Electronic apparatus

The present invention relates to an electronic device capable of mounting a storage medium such as a copier and a multifunction device.

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 generates a warning when the operation is interrupted for a predetermined time or longer with an external storage device (storage medium) such as an IC card loaded. An image forming apparatus capable of preventing the external storage 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 enhancing 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 is separated to a distance where the warning sound cannot be heard or the warning screen cannot be visually recognized, the user cannot notice that the storage medium has been forgotten. There was a drawback. Then, there is a possibility that highly important information such as confidential information is stored in the forgotten storage medium, and if such a storage medium is left unattended, the information is malicious. It can also 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 an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of improving information security as compared with the conventional case by strengthening the prevention of information leakage.</p>

<p> In order to achieve the above object, the electronic device according to the present invention includes a storage medium interface that connects to a detachable storage medium, an operation unit that receives an operation instruction for instructing an operation on the storage medium, and the storage medium interface. If the storage medium is connected to the storage medium and the operation unit does not accept the operation instruction within a predetermined time after the operation on the storage medium is completed, it is determined that the storage medium has been forgotten to be removed. , The forget-to-take determination unit that counts up the miss-taken count value that counts the number of missed-takes, and the count-over information that indicates that a count-over has occurred when the missed-taken count value exceeds a predetermined value. Is provided with a countover control unit for storing the above in the storage medium.</p>

<p> As described above, by preventing the storage medium from being forgotten by the electronic device of the present invention, that is, by strengthening the prevention of leakage of the information stored in the storage medium, the information security can be improved as compared with the conventional case.</p>

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an electronic device according to the present invention, a multifunction device A having a facsimile (FAX) transmission / reception function, a copying function, and a printing function will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the multifunction device A according to the present embodiment.

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 includes an image forming unit 8, a communication I / F unit 9, an operation display unit 10, a USB port 11, and a USB memory operation history information storage unit 12.

The CPU 1 has a control program stored in the ROM 2, various detection signals received from various sensor groups 4, manuscript image data stored in the image data storage unit 7, and a communication I / F unit 9 as a client computer (not shown). Printed image data received from the communication I / F unit 9 and facsimile image data received from the public network E, various instructions and operation display units 10 input from a client computer (not shown) via the communication I / F unit 9. The overall operation of the compound machine A is controlled based on the operation instruction input from. 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 stores manuscript image data, print image data, and facsimile image data under the instruction of the CPU 1.

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 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 B as a detachable storage medium is attached, it is electrically connected to the USB memory B. When the USB port 11 is connected to the USB memory B, it inputs / outputs an electronic file to / from the USB memory B under the control of the CPU1.

The USB memory operation history information storage unit 12 is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk, and is a USB memory operation history information table in which operation history information of USB memory B and other USB memory (not shown) is registered under the control of CPU1. Remember.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the USB memory operation history information table. As shown in FIG. 2, the USB memory operation history information table is a data table in which a USB memory serial number and a USB memory operation history information are registered for each USB memory operation history information number. In this USB memory operation history information table, every time the USB memory B mounted on the USB port 11 is operated, the CPU1 displays the USB memory serial number indicating the serial number of the USB memory B and the USB memory operation history information. The operation content of the USB memory B and the operation time of the USB memory B are registered.

Then, as the operation contents of the USB memory operation history information, "attachment (attachment of USB memory B to USB port 11)", "writing (writing of electronic file to USB memory B)", "reading (from USB memory B)" One of "reading the electronic file of the USB memory B", "erasing (erasing the electronic file from the USB memory B)", and "removing (removing the electronic file from the USB memory B from the USB port 11)" is registered.

Further, when "write", "read" and "erase" are registered as the operation contents, the operation target file name indicating the file name of the operation target electronic file is registered in the USB memory operation history information. The USB memory operation history information number is an identification number assigned when the USB memory serial number and the USB memory operation history information are registered in the USB memory operation history information table.

Next, the operation of the multifunction device A having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the multifunction device A according to the present embodiment.

First, the user who wants to print the electronic file on the multifunction device A authenticates and logs in (step S1).

A user who wants to print an electronic file stored in the USB memory B attaches the USB memory B to the USB port 11 of the multifunction device A.

When the USB port 11 detects that the USB memory B is attached after login authentication (step S2), the CPU 1 causes the user to operate the operation screen displayed by the touch panel 10a and / or the operation keys of the operation display unit 10. The electronic file to be printed is selected from the electronic files stored in the USB memory B, and the selected electronic file is printed on the multifunction device A by pressing the start key of the operation display unit 10. That is, the CPU 1 of the multifunction device A reads the electronic file to be printed from the USB memory B via the USB port 11, and causes each part such as the image forming unit 8 to execute the printing operation based on the electronic file (step S3). ..

After the print operation is completed (that is, after the operation on the USB memory B is completed), the operation display unit 10 receives the operation instruction from the user to the USB memory B within a predetermined time. Whether or not it is determined (step S4). If the operation display unit 10 receives an operation instruction from the user to the USB memory B within a predetermined time, the flow ends as it is. On the other hand, if the operation display unit 10 has not received an operation instruction from the user to the USB memory B within a predetermined time, the forget-to-take determination unit 101 determines that the USB memory B has been forgotten to be removed. Then, the touch panel 10a displays the USB memory operation history information corresponding to the operation related to the forgetting to take as the forgetting information (step S5).

The USB memory operation history information storage unit 12 counts the cumulative number of times of forgetting to take in addition to the USB memory operation history information (forgotten information) for each USB memory serial number (in other words, for each user). The count value is memorized. The forget-to-take determination unit 101 increases the forget-to-take count value corresponding to the USB memory serial number of the USB memory B mounted on the USB port 11 by one (step S6).

When the CPU1 countover control unit 102 determines that the forgotten count value corresponding to the USB memory serial number of the USB memory B mounted on the USB port 11 exceeds a preset predetermined threshold (step S7), The forgotten information, the forgotten count value, and the countover information indicating that a countover has occurred are saved in the USB memory B mounted on the USB port 11 (step S8).

Note that this threshold value can be freely changed, and a value common to all users in the multifunction device A may be set to a value that can be set individually for each user.

In step S7, when the countover control unit 102 determines that the forgotten count value does not exceed the threshold value, the flow ends as it is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the USB port 11 has a first detection unit 111. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the first detection unit 111 detects that the USB memory B is attached in step S2, and determines whether or not the countover information is stored in the USB memory B. .. As a result, when the countover information is stored in the USB memory B, it is possible to display a warning to the user on the operation display unit 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the USB port 11 has a second detection unit 112. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the second detection unit 112 detects the attachment of the USB memory B in step S2, and the forgotten count value having a value of 1 or more is saved in the USB memory B. Determine if it is. As a result, when the forgotten count value having a value of 1 or more is stored in the USB memory B, the forgotten information can be displayed on the operation display unit 10.

As described above, when the forgotten count value of the USB memory B exceeds a predetermined value in the present embodiment, the countover information is saved in the USB memory B, so that an electronic device other than the multifunction device A can be used. Even when the USB memory B is attached to the USB memory B, it is possible to display the forgotten information or the like by referring to the countover information stored in the USB memory B. With the conventional method of notifying the forgetting to remove the storage medium by sounding a warning sound and displaying a warning screen, the notification cannot be recognized when the user leaves the electronic device. However, the present invention presents the present invention. , When the forget-to-take count value of the storage medium exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the user's countover information is also stored in the storage medium. Can be displayed. As described above, by preventing the storage medium from being forgotten by the electronic device of the present invention, that is, by strengthening the prevention of leakage of the information stored in the storage medium, 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) When CPU1 of the multifunction device A of the above embodiment detects that the USB memory B has been forgotten, the countover information is saved in the USB memory B when the forgotten count value exceeds a predetermined value. However, the present invention is not limited to the USB memory B.

CPU1 is not limited to USB memory B, but the forgotten count value of all storage media such as SD cards, compact flash, memory sticks, smart media, floppy disks, CD-RW, DVD-RW and MO disks has a predetermined value. When it is detected that the value has been exceeded, the operation of writing the forgotten count value for each storage medium may be executed. (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, but the present invention has an interface for connecting to a storage medium. For example, it can be applied to all electronic devices such as personal computers and mobile terminals. (3) In the multifunction device A of the above embodiment, every time the USB memory B is operated, the CPU 1 registers the operation content, the operation target file name, and the operation time as the USB operation history information in the USB memory operation history information table. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, when the multifunction device A requires login with an authentication card or the like in order to execute various operations, the CPU 1 registers the user identification information of the user who operates the USB memory B in the authentication card. Information such as the card number may be registered in the USB memory operation history information table as USB operation history information together with the operation content, the operation target file name, and the operation time.

Then, by storing the user identification information together with the operation content, the operation target file name, and the operation time as the USB operation history information, it is possible to identify the third party who operated the USB memory B together with the operation content and the operation time. .. As a result, even if the information of the USB memory B is leaked, it is possible to identify the user who has a high possibility of leaking the information.

In addition, after detecting the forgetting to remove the USB memory B, the CPU1 first executes both or either of the sound of the forgetting notification sound by the sounding unit and the display of the forgetting notification screen by the touch panel 10a, and executes a predetermined time. Even if the USB memory B is not removed from the USB port 11 and the operation display unit 10 does not attach the operation instruction of the USB memory B, the USB memory operation history information storage unit 12 is made to increase the forgotten count value. , You may save the forgotten count value in the USB memory B.

<figref num="1">It is a functional block diagram of the multifunction device A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a schematic diagram which shows the USB memory operation history information table of the multifunction device A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the multifunction device A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.</figref>

Code description

A ... Multifunction device, B ... USB memory, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Various sensor groups, 5 ... Paper carrier, 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 ... USB memory operation history information storage unit, 101 ... forgetting to take judgment unit, 102 ... countover control unit, 111 ... 1st detection unit, 112 ... 2nd Detection unit.