[0055] The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0056] In addition to the configuration of the above embodiment, the storage means 22 may be configured to store authorization information that changes the permission to non-permission in association with a history of failure to execute a function whose predetermined initial value is "permission" for a user re-registered by the registration means 21. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the use of a function that was non-permission before deregistration from being permitted after re-registration.

[0057] In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 has been shown, but the present invention may also be applied to an information processing apparatus other than the image forming apparatus 100, for example, the server 200. Since the information processing system 400 includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100 (see FIG. 1 ), the server 200 stores registration information and function information in association with each of the image forming apparatuses 100, and performs the account management of the above embodiment for each image forming apparatus 100.

[0058] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the function information included authorization information indicating whether each function can be used, but the function information may also include setting values pre-selected from setting values that can be set for each function possessed by the image forming device 100.

[0059] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing setting values included in function information according to a modified example. In this example, setting values for the print function, copy function, scan function, and facsimile function are shown. For example, the setting values for the print function include setting values for paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, color printing / black and white printing, and single-sided printing / double-sided printing. The setting values for the copy function include setting values for paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, color copying / black and white copying, and single-sided copying / double-sided copying. The setting values for the scan function include setting values for color reading / black and white reading, resolution, and file format. The setting values for the facsimile function include setting values for document size, resolution, and density.

[0060] When the control unit 2 stores the job execution history, it also stores the setting values of the functions that were used. When re-registering a user, the control unit 2 reads the setting values of each function from the history and stores them as function information. The setting values of each function are not always the same, and multiple setting values may be used. Therefore, it is possible to store the setting value that is most frequently used among the multiple setting values, or the setting value in the history with the most recent execution date and time.

[0061] When a user logs in to image forming apparatus 100, control unit 2 displays buttons corresponding to each function on display operation unit 19, and the user selects a function by operating the button. Control unit 2 reads function information corresponding to the logged-in user from storage unit 2M and applies setting values included in the function information to each function. Image forming apparatus 100 according to this modification can reduce the work of inputting setting values when re-registering a user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 100 Image forming device (information processing device) 21 Registration Method 22 Functional information storage means 23 History storage means 24 Deletion methods 25 Means of designation

Claims

1. a registration means for registering users; a function information storage means for storing function information relating to functions used by the user and registered by the registration means in association with the user; a history storage means for storing a history of execution of the function in association with the user; a deletion means for deleting the registration of one or more users and the function information in accordance with a predetermined rule when an event occurs that is determined as a trigger for reducing the number of users registered by the registration means, The information processing device is characterized in that, when a user whose registration has been deleted by the deletion means is re-registered by the registration means, the function information storage means stores the function information corresponding to the history associated with the re-registered user in association with the user.

2. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function information includes authorization information indicating whether or not each of the functions is permitted to be used.

3. The information processing device described in claim 2, characterized in that the function information storage means stores, in association with the authorization information in which the initial value has been changed to permitted, a history of successfully executing a function in which the initial value of the authorization information has been changed for a user re-registered by the registration means, when the history is stored of the user successfully executing the function in which the initial value of the authorization information has been changed to permitted.

4. 4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the function information storage means extracts the history of the user who has been re-registered by the registration means for a predetermined period of time, the history of the user having successfully executed the function for which the initial value is not permitted.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a designation unit that accepts designation of the predetermined period.

Images