Electronic apparatus

The present invention relates to electronic devices such as copiers and multifunction devices having a card-taking type card reader.

Currently, in image forming devices such as copiers and multifunction devices, electronic files such as image files and document files stored in a storage medium such as an attached USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and SD (Secure Digital) card are printed out. In addition, an image file of a document image read from a document by a scanning function can be stored in a storage medium. However, after using such an image forming apparatus to print out an electronic file stored in the storage medium or storing the image file in the storage medium, the user forgets to remove the storage medium from the image forming apparatus. In such a case, there is a possibility that the electronic file stored in the storage medium may be leaked to the outside by a third party.

Then, in order to solve such a problem, the following Patent Document 1 states that when an operation is interrupted for a predetermined time or longer with an external storage device such as an IC card loaded, a warning is generated to cause external storage. An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the device from being misplaced is disclosed. When this image forming apparatus detects the loading of the external storage device, it detects the presence or absence of the key operation input in the loaded state of the external storage device, and when the duration without the key operation input reaches a predetermined value, the visual and / or auditory sense. Generate a warning that appeals to.

Further, Patent Document 2 below discloses a document processing device capable of reliably preventing forgetting to remove an external storage medium after use from the external storage medium driving device. This document processing device measures the time since the operation is stopped, and when the measured time elapses for a certain period of time, if the external storage medium is in the external storage medium drive device, the user is notified. A misplaced warning sound is emitted, and warning information indicating that the external storage medium is misplaced is displayed on the display screen. Further, Patent Document 3 below discloses a communication terminal device capable of improving security while improving convenience. This communication terminal device connects to an external storage medium in which address book information created in a predetermined file format is stored, and warns by sound or display if the external storage medium is forgotten to be removed.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-039061</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-083619</text></patcit><patcit num="3"><text>Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-079761</text></patcit>

<p> By the way, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the removable storage medium is not removed even after a predetermined time has passed since the last operation was performed, it is determined that the storage medium has been forgotten and a warning sound is emitted. By displaying a ringing or warning screen to notify the user of forgetting to remove the storage medium, forgetting to remove the storage medium is prevented. However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when the user leaves the place after using the storage medium without noticing that the storage medium has not been removed, the warning sound of the warning sound cannot be heard or There is a drawback that the user cannot notice that he / she has forgotten to remove the storage medium when the warning screen is separated to a distance where he / she cannot see it. Then, there is a possibility that highly important information such as confidential information is stored in the forgotten storage medium, and if such storage medium is left unattended, the information is malicious. It may be leaked by a third party. Therefore, in the above-mentioned prior art, it is necessary to improve information security by strengthening the prevention of information leakage.</p><p> The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an electronic device having a card-taking type card reader. By strengthening the prevention of information leakage, information security can be improved as compared with the conventional case. The purpose is to provide electronic devices.</p>

<p> In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, as a first solution relating to an electronic device, a storage medium interface connected to a detachable storage medium, card information is read from an authentication card, and the authentication card is held. An electronic device including a card-taking type card reader having a holding mechanism and permitting login based on the card information read from the authentication card by the card-taking type card reader. When a log-out instruction is received, the storage medium When it is determined whether or not the storage medium is connected to the interface and it is determined that the storage medium is connected to the storage medium interface, the holding of the authentication card by the holding mechanism is released to the card capture type card reader. Adopt a means of providing a control unit that does not allow login and keeps it as it is.</p><p> In the present invention, as a second solution for electronic devices, the first solution includes a display unit, and when the control unit receives a logout instruction, a storage medium is connected to the storage medium interface. When it is determined whether or not the storage medium is connected to the storage medium interface, a forget-to-take notification screen for notifying that the storage medium has been forgotten is displayed on the display unit. A means is adopted in which the holding of the authentication card by the holding mechanism is maintained as it is without being released by the card-taking type card reader.</p><p> In the present invention, as a third solution relating to an electronic device, the first or second solution includes a sounding unit, and when the control unit receives a logout instruction, a storage medium is connected to the storage medium interface. When it is determined whether or not the storage medium is connected and it is determined that the storage medium is connected to the storage medium interface, a forget-to-take notification sound for notifying that the storage medium has been forgotten is sent to the sounding unit. A means is adopted in which the sound is sounded and the holding of the authentication card by the holding mechanism is maintained as it is without being released by the card-taking type card reader.</p>

<p> According to the present invention, the electronic device includes a storage medium interface for connecting to a detachable storage medium, and a card-incorporating card reader having a holding mechanism for reading card information from the authentication card and holding the authentication card. It is an electronic device that allows login based on the card information read from the authentication card by the capture type card reader, and when it receives a logout instruction, it determines whether or not the storage medium is connected to the storage medium interface, and the storage medium interface. When it is determined that the storage medium is connected to the device, the card reader is provided with a control unit that keeps the authentication card held by the holding mechanism as it is without releasing it and does not allow login.</p><p> The conventional method of notifying that the storage medium has been forgotten by sounding a warning sound and displaying a warning screen is used when the user leaves the place without noticing that the storage medium has not been removed. The notification could not be recognized when the distance was far away, but as in the present invention, when the storage medium is forgotten from the storage medium interface, the holding of the authentication card is canceled by the card-taking type card reader. By keeping the storage medium as it is, the user can recognize that the storage medium has been forgotten during the logout process.</p><p> In this way, when the storage medium is forgotten, the storage medium is prevented from being forgotten by keeping the holding of the authentication card as it is without being released by the card-incorporating card reader 12, that is, the storage medium stores the storage medium. Information security can be improved more than before by strengthening the prevention of information leakage.</p>

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment relates to a multifunction device having a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and a facsimile transmission / reception function, which is one of the image forming devices included in the electronic device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image forming system including the multifunction device A according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this image forming system is composed of a multifunction device A, an authentication card B, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory C.

The multifunction device A has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, various sensor groups 4, a paper carrier 5, an image reader 6, an image data storage 7, and so on. It is equipped with an image forming unit 8, a communication I / F unit 9, an operation display unit 10, a USB port 11, and a card import type card reader 12.

The CPU 1 is a control program stored in ROM 2, various detection signals received from various sensor groups 4, original image data stored in an image data storage unit 7, printed image data and facsimile image data, and a communication I / F unit. Based on various instructions input from the client computer (not shown) via 9; operation instructions input from the operation display unit 10, and card information read from the authentication card B by the card capture type card reader 12, the compound machine A Control the overall operation. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A. ROM2 is a non-volatile memory that stores control programs and other data executed by CPU1.

RAM3 is a volatile memory used as a working area as a temporary storage destination for data when the CPU1 executes a control program to perform various operations. The various sensor groups 4 are, for example, various sensors necessary for image forming operations such as a paper out-of-paper detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, and a temperature sensor, and various information detected by each sensor is detected as a detection signal. Is output to CPU1.

The paper transport unit 5 includes a transport roller for transporting the printing paper stored in the paper tray to the image forming unit 8, a motor for driving the transport roller, and a paper ejection tray (not shown) for printing paper after the image forming process. It is composed of a transport roller for transporting and a motor for driving the transport roller.

The image reading unit 6 is provided with an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, etc., causes the CCD sensor to read the images of the documents that are sequentially fed by the ADF, and reads the document image data based on the document image. Output. The image reading unit 6 outputs the original image data to the CPU 1, while the CPU 1 stores the original image data in the image data storage unit 7. The image data storage unit 7 is, for example, a flash memory, and under the instruction of the CPU 1, the original image data, the print image data received by the communication I / F unit 9 from the client computer (not shown), and the communication I / F unit 9 Stores facsimile image data received from a public network (not shown).

Under the control of the CPU 1, the image forming unit 8 uses toner to transfer the printing paper from the paper conveying unit 5 based on the original image data, the printed image data, or the facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 7. The image-forming image to be formed is transferred, and the image-forming image is fixed by a fixing roller. The communication I / F unit 9 connects to a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown), and transmits and receives various signals to and from the client computer and the public network.

The operation display unit 10 includes a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scanning function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numerical input key), a touch panel 10a, and various other types. It is equipped with operation keys, and while outputting operation instructions for each key to CPU1, various screens are displayed on the touch panel 10a under the control of CPU1. The copy function switching key, the print function switching key, the scanning function switching key, and the facsimile function switching key are keys for switching the multifunction device A to the operation mode of each function when the user uses each function. ..

The USB port 11 is a serial interface compatible with the USB standard, and when the USB memory C is attached, it electrically connects to the USB memory C. When the USB port 11 is connected to the USB memory C, it inputs / outputs an electronic file to / from the USB memory C under the control of the CPU1. In the multifunction device A, when the USB memory C is attached to the USB port 11, the image forming unit 8 forms an image based on an electronic file such as an image file and a document file stored in the USB memory C under the control of the CPU1. At the same time, the image file based on the original image data of the original image read from the original by the image reading unit 6 is stored in the USB memory C.

The card take-in type card reader 12 has an insertion slot for the authentication card B, and when the authentication card B is inserted into this insertion slot, the card information is read from the authentication card B under the control of the CPU1 and the card is read. Output information to CPU1. The card take-in type card reader 12 has a holding mechanism for mechanically holding the authentication card B, and holds the authentication card B inserted into the insertion slot by the holding mechanism under the control of the CPU1. .. The user cannot take out the authentication card B from the card take-in type card reader 12 unless the holding of the authentication card B is released.

The authentication card B is a magnetic card or IC card in which card information is stored, which is distributed to each department or individual of the company. The user reads the authentication card B by the card reader / card reader 12 of the multifunction device A to log in to the multifunction device A. The USB memory C is a non-volatile storage medium composed of a flash memory or the like and which can be attached to and detached from the multifunction device A. This USB memory C is attached to the multifunction device A, and inputs / outputs electronic files such as image files and document files to / from the multifunction device A via its own USB connector.

Next, the operation of the multifunction device A according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction device A according to the present embodiment. First, the user who intends to execute printing by the multifunction device A inserts the authentication card B into the insertion slot of the card import type card reader 12 in order to log in to the multifunction device A.

The CPU1 determines whether or not the authentication card B is inserted into the insertion slot of the card-incorporating card reader 12 (step S1), and if it is determined as "NO" in step S1, that is, the card-incorporating card reader 12 If the authentication card B is not inserted into the insertion slot of the card reader, wait until the authentication card B is inserted into the insertion slot of the card reader / card reader 12, and if it is determined as "YES" in step S1, That is, when the authentication card B is inserted into the insertion slot of the card take-in type card reader 12, the card information of the authentication card B is read by the card take-in type card reader 12, and the authentication process is performed based on the card information. Execute (step S2).

After step S2, CPU1 determines whether or not the authentication was successful based on the card information (step S3), and if it is determined as "NO" in step S3, that is, when it is determined that the authentication has failed. Displays a login failure notification screen on the touch panel 10a to notify that authentication has failed (step S4), proceeds to step S1, and if "YES" is determined in step S3, that is, if authentication is successful. Is displayed on the touch panel 10a and the login is permitted (step S5), and the authentication card B is held by the card-taking card reader 12 by the holding mechanism (step S5). S6)

Then, the user attaches the USB memory C to the USB port 11 of the multifunction device A, and operates the operation screen displayed by the touch panel 10a or / and the operation keys of the operation display unit 10, so that the electronic stored in the USB memory C is stored. Select the electronic file to be printed from the files, and press the state key of the operation display unit 10 to have the multifunction device A print the selected electronic file. When the printing operation of the multifunction device A is completed, the user inputs a logout instruction by operating the operation screen displayed on the touch panel 10a and / and the operation keys of the operation display unit 10.

The CPU 1 determines whether or not the operation display unit 10 has accepted the logout instruction (step S7), and if it determines "NO" in step S7, that is, if the operation display unit 10 has not received the logout instruction. , Waits until the operation display unit 10 accepts the logout instruction, and if it is determined as "YES" in step S7, that is, when the operation display unit 10 accepts the logout instruction, the USB memory C is connected to the USB port 11. It is determined whether or not it is installed (step S8).

When the CPU1 determines "NO" in step S8, that is, when the USB memory C is removed from the USB port 11, the holding of the authentication card B by the holding mechanism is released to the card take-in type card reader 12. And allow logout (step S9). Further, when the CPU1 determines "YES" in step S8, that is, when the USB memory C is still attached to the USB port 11, the CPU1 takes in the holding of the authentication card B by the holding mechanism. Leave the type card reader 12 as it is without releasing it, and without allowing logout, display the forget-to-take notification screen that notifies that the USB memory C has been forgotten by the message "Please remove the USB memory C". When a predetermined time has elapsed after displaying the touch panel 10a and displaying the forget-to-take notification screen on the touch panel 10a, the transition to the touch panel 10a is performed on the basic print screen, which is the top screen of the print function (step S10).

As described above, the multifunction device A according to the present embodiment has the CUP1 card import type card reader 12, and when login is permitted based on the card information of the authentication card B, the authentication card is transferred to the card import type card by the holding mechanism. Hold it in the reader 12. Then, in the CPU 1, after the USB memory C is attached to the USB port 11 and printing is executed based on the electronic file of the USB memory C, the operation display unit 10 is displayed with the USB memory C attached to the USB port 11. When the log-out instruction is received, the holding of the authentication card B by the holding mechanism is maintained as it is without being released by the card-taking type card reader 12, and the log-out is not permitted.

With the conventional method of notifying that the USB memory C has been forgotten to be removed by sounding a warning sound and displaying a warning screen, if the user leaves the place without noticing that the storage medium has not been removed. However, the notification could not be recognized when the distance was far away, but as in the above-mentioned actual embodiment, when the USB memory C is forgotten, the authentication card B is held by the card take-in type card reader 12 By keeping the USB memory C as it is without releasing it, the user can recognize that the USB memory C has been forgotten to be removed during the logout process.

In this way, when the USB memory C is forgotten, the holding of the authentication card B is prevented by keeping the card reader 12 as it is without releasing it, that is, the USB is prevented from being forgotten. By strengthening the prevention of leakage of the information stored in the memory C, the information security can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the following modifications can be considered. (1) CPU 1 of the multifunction device A of the above embodiment holds the authentication card B by the holding mechanism when the operation display unit 10 receives a logout instruction while the USB memory C is connected to the interface. Although it was maintained as it was without being released by 12, the present invention is not limited to the USB memory C.

CPU1 is not limited to USB memory C, but SD card, CompactFlash (registered trademark), memory stick, SmartMedia, floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW and MO. When the operation display unit 10 receives a logout instruction while all storage media such as a disk are connected to the interface of each storage medium, the holding of the authentication card B by the holding mechanism is not released by the card capture type card reader 12. You may keep it as it is.

(2) In the above embodiment, the electronic device according to the present invention is applied to the multifunction device A which is one of the image forming devices. However, the present invention has an interface for connecting to a storage medium and a card together. Any electronic device such as a personal computer can be applied as long as it has an capture type card reader.

(3) When the operation display unit 10 receives the logout instruction while the USB memory C is connected to the USB port 11, the CPU 1 of the multifunction device A of the above embodiment displays the forget-to-take notification screen on the touch panel 10a. , The present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the multifunction device A is equipped with a sounding unit and the operation display unit 10 receives a logout instruction while the CPU 1 has the USB memory C connected to the USB port 11, it notifies that the USB memory C has been forgotten. You may want the sounding part to pronounce the forget-to-take notification sound. Further, the CPU 1 may execute both the display of the forget-to-take screen and the sound of the forget-to-take notification sound.

<figref num="1">It is a schematic block diagram which shows the image formation system which includes the multifunction device A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a functional block diagram of the multifunction device A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.</figref>

Code description

A ... Multifunction device, B ... Authentication card, C ... USB memory, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Various sensor groups, 5. Paper transport unit, 6 ... image reading unit, 7 ... image data storage unit, 8 ... image forming unit, 9 ... communication I / F unit, 10 ... operation display unit, 10a. .. Touch panel, 11 ... USB port, 12 ... Card import type card reader