Data transmission apparatus, control method therefor, and image input/output apparatus

IS 2 334 698 T3

DESCRIPTION

Data transmission apparatus, control method therefor, and image input / output apparatus.

Background of the invention

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a data transmission apparatus capable of containing, for example, a transmission destination and of transmitting image or similar information to the destination, a control method therefor, and an image input / output apparatus. . Specifically, the present invention refers to a data transmission apparatus that controls the display of a destination corresponding to a function available to the user and therefore manages the function available to the user, a control method for the same and an image input / output apparatus.

Description of Related Art

As network speeds increase, more and more document and image data is provided over a network. Some digital multifunction devices with a scanner and printer can print an original on sheet media, such as a copier, and can also transmit, over a network, document data read by a scanner or document data received from a computer personal. The transmission media (transmission protocols) provided by the multifunction digital device include various media such as email, fax, file transfer protocol (FTP), and server message block (SMB). Transmission using these methods requires the designation of a transmission destination in a format corresponding to each medium. To manage multiple destinations (transmission destinations), the digital multifunction device has a transmission address book (destination list). The transmission address book generally stores information of the transmission destination, such as an address corresponding to the name of the transmission destination. The transmission address book is a list in which addresses, each having elements such as the name of a destination, the type of transmission protocol, and detailed attribute data, are recorded for one or more transmission destinations. . The user can select an address from the displayed address book to designate the destination easily. Each address has an attribute (element) "access code". The user can only use an address that has an access code that matches an access code entered by the user.

Multiple users share an advanced multifunction digital device. The advanced multifunction digital device can distinguish a user by their password or the like, and can set, for example, the upper print count for each user, providing good user management. The user management is based on the user management information registered by the administrator or the like.

Various application programs (also simply called applications) are installed on the multifunction digital device. To facilitate management and centralize information, various applications running on the multifunction digital device typically use the address book and user management information. Japanese Patent Laid-Open 2003-333241 describes a multifunction device that allows various applications running on the multifunction device to share user information and can centralize and manage user information.

There are demands to manage a transmission medium provided by a multifunction digital device in more detail for each user. More specifically, it is desired to limit the transmission medium available to each user. For example, when using a multi-function digital device installed in a university, the administrator wants an operation to limit the fax transmission, which requires a high cost to ordinary students, and to allow the fax transmission only to certain students. In this case, a conventional multifunction digital device only provides an operation to assign an access code to a fax number, register them, and notify a user who is allowed to perform the fax transmission of the registered access code. In other words, the administrator must manage the permission / inhibition of the fax transmission by creating a user list or similar.

Thus, the multifunction digital device does not have a function to limit a user-specific transmission medium. Some multifunction devices can register a group of destinations in the address book to transmit data of the same content to multiple destinations. The destination group can contain different media destinations. For example, for a certain name, a fax number and an email address that are used as destinations can be registered as a group of destinations. When a destination group contains a destination of a type of media to which the user is prohibited from transmitting data, a message to this effect should be displayed to the user in a simple way; otherwise, the user will believe that he has transmitted the data correctly, even if the transmission fails.

EP-A-1 553 525 describes a multifunction machine and a personal authentication method in which information is exchanged between the multifunction machine and a memory card by the RF-ID method. An RFID controller reads the registration information stored on the memory card maintained by a contactless user, a personal information server, which is installed independently of the multifunction machine,

ES 2 334 698 T3 performs personal authentication, and the authentication result is displayed on the multifunction machine. In addition, custom menus registered for the user authenticated in the personal information server are automatically displayed on a touch panel. The personal information server can store individual custom menus for each user, and the multifunction machine can read the custom menus and enter commands to execute the custom menus. In case the personal information server does not store a custom menu, the personal information controller orders a standard menu to be displayed.

JP-A-2005 157 770 describes an information processor such as a multifunction device capable of limiting transmission if necessary. In this processor, it is checked whether a specific destination of a transmission indicated by a user is one that is prohibited from transmitting based on a transmission property information database.

JP-A-2004 253 998 describes an image forming device and a control method in which the transmission function can be limited to a user by deciding whether the transmission is limited before activating the transmission function if it is performed. one management by sector.

Characteristics of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a data transmission apparatus that notifies a user attempting to use a transmission medium for which the user does not have use privileges, does not have privileges, a control method for the itself and an image input / output apparatus.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the data transmission apparatus of claim 1, the control method of claim 10, the image input / output apparatus of claim 9 and a program that is recorded on a medium. computer-readable recording device that controls the data transmission apparatus of claim 18.

According to the present invention, a transmission medium available to each user can be managed, and the management can target each destination. A user trying to use a transmission medium for which the user does not have usage privileges is notified that he does not have privileges and is therefore notified that he cannot use the transmission medium. The user can transmit data to a group of destinations of a multi-address transmission using a specified transmission medium without being aware that the group of destinations contains an unavailable destination or that a function not available to the user is registered.

Additional features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments (referring to the accompanying drawings).

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the description, are used to explain the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the hardware structure of the image processing apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the software module of the image processing apparatus controller;

Fig. 4 is a view showing an example of the operating window of an embedded application;

Fig. 5 is a view showing an example of an address registration window;

Fig. 6 is a view showing an example of a new destination registration window;

Fig. 7 is a view showing an example of a registration window when the user selects the email;

Fig. 8 is a view showing an example of a destination access number input window;

Fig. 9 is a view showing an example of a destination group registration window;

Fig. 10 is a view showing an example of a window with a destination list;

Fig. 11 is a view showing an example of a user registration window;

Fig. 12 is a view showing an example of a password registration window;

IS 2 334 698 T3

Fig. 13 is a view showing an example of a dialog window for registering an identifier and password;

Fig. 14 is a view showing an example of a function limitation dialog window;

Fig. 15 is a view showing an example of a window with a list of destinations with registered transmission;

Fig. 16 is a view showing another example of the window with a list of destinations with registered transmission;

Fig. 17 is a view showing yet another example of the window with a list of destinations with registered transmission;

Fig. 18 is a view showing yet another example of the window with a list of destinations with registered transmission;

Figure 19 is a flow diagram of a process by means of a multifunction digital device;

Figure 20 is a flow chart of a process through the multifunction digital device;

Figure 21 is a functional block diagram of processes associated with limiting user-specific transmission media and a transmission destination display method;

Figure 22 is a flow chart of the address book registration / update procedures;

Figures 23A and 23B are views each showing an example of the structure of a record in an address book table;

Fig. 24 is a view showing an example of the structure of a record in a user management table; ^Y

Fig. 25 is a flow chart of the procedures for registering / updating the user management table.

Description of the achievements

Structure of the digital copy machine

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of a digital copy apparatus implementing an image input / output apparatus according to the present invention. More specifically, Figure 1 is a block diagram of a network compatible multifunction digital device comprising a scanner and a printer. A digital copy apparatus 100 provides various basic image input / output functions and image processing functions such as printing, image input, document filing, document transmission / reception, and image conversion.

A reader unit (image input apparatus) (200) optically reads an original image, and converts it into image data. The reading unit (200) comprises a scanning unit (210) having a function for scanning an original, and a document feeding unit (250) having a function for conveying an original sheet.

A printing unit (image output apparatus) (300) conveys a recording sheet, forms the image data as a viewable image on the recording sheet, and delivers the recording sheet out of the apparatus. The printing unit (300) comprises a feeding unit (360) having various types of recording sheet cassettes, a marking unit (310) having a function of transmitting and fixing the image data on the sheet of printing, and a delivery unit (370). The delivery unit (370) has a function to sort the printed sheets, staple them and deliver them outside the apparatus.

A control unit (110) is electrically connected to the reader unit (200) and the printing unit (300), and is connected to a LAN (400). The control unit (110) is also connected to a public line (500) through a FAX unit (510). The control unit (110) provides a copy function to control the reader unit (200) to read the image data from an original, and to control the printing unit (300) to deliver the image data on a printed sheet. . The control unit (110) also provides a scanning function and a printing function. The scanning function is to convert the image data read by the reader unit (200) into encoded data and transmit the encoded data to a host computer (not shown) via the LAN (400). The function of the printer is to convert the encoded data received from the host computer via the LAN (400) and deliver the image data to the printer unit (300).

IS 2 334 698 T3

An operating unit (150) is connected to the control unit (110). The operating unit 150 is comprised of a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user interface for operating the image input / output system. The operating unit (150) displays the user interface windows of Figures 4-18 which will be described later.

Control unit structure (110)

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the control unit (110) of the digital copying apparatus (100).

A main controller (111) is mainly made up of a CPU (112), a bus controller (113), and various interface controller circuits. The CPU (112) and the bus controller (113) control the overall operation of the control unit (110). The operation of the CPU (112) is based on a program loaded from a ROM (114) through a ROM interface (for short it will be called interface) (115). This program also describes an operation for interpreting the encoded data of a page description language (PDL for short) received from a central computer and expanding the data into raster image data. The software processes this program. The bus controller (113) controls the input / output transfer of data from / to each interface, and performs arbitration on the content of the bus and control of the DMA data transfer.

A DRAM (116) is connected to the main controller (111) through the DRAM interface (117), and is used as a working area for the operation of the CPU (112) and as a storage area to save data from picture. An Ethernet® controller (170) is a network controller for connecting to the LAN, and allows the main controller to access the network. Data is transmitted / received over the LAN by email using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), Internet Fax (i-FAX), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and SMB (Server Message Block ). A codec (118) compresses the raster image data stored in the DRAM (116) in a format such as MH / MR / MMR / JBIG / JPG, and decompresses the compressed / stored encoded data into raster image data. A SRAM (119) is used as a temporary work area for the codec (118). The codec (118) is connected to the main controller (111) through an interface (120), and the bus controller (113) controls the transfer of data between the codec (118) and the DRAM (116) to transmit the data. data by DMA. A graphics processor (135) performs processes such as image rotation, scaling, and color spatial conversion.

An external communication interface (121) is connected to the main controller (111) through an interface (123), and is connected to an external network through the connector (122). The external network connected is a public telephone network such as ISDN. The external network allows fax transmission / reception.

A general high speed bus (125) connects an I / O control unit (126) and an expansion connector (124) to connect an expansion card. The general high-speed bus is usually a PCI bus. The I / O control unit (126) comprises two-channel asynchronous serial communication controllers (127) that transmit / receive control commands to / from the CPUs of the reader unit (200) and the printing unit (300 ). The I / O control unit is connected to the external interface circuit (140) and (145) via the I / O bus (128).

A panel interface (132) is connected to an LCD controller (131), and is made up of a display interface on the liquid crystal display of the operating unit (150) and a keyboard input interface (130). for inputs from a physical keyboard and from a touch panel keyboard. The operating unit 150 is comprised of a liquid crystal display, a touch panel input device adhered to the liquid crystal display, and various physical keys. The CPU (112) receives, through the panel interface (132), a signal input from the touch panel or the physical keyboard. The liquid crystal display unit displays the image data sent from a panel interface (132). The liquid crystal display unit displays functions, image data and the like in the operation of the image processing apparatus.

A real-time clock module (133) updates and stores a managed date and time in the apparatus, and uses a backup battery (134). An E-IDE connector (161) connects to an external storage device. In the embodiment, the interface connects to the hard disk drive (160) to store image data on the hard disk (162) and read image data from the hard disk (162). The hard disk 162 also stores management information such as an address book (address management table) and a user management table.

The connectors (142) and (147) are connected to the reader unit (200) and the printing unit (300), respectively, and comprise asynchronous serial interfaces (-143- and -148-) and video interfaces (- 144- and -149-). The scanner interface (140) is connected to the reader unit (200) through the connector (142) and to the main controller (111) through the scanner bus (141). The scanner interface (140) has the function of performing a predetermined process for the image received from the reader unit (200). The scanner interface (140) also has a function of sending to the scanner bus (141) a control signal generated based on a video control signal sent from the reader unit (200). The bus controller (113) controls the transfer of data from the scanner bus (141) to the DRAM (116).

The printer interface (145) is connected to the printing unit (300) through the connector (147) and to the main controller (111) through the printer bus (146). The printer interface (145) has a function of performing a predetermined process for the image data output from the main controller (111) and sending

ES 2 334 698 T3 the data processed to the printing unit (300). The printer interface (145) also has a function of sending to the printer bus (146) a control signal generated based on a video control signal sent from the printing unit (300).

The bus controller (113) controls the transfer of the extended raster image data in the DRAM (116) to the printing unit, and DMA transfers the raster image data to the printing unit (300) via the bus. printer (146) and video interface (149).

With the above arrangement, the digital copy apparatus 100 can transmit image data to desired destinations using various means such as email, fax, Internet fax, and file transfer.

Controller software module structure

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a structure of the software module implemented by the controller (110) of the digital copying apparatus (100). In Fig. 3, the modules associated with the transmission of the image data will be mainly explained. The software processed by the controller (110) incorporated in the digital copy apparatus (100) is installed as so-called firmware, and is executed by the CPU (112) of the apparatus.

A real-time operating system (OS) (5001) provides software running on the OS with various frameworks and resource management services optimized to control an embedded system. The various resource management services provided by the real-time OS (5001) include multitasking management (management of “threads” or threads of execution), communication between tasks, memory management, interrupt management, various device drivers and stacks of protocols. Multitasking management (management of "threads" or threads of execution) is a function to carry out several processes in parallel, managing various contexts of process execution through the CPU. Inter-task communication is a function to implement synchronization and exchange of data between tasks. Protocol stacks are software modules that contain processes of various protocols for a local interface, a network, and a communication.

A file system (5002) is a mechanism for storing data created on a storage device such as a hard disk or memory. The file system (5002) is used to queue jobs processed by the controller (110) of the image processing apparatus or to save various data. An apparatus control / job control module (5003) controls the hardware of the image processing apparatus, and controls jobs using basic functions (e.g., printing, scanning, communication, and image conversion) provided primarily by the hardware of the image processing apparatus. image processing apparatus. A management module (5004) manages the operation of the controller to control an internal state associated with the operation of the controller (110) of the image processing apparatus. A control API (5005) is an application programming interface that allows embedded applications as an upper layer of the Control API (5005) to use services provided by software modules as a lower layer of the Control API (5005) .

A network service (5006) mutually converts the control API (5005) and a network protocol, allowing an external network node such as a client PC to use the basic functions of the apparatus. The network service (5006) has a network server function that has various protocols (for example, LPR, NetWare, SMB, PAP and IPP) for network printing, and makes it possible to enter a print job from a node external network such as a client PC.

A presentation interface (5008) and an embedded application user interface (5009) form an embedded application. The embedded application uses the basic functions of the control API to implement centralized functions such as copying, image scanning, document transmission / reception and document archiving in addition to the basic functions of the image processing apparatus. A universal emitter (5007) corresponds to the business logic of the embedded application. The presentation interface (5008) divides the embedded application into business logic and presentation logic. The embedded application user interface (5009) corresponds to the embedded application presentation logic, and controls the display and input of a graphical user interface (GUI) to allow the user to use the embedded application. The embedded application user interface (5009) provides a local user interface on the operating unit (150) of the image processing apparatus, and also provides a web application implemented using a markup language (eg, HTML) and a Web technique (eg HTTP). The user can access the web application from a web browser running on a client PC or the like and remotely control the image processing apparatus. The presentation layer of the embedded application installed as the web application will be called the remote user interface.

The universal emitter (5007) plays a fundamental role in the application of image transmission, and transmits the image data accumulated in the image processing apparatus to a terminal (not shown) according to the content designated by the user through the embedded application user interface (5009). The universal sender (5007) can transmit an image using various transmission protocols (transmission media). A FAX component (5010) can FAX an image over a public line, while an email component (5011) can transmit an image as an email attachment. An FTP transmission component (5012) transmits an image as a file using the FTP protocol. An Internet FAX component (5013) transmits an image using the Internet FAX protocol. A

ES 2 334 698 T3 SMB transmission component can transmit an image as a file or print data using the SMB protocol.

An address book management module (5015) can save, read, and maintain a transmission destination. The address book management module (5015) provides the user with a function to easily use and manage a transmission destination used in the universal sender (5007). A user management module (5016) maintains and manages a user management table containing the privileges of a user using the multifunction digital device (100).

Functional blocks associated with limiting the transmission medium

Fig. 21 is a functional block diagram of processes associated with limiting user-specific transmission media (also called limiting transmission functions) and a transmission destination display method in the present invention. A network transmission / reception means (2100) corresponds to the Ethernet controller^® (170) and network software. The network transmission / reception means (2100) corresponds to a process for transmitting an image contained in the image input / output apparatus to a network or receiving image data from a processing terminal such as a personal computer. An image reading means (2101) corresponds to a scanner, and converts an original image or document into digital data. An image data storage means (2102) stores image data generated by the image reading means (2101) or image data received by the network transmission / reception means (2100). Image data is stored as a file on a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk.

A destination table management means 2103 corresponds to a transmission address book, and can register, edit, delete and scan a transmission address. A registered address book is stored as a file on the device's internal storage device, similar to image data. A user management table management means (2107) stores and maintains a user management table containing the password of each user, the privileges for each transmission medium, and the like. An image data transmission means (2104) corresponds to a universal emitter software of an application in the apparatus. The image data transmission means (2104) generates and obtains image data to be transmitted using the image reading means (2101) and image data storage means (2102). The image data transmission means (2104) uses the destination table management means (2103) to create a list of transmission destinations, and uses the network transmission / reception means (2100) to transmit data from images created or obtained to a destination contained in the transmission destination list. A means of limiting the transmission medium (2106) manages the registered users, and manages the correspondence between the registered users and the transmission means available to them. For example, when the image data transmission means 2104 creates a list of transmission destinations or transmits image data, the transmission medium limiting means 2106 searches the user management table to determine whether the user has usage privileges to use each transmission medium corresponding to a destination. If the user does not have usage privileges, the transmission medium limiting means 2106 excludes the destination from the list of transmission destinations, or does not transmit any data to the destination. At the same time, the transmission medium limiting means (2106) provides, for example, a screen to notify the user of a message to this effect.

These operations are carried out through means of the operating unit (2105). The means of the operating unit (2015) comprise an information display LCD panel, and a touch panel and a keyboard through which the apparatus recognizes a user instruction. Examples of transmission media are email, FAX, and transmission protocols such as SMB.

It should be noted that the functional blocks in Figure 21 do not explain the essence of the present invention, but rather an apparatus or method manufactured as the core of the present invention. Therefore, the arrangement of the elements shown in Fig. 21 is a sufficient condition to implement the present invention, but it is not a necessary condition. For example, the present invention is implemented without the image reading means 2101.

Operating window example

Figure 4 shows a specific operating window of the embedded application user interface (5009). The multifunction digital device (100) has various functions such as copying, scanning and transmission. A function to be used can be selected by selecting the operation window with a function change button (4001). Figure 4 shows an example of a window showing the SEND / FAX function. A destination list (4002) displays a list of transmission destinations designated by the user with a button in the destination table (4004) or a button in a new destination tab (4003). It should be noted that the destination table is an address book. An image to be transmitted is scanned by a scanner. In scanning, the user can open a designation window (not shown) with the scan setting button to select a color or monochrome mode and designate a scan resolution. In Figure 4, the window is set to automatically determine the color / monochrome mode and scan the image with a resolution of 200 x 200 dpi. A file format select button (4006) designates a file format used in image transmission.

ES 2 334 698 T3 genes. As the file format, user can designate TIFF and PDF. In Figure 4, the window is set to transmit monochrome TIFF images and color PDF images. The user uses a transmission setting button (4007) to open a transmission setting window (not shown) for the designation associated with the transmission. With the transmission setting button 4007, the user can designate a designated time, an email subject, and the like for transmission.

Address book maintenance

Registering and editing a broadcast address in the address book will be explained. Figure 5 shows an address registration window. When the user presses the destination table button (4004) or the new destination tab (4003) in Figure 4, an address registration window (502) is displayed in Figure 5. The user uses the destination table button (4004) to select a sub-address book which is obtained by dividing the entire address book. When the user presses the destination table button (4004), the destination list (4002) displays the destinations belonging to the selected sub-address book. A new destination registration button (501) is located at the bottom of the address registration window (502) of Figure 5. The user presses the new destination registration button to display a destination registration / editing window of figure 6.

Figure 6 shows a new destination registration window. The digital copy apparatus supports FAX, E-mail, Internet FAX, and file transmission via SMB, FTP, and the like as selectable transmission media. The user can select an arbitrary protocol to register a destination in the address book. The user can also register multiple destinations as a destination group. The media can correspond to different destinations. For the respective media (shown as "items" in Figure 6), the registration window presents buttons for selecting the media. Among the buttons presented, the user presses (for example, clicks) the button of a medium whose destination is to be registered, thus selecting the medium.

Figure 7 shows a registration window when the user selects email as an example of a registration window. The registration window has a field (701) for the name that will be displayed in the address book as an attribute for all addresses. The name field (701) allows arbitrary characters to be entered via the software keyboard. The destination name is not limited to e-mail, and it is also registered for fax, FTP, Internet fax, and the like.

The user can select a sub-address book with a button from the destination table (702) at the top right of the window. By selecting a desired sub-address book with the destination table button 702, the user can classify and register a destination (e-mail address in Fig. 7) in the selected sub-address book. In Figure 7, the user selects a "first development department" subdirectory book.

An email address field (703) is arranged in the center of the window. The user enters an email address with the software keyboard. At the end of the entry, the user presses the "Next" button to display an entry window of the access number in figure 8. The access number is identical to an access code.

Figure 8 shows an input window of the destination access number. When the user enters an access number, the destination list (4002) in figure 4 shows only one destination (mail address for e-mail) for which an access number that matches an access number has been registered entered independently by the user. The destination list does not show a destination for which an access number that does not match an access number entered by the user has been registered. This avoids the problem that any user can see the registered addresses when viewing a list of destinations registered in the address book. For an address that can be displayed to any user, their access number is left blank. An address whose access number field is blank is displayed without the need for an access number. At the end of the entries, the user presses the OK key to save the address in the internal memory of the device.

Figure 9 shows a window for registering a group of destinations. When the user presses the "group" button in the window of figure 6, the window changes to that of figure 9. A group of destinations is used to manage multiple transmission destinations as one destination, and allows to designate multiple destinations by one simple operation. The user designates the name of a destination group using the name button (901), and selects a transmission destination that will be contained in the destination group using the destination table button (902). The user presses the destination table button (902) to display a list of destinations registered in the address book, as shown in Figure 10. The user selects a destination from the list, and thus can set the transmission destination in the designated name group.

The example above corresponds to registering email in a group of destinations. Internet fax and FTP addresses can be registered using the same procedures as for e-mail. The user interface window changes from "E-mail" to "Internet Fax" or "FTP" and displays "Internet Fax" or "FTP". A destination entered by the transmission medium is stored. An inbound address is an Internet fax address or an FTP address. One destination that can be entered is a fax number, which also applies to the fax.

ES 2 334 698 T3

Example of address book structure and maintenance procedures

Figures 23A and 23B show an example of the address book structure. Fig. 23A shows an example of a normal destination register, and Fig. 23B shows an example of a destination register of a group of addresses. When an address book contains records of these types, an identifier representing the type of record is added to each record. The normal destination record contains a destination identifier (2301), a name (2302), an email address (2303), a corresponding access number (2304), a fax number (2305), an access number corresponding (2306), an Internet fax address (2307), an access number (2308) and a sub-address book identifier (2309). The input values ​​of the respective elements are stored in the fields of Figure 23A. In the example of FIG. 23A, an e-mail address, a fax number, and an Internet fax number associated with a name are recorded, but a name can be associated with each destination information. An access number is associated with each destination information, but an access number can be associated with a destination identifier. The destination list displays destinations such as an email address, a fax number, and an Internet fax number according to the name. When an access number is registered, the destination list only shows a user-entered access number. When registering a name of a sub-address book, the name of the sub-address book (or associated unique identifier) ​​is recorded in the sub-address book identifier field (2309).

Fig. 23B shows a destination record of a group of addresses. For such a record, a group identifier (2311) and a group name (2312) are recorded. The group contains a destination as a pair consisting of a media type (2315a) and the destination information (2315b). The media type (2315b) is identifying information that represents a medium such as email, fax, or Internet fax. The destination information is an address corresponding to the type of media, such as an email address, a fax number, or an Internet fax number. When the user selects a destination group, parts of the destination information contained in the record of the selected destination group are read and displayed in the display list.

Fig. 22 is a flow chart showing the procedures for registering and updating the address book. The control unit (110) executes these procedures.

Figure 22 shows procedures common to media types. When the user registers a new destination in the address book or changes the contents of the address book, the control unit 110 displays the window of Fig. 6 (step S2201). The process waits for an input from the user (step S2202), and the control unit (110) displays a registration window corresponding to an item selected by the input (step S2203). Figures 7 and 8 show examples of this window. The process also waits for user input in this window (step S2204). If the user finally presses the OK button, the control unit 110 writes the content of the entry to the registers shown in Figures 23A and 23B, updating the address book file. Each field is empty in a new record, as shown in Figures 7 and 9, but shows the contents of an existing record in an update.

User Management

The user registration in the multifunction digital device will be explained. Figure 11 shows a user registration window. According to the customization of the copying apparatus, user management will be called department ID management, and "department" means a user in this example. That is, the function means a specific management of the user. Instead of managing the corresponding users, the users can be managed by a specific department. In this case, the users who belong to the department use a common identifier. In any case, the available functions and the like are limited by entering an identifier when using the multifunction device. The user can press a password register button (1101) to register a user ID and password, and can press a count management button (1102) to manage a count such as the print top count. A switch (1103) designates the enable / disable of various jobs, the description of which will be omitted.

In figure 11, the user (in this case, the user is an administrator) presses the password registration button (1101) to display a password registration window in figure 12. The administrator can confirm a list of users to from the password registration window. A user field (1201) displays the identifier and password of each user. At the same time, the administrator can refer to the count value assigned to each user. The administrator presses a registration button (1202) at the bottom of the window to open a dialog to register an identifier and password for a user, as shown in figure 13. The administrator enters an identification value and a password value using the numeric keys on the operation panel (not shown).

The administrator presses a function limitation button (1203) of figure 12 while selecting the user field (1201) to display a function limitation dialog (1401) in figure 14. In the function limitation dialog (1401 ), the administrator designates a function of the multifunction digital device that can be used by the selected user. In the example in Figure 14, the administrator can designate whether to allow (enable) or inhibit (disable) email, fax, and SMB. In Figure 14, none of the functions can be used, and the selected user cannot use these functions to transmit images.

ES 2 334 698 T3

Figure 24 shows an example of a user management table. The content registered in the above-mentioned user registration window is registered in the user management table. Figure 24 shows a record of the user management table. A record contains a user ID (2401), a user name (2402), a password (2403), a print / scan job permission flag (2404), a print limit count (2405), a flag permission flag (2406), a fax permission flag (2407), an SMB permission flag (2408), and a method identifier (2409). The email permission flag (2406), the fax permission flag (2407), and the SMB permission flag (2408) contain a value corresponding to an on / off setting in the dialog of Figure 14. For For example, each flag takes a value of "0" or "1", and "1" represents permission and "0" represents inhibition. The method identifier 2409 is also called the display method switch, and shows how to notify the user of a media usage limitation. The details of the method identifier 2409 will be described in the user notification method description.

Figure 25 is a flow chart showing an example of the procedures for registering and updating a user. The control unit (110) executes these procedures.

When the user presses a user registration button on the operation panel, the user registration procedures begin, and the control unit (110) displays the user interface of Figure 11. The control unit (110) executes the procedures of Figure 25 in response to user input after displaying the window of Figure 11.

The control unit (110) determines whether the pressed button is the password registration button (1101) (step S2501). If the user is to register a password, the control unit 110 displays the list window of Fig. 12 (step S2502). The process waits for an input from the user, and the control unit (110) determines whether the user presses the registration button (1202) (S2503). If the user presses the registration button (1202), the control unit (110) displays the dialog of Figure 13 to allow the user to enter a user identifier and password. If the user presses the OK button, the control unit 110 adds the registered record to the user management table (step S2505).

If the control unit 110 determines in step S2503 that the user does not press the password registration button, it determines whether to press the function limitation button 1203 (step S2506). If the user does not press the function limitation button (1203), the control unit (110) performs a process corresponding to the designated operation, the description of which will be omitted. If the user presses the function limit button (1203), the control unit (110) displays the dialog of Fig. 14, and allows the user to use the limit switch (step S2507). After completion of the input, the control unit 110 updates the user management table according to the content recorded in step S2505.

With the above procedures, the usage privileges to use each transmission medium can be set for each user in the user management table. The user does not have usage privileges for a limited medium, but has usage privileges for a non-limited medium.

User notification method

Next, a method of notifying the user when the current user does not have the privilege to use a transmission destination in a transmission operation will be explained. It is assumed that there are five transmission destinations registered in the address book, as shown in Figure 15. The five destinations are the destinations of the respective transmission media, for example, FAX, E-mail, Internet FAX and file transmission by FTP, and a group of destinations of these destinations. Although not shown in Figure 15, the destination group contains one destination for each transmission medium of FAX, E-mail, Internet FAX, and FTP. A user attempting a transmission does not have usage privileges only for the FAX transmission medium. That is, the use permission indicator is disabled.

According to a first embodiment of a notification, the list of the destination table does not show the destination of a transmission medium for which the user does not have privileges. In this case, as shown in Fig. 16, the destination table list does not show the fax number contained in the address book, and the user cannot see it. Thus, user cannot select fax as transmission medium for image transmission. In Figure 16, the destination table list does not even show the destination group because the destination group contains the fax number, so the user cannot use the destination group either. The administrator sets this state when he wants to hide unnecessary items from users who do not have privileges. Thus, the first notification method does not show the destination of a transmission medium for which the user does not have the privilege of use.

According to a second embodiment, the destination for which the user does not have privileges is displayed in such a way that selection of the destination is prohibited. Figure 17 shows an example of this operating window. The FAX destination (fax number) and the destination group containing the FAX destination are shaded and grayed out. The user can recognize that these destinations are registered, but cannot select them as transmission destinations. The administrator sets this state when the user can request the administrator to temporarily use a limited function. The function to provide an inhibited selection screen is performed with Windows® OS or similar, and can be used to obtain the second method. According to the second method, similar to the first method, the

ES 2 334 698 T3 user cannot select a transmission medium for which he does not have privileges. However, unlike the first method, the second method allows the user to recognize that there are transmission media with limitations of use.

According to a third embodiment, a warning is displayed when the user selects the destination of a transmission medium for which the user has no privileges. When the user selects, from the destination list of the destination table, the destination of a transmission medium for which he has no privileges, a warning dialog like the one shown in figure 18 is displayed. Unlike the first and second method, the user can know from the message the presence of a transmission medium with use limitations and how to cancel the limitation. The user can request the administrator to temporarily use a transmission medium with limited use.

Although not shown, according to a fourth embodiment, the user selects an arbitrary destination, and it is determined by carrying out the transmission that the transmission fails due to the usage limitation. The user is notified of the transmission failure by a display on the status line and a record in the log file. This method can be adopted when a user attempting a transmission knows that the destination group contains the destination of a transmission medium for which they do not have privileges, and the administrator does not want to display a warning. The notification method to be adopted can be selected with a switch in the function setting window of the multifunction digital device. For example, this switch is arranged in the user management window, and a method identifier 2409 representing a usage method is recorded in the record of each user in the user management table. For example, the value "1" in the method identifier field 2409 of FIG. 24 signifies the first embodiment; the value "2", the second embodiment; the value "3", the third embodiment, and the value "4", the fourth embodiment. This setting makes it possible to notify (or not notify) the user of the limitation.

Procedures for displaying the destination list

A method of user notification and transmission operation when the current user does not have privileges to use a transmission destination will be explained with reference to a flow chart. Fig. 19 is a flow chart associated with a process in the multifunction digital device when the user designates a destination from the transmission destination table. The control unit (110) executes these procedures. In standby, the multifunction digital device (110) displays on the operating unit (150) a window that prompts the user to enter an identifier. Before executing the procedures in Figure 19, the user logs into the multifunction digital device. The identifier of the registered user is stored as the identifier of the current user in RAM or the like.

When the user presses the destination table button (4004) while the transmission window of Figure 4 is displayed, the control unit (110) reads a saved address book from a dedicated area on the hard disk managed by the address book management module (5015) shown in Figure 3 (S1901). To determine the display method, the control unit (110) reads a record corresponding to the current user identifier in the user management table of the internal memory. If the record is stored on the hard disk, the control unit (110) reads the record from the hard disk. The control unit (110) reads the method identifier (2409) (eg, the address book display method switch) registered in the current user record (S1902). Next, the control unit (110) evaluates the value of the method identifier (2409).

If the value of the method identifier (2409) represents the first embodiment as a result of the evaluation, the process proceeds to step S1904. That is, if the control unit 110 determines in step S1903 that it is set not to display the destination of a limited transmission medium, it will list only the media destinations for which the current user has access privileges. usage, enter the destination data read (S1904). A means for which the current user has usage privileges can be determined by consulting the current user record (this record will be called the current user record) registered in the user management table. More specifically, the current user has usage privileges for a transmission medium corresponding to an activated field by referring to the permission flags 2046 to 2048 of the respective media in the current user's record. When the destination group registered in the address book contains the destination of a limited transmission medium, the control unit 110 also does not display the destination group. For a normal record (Fig. 23A) in the address book, the control unit (110) can determine the transmission medium corresponding to the selected destination based on the content of the field that is selected. When each destination is provided with an identifier representing the type of medium, the control unit 110 may also determine a transmission medium based on the identifier. For a group of addresses, the identification information representing a media type is recorded in correspondence with the transmission destination information (see Fig. 23B), and the control unit 110 may specify a media type based on the media type (2315a) corresponding to the selected destination.

The control unit (110) determines whether the second embodiment is designated, that is, whether the shading and display of the destination of a limited medium is designated (S1905). If the second embodiment is designated, the control unit (110) shadows and grays out the destination of a limited medium (for example, a medium for which the current user does not have usage privileges) to inhibit the selection of the destination even if the user selects it (S1906). If the setting of the method identifier (2409) does not satisfy at least one of the above conditions, the control unit (110) displays all the addresses in the list (S1907).

ES 2 334 698 T3

Accordingly, the control unit (110) displays the destination list (4002) shown in FIG. 4. When the user selects a selectable desired destination from the destination list (4002) and presses the transmit button (not shown) , the control unit (110) attempts to transmit the image data to the selected destination. The user designates the image data to be transmitted from the image data obtained by reading an original image placed in the reader unit (200) and stored in the hard disk (162). When the first or second method is selected, the control unit 110 displays destinations to allow the current user to select only the destinations corresponding to the transmission medium for which the user has privileges. When designating a transmission destination, the user can only designate a destination for which he has transmission privileges.

Transmission procedures

A process will be explained until the user selects a destination from a list of addresses in the displayed address book and transmits the image data. Figure 20 is a flow chart explaining this process. The control unit (110) executes these procedures.

The control unit (110) waits until the user selects all the desired destinations from the list. Since the user can simultaneously select multiple destinations for transmission, the control unit (110) repeats the process until the user selects all the destinations (S2001). If a selected destination is shaded and displayed in gray to inhibit operation, this means that the user cannot use the destination, so the user cannot select this destination. In this case, the control unit 110 waits for the selection again, and the screen remains unchanged (S2002).

The control unit (110) determines whether the selected destination is limited and cannot be used (S2003). By referring to the current user record registered in the user management table, the control unit (110) can determine a means for which the current user has usage privileges. More specifically, the current user has usage privileges for a transmission medium corresponding to an activated field by referring to the permission flags 2406 to 2408 of the respective media in the current user's record.

If the current user does not have privileges, the control unit (110) determines if the completion of the notification is the third embodiment and should display the warning window shown in Figure 18 and notify the user that it cannot transmit the data of image (S2004). If it is set that a warning will not be displayed (NOT in S2004), the user can be notified if it can transmit the image data, by the log file after carrying out the transmission. For this purpose, the control unit (110) adds the selected destination to the list of transmission destinations, as in the case of determining that the current user has privileges (S2005). The transmission destination is stored in memory at least until the transmission is complete. If it is set that a warning will be displayed (third embodiment), the control unit 110 displays the warning window shown in Fig. 18 (S2006). By describing the reason for the transmission failure, troubleshooting, or a similar message in the warning window, the user can easily understand the reason or take care of the problem. Since the warning window is displayed before carrying out the transmission, the user can also execute the operation again.

The control unit (110) repeats the above process for all the destinations selected by the user. For example, pressing the transmit button (not shown) activates the control unit (110) to transmit the image data (S2407).

After the transmission, the control unit (110) determines whether the transmission has been successful (S2408). If the transmission has been successful, the control unit (110) records the success in the log file of the multifunction digital device (S2410). If the transmission fails, the control unit (110) displays an error message in the status area at the bottom of the operation panel and notifies the user during operation that the transmission has failed. At the same time, the control unit (110) records the failure in the log file of the multifunction digital device (S2409). Even if the user moves away from the set at the beginning of the transmission, he can know the result of the transmission later.

With the above procedures, the destination list is presented to the user, a warning is displayed, or the user is notified of the transmission result in addition to a selected notification performance. The administrator can set usage privileges to use a transmission medium for each user on the multifunction digital device that can be shared among multiple users. In other words, the administrator can manage a transmission medium available to each user. For a medium for which a user does not have usage privileges, the administrator can also select whether to notify the user of the absence of usage privileges. In addition, the administrator can suggest to the user to use a medium for which the user does not have use privileges. Instead of notifying a user if they have usage privileges, the administrator can also notify the user of a transmission attempt failure after transmission.

When the destination group contains a destination corresponding to a transmission medium for which the current user does not have privileges, the administrator can notify the user if he has privileges, according to the four embodiments described above. That is, the administrator limits the selection of transmission destinations in the destination group or displays the transmission result after transmission.

ES 2 334 698 T3

Modification

Embodiments for limiting the transmission of the data according to the privileges of the user for a destination registered in the address book have been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the address book does not contain a destination and is entered by the user on each transmission (manual transmission). In manual transmission, the user selects a transmission medium to use. At that time, the user record registered in the user management table is queried, and it is determined whether the user has usage privileges to use the selected transmission medium. If the user does not have privileges, a warning is displayed. In this way, the transmission can be limited reflecting the privileges of the user even in manual transmission.

In the above description, a transmission process is carried out by an operation through the operating unit (150). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the host computer connected via the LAN (400) can use the transmission function of the multi-function digital device (100). In this case, the central computer specifies a user by prompting him to enter an identifier through a browser or driver software for the multifunction device, and limits an available transmission medium, in the same way as in the process described above.

Other realizations

It should be noted that the present invention can be applied to an apparatus comprising a single device or to a system composed of several devices.

Furthermore, the invention can be implemented by providing a software program, which implements the functions of the previous embodiments, directly or indirectly in a system or apparatus, by reading the program code provided with a computer of the system or apparatus, and subsequently executing the code. of the program. In this case, as long as the system or apparatus has the functions of the program, the mode of implementation need not depend on a program.

Consequently, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code itself installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the claims of the present invention also protect a computer program for the purpose of implementing the functions of the present invention.

In this case, as long as the system or apparatus has the functions of the program, the program can be executed in any way, for example, as an object code, as a program executed by an interpreter, or as script data (instruction files) provided to an operating system.

Examples of storage media that can be used to provide the program are a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, and a DVD (DVD-ROM and DVD-R).

Regarding the method of providing the program, a client computer can be connected to a website on the Internet using a browser of the client computer, and the computer program of the present invention or an automatically installable compressed file can be downloaded to a media recording such as a hard disk. Furthermore, the program of the present invention can be provided by dividing the code of the program that constitutes the program into several files and downloading the files from different websites. In other words, a WWW (world global network) server that downloads, to multiple users, the program files that implement the functions of the present invention via a computer is also protected by the claims of the present invention.

Furthermore, it is also possible to encrypt and store the program of the present invention on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distribute the storage medium to users, allow users who meet certain requirements to download the decryption key from a Web site through the Internet, and allow these users to decrypt the encrypted program using the information of the key, through which the program is installed on the user's computer.

In addition, apart from the case in which the aforementioned functions according to the embodiments are implemented by executing the program read by the computer, an operating system or the like running on the computer can carry out all or part of the current processing so that the functions of the Previous embodiments can be implemented by this processing.

Furthermore, once the program has been read from the storage medium, it is written to a memory expansion card inserted into the computer or to a memory arranged in a function expansion unit connected to the computer, a CPU or the like mounted on the function extension card or the function extension unit performs all or part of the current processing so that the functions of the above embodiments can be implemented by this processing.

ES 2 334 698 T3

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described. The scope of the following claims grants the broadest interpretation to encompass all equivalent modifications, structures, and functions. An objective of the present invention is to manage the privileges of use to use each transmission medium for each user. A management unit of the user management table (-2107-) stores the usage privileges to use a transmission medium for each user. A transmission function limitation unit (-2106-) determines whether each of the destinations contained in the address book managed by the destination management unit (-2103-) corresponds to a transmission medium for which the user current has privileges. If the transmission function limitation unit (-2106-) determines that the destination corresponds to the medium for which the user has no privilege, it excludes the destination and then displays the destination list. The user can select a desired destination from the destination list and designate the transmission.