JP2001301288A - System for managing use conditions of imaging apparatus for each user - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for managing use conditions of an imaging apparatus for each user in which a document of high secrecy is prevented from flowing out. SOLUTION: A card recorded with an ID code is inserted into a card reader 3a. When an image is formed, a copy machine 3 takes an ID code specified by a 'user state notice' command into an image. On the other hand, character recognition is performed simultaneously with scanning of a document, and the ID is taken into the image when characters 'keep secret to the outside of company' are included in the document. If the ID code does not satisfy the need, name of a user is retrieved from that code and that information is taken into the image. At a moment when a card is inserted into the card reader 3a, information concerning to the ID code is requested for a totalizer 5 and previously registered information is taken into the image. According to the system, copy of a high secrecy document can be managed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a usage status management system for each user of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a usage status management for each user of an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and a printing machine. About the system to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a copying machine according to the prior art, when copying a document or the like, it is possible to easily copy the document regardless of the confidential level of the document. In some cases, the confidential information leaks to the outside. There is also a possibility.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and according to the level of confidentiality of a document or an external document to another department in the company, or who copies the document. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a usage management system for each user of an image forming apparatus capable of preventing outflow of a document by managing whether the document is outflow and specifying the source of outflow even if the document is outflowed. It is.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, wherein the ID code of the image forming apparatus is provided by using user information (ID code) provided corresponding to the image forming apparatus. A management device that stores and manages the usage status of the user corresponding to the management device; and a tallying device that is connected to the management device via a network such as a LAN or a public line and collects information stored in the management device. The ID code input to the management device is inserted into an image formed in the image forming apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when a specific keyword is present in the original,
A D code is inserted into the image.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a name of the user is searched from the ID code and the name is inserted into the image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, when a card in which the ID code is recorded is inserted into the management device, information of a user corresponding to the ID code is transmitted from the totaling device. It is characterized by collecting.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment) In this embodiment, a case where a digital copying machine is connected to a charge management device will be described. First, terms used in the present invention will be explained and defined. (1) "Image reading device" The "image reading device" used in the digital copying machine is:
This device has a function of irradiating a document with light from a light source, converting reflected light into an electric signal by a “solid-state imaging device = CCD”, and performing necessary image processing.

(2) "Image Forming Apparatus" An "image forming apparatus" used in a digital copying machine is formed by means such as electrophotography, heat sensitivity, thermal transfer, and ink jet.
This is an apparatus that forms an image sent by an electric signal on plain paper, thermal paper, or the like.

(3) "Extended function" or "application (abbreviated as application)" A major feature of the digital copying machine is that an image is converted into an electric signal and read, and the electric signal is restored by the image forming apparatus. At this time, by having means for changing and transmitting the read electric signal in various ways, it can be applied to fields other than the copying machine. In addition to the above-described FAX and printer, the application range of a scanner, a file system, and the like is very wide. These extensions are referred to as "applications".

(4) "Video signal" Synchronizes with the electric signal of the image converted by the "image reading device", the electric signal of the image inputted to the "image forming device", and the electric signal of the image. Are collectively expressed as a "video signal".

(5) “Control signal”, “command” In order to exchange “video signal” between “image reading device”, “image forming device”, and “application”, information is transmitted between the devices. There is a need. This means is referred to as "control signal" or "command" issuance.

(6) “system”, “system control”,
"System Controller" Recent digital copiers have been equipped not only with one application but also with a plurality of applications simultaneously. As described above, a digital copier sharing one resource is referred to as a "system", and controllers for controlling the system are referred to as "system control" and "system controller".

(7) “Resource” or “Resource” Functional unit units shared by a plurality of applications are expressed as “resource” and “resource”. The above-described system controller performs system control on a resource-by-resource basis. Resources managed by the digital copying machine of this embodiment are as follows:
"Image reading device", "image forming device", "operation unit", "memory", "peripheral device (DF = document feeder,
Sorter).

(8) "insertion output" or "interleave" This is mainly used for explaining the operation at the time of image output. Normally, in image output, other operations are not executed until a series of operations having the same purpose (= 1 job) is completed. For example, in recent digital copiers, functions are combined, and a copier + FAX or a printer, or a combination of more than them are integrated into one unit. Output is performed in functional units (= job units) so as to switch. On the other hand, inserting and outputting the output of another job into the output of one job is referred to as “interleaving”. For example, a printer output is realized without stopping the machine operation during the output of the copying machine.

(9) "Initial setting" To change the initial setting value of each function or to set operation conditions in accordance with frequently used conditions. Initial settings include
There are "System Initial Setting" for setting the functions of the copier system in general, "Copy Initial Setting" for the setting of the copy mode function, "Fax Initial Setting" for the setting of the facsimile mode function, etc. . For example, the "system initial setting" includes "auto clear time setting" for returning to a state when the power is turned on when no operation is performed for a certain period of time after a key operation. In ",""Set copy set number limit" to change the upper limit of the number of copies that can be set, "Duplex left binding width" that allows setting the left binding margin on the back side of "Simplex → Duplex" copy, etc. There is. “Fax initial setting” includes “receiving time print setting” for selecting a function for printing the reception time, “destination registration” for registering a frequently used telephone number of a partner, and the like.

(10) "Connected output" By connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses with a cable,
Information read by one image forming apparatus can be simultaneously output by a plurality of image forming apparatuses. Connecting this image forming apparatus is called connection, and the output method is called connection output.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a usage status management system for each user of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a laser printer, 1a denotes a card reader, and 2 denotes a facsimile. Reference numeral 2a denotes a card reader, 3 denotes a copy, 3a denotes a card reader, 4 denotes a scanner, 4a denotes a card reader, 5 denotes a counting device, and 6 denotes an Ethernet (registered trademark). FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining another embodiment of the usage status management system for each user of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 7 denotes a dedicated line, 8 denotes a public line,
In addition, parts having the same functions as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration in which each image forming apparatus is connected by Ethernet 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, when there is a FAX 2 in the image forming apparatus connected to the same line (dedicated line 7), data is collected by using the FAX 2 modem. The management data of the copy 3 connected to is collected by the totaling device 5 via the fax 2 modem and the public line 8.

<Basic Configuration> First, system control of a digital copying machine to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG.
1 is an external view of a digital copying machine for explaining an example of an image forming apparatus used in an image forming apparatus user usage management system according to the present invention, in which 11 is a digital copying machine, and 12 is a key card device. , 13 is a key card display unit, 14 is a card, and 15 is a key card reading unit. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation unit (operation panel) of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 3, in which 21 is a program registration / call key, 22 is an interrupt key,
23 is an initial setting key, 24 is a facsimile shortcut key group, 25
Is a numeric keypad, 26 is an application switching key, 2
Reference numeral 7 denotes an operation unit LCD.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 3, in which 31 is a copying machine control unit, 32 is a management device control unit, 33 is a storage unit,
34 is a card reader, 35 is an operation / display unit, 36 is a printer network unit, 37 is Ethernet, 38 is a scanner unit, 39 is SCSI, 40 is a fax unit and modem,
41 is a telephone line, 42 is a remote diagnosis communication unit, and 43 is a dedicated line. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 32 of the management device
Is located in the copier control unit 31, and the storage unit, the display unit, and the operation unit share those of the copier. The connection with the external totaling device can be made by selecting one of various I / Fs mounted on the copying machine. The I / F shown in FIG. 5 is a representative example.

<Copier> The application switching key 26 of the operation unit is a key for switching to each application of copy, fax, and printer, and transfers the operation unit display right to the application corresponding to the pressed key.
Therefore, for example, in the case of a system not equipped with a fax function, the pressing of the fax key is ignored, or the fax key is not assigned to the operation unit in the first place. An LCD 27 for displaying a setting state, a warning, and the like is provided at the center of the operation unit. On the back side of the operation of the operation unit, a speaker (not shown) is attached,
Used when a key is pressed or when an alarm sounds.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of system software of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. To configure a multitasking system,
It is necessary to manage functional units as resources and manage one resource to be shared by multiple applications. The system control layer 60 shown in FIG. 6 performs this management. The device control layer 70 in FIG. 6 is based on logical instructions such as commands and control signals from the system control layer 60.
In order to actually operate the device, conversion is performed to drive and input mechanical inputs and outputs such as clutches, sensors, and motors. The application layer 50 in FIG. 6 is a layer in which a plurality of applications such as copy, printer, and facsimile can coexist as extended functions by a function provided from the system control layer 60.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the system hardware of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. In the example of the hardware configuration shown in FIG.
CPUs 51a, 52a, 53a are provided for every 2, 53,
Although the system control layer and device control layer are controlled by one CPU, each application, system control, and each resource
Hardware that has a PU and transmits commands from the system controller to each controller via a control signal line is also conceivable. On the other hand, the key card device 81 is connected to the main body by a control line 67, and in the present invention, serial communication is used. FIG. 6 shows an operation unit control bus for controlling the operation unit. However, it is naturally possible to perform the operation by exchanging commands using the above-described control signal lines. As described above, since the system hardware configuration is freely configured, the description of FIG. 6 is not particularly limited.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the application layer and the system control layer in the example shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the system control layer 60 provides a function such that virtual resources exist for all individual applications when viewed from the application layer 50. With this function, the application layer 50 does not particularly need to manage the system state, and the system control layer 60 can manage all applications under the same conditions. That is, the application sends a use request to the system control 60 when a resource to be used occurs. In the system control 60, the result is sent to the request source application, judging from the resource use status at that time. The request source application determines whether the application can be executed based on the result, and executes the application if possible. Basically, the execution right is managed by the same procedure.

In the system shown in FIG. 6, there is only one resource. Therefore, the system control 6
In the case of 0, when virtual resource use requests for each application conflict, it is necessary to perform exclusive control or time-division allocation in order to pass the actual resource use right. Whether to perform exclusive control or time-division allocation depends on the type of resource and user settings.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the interleaving operation between the copy application and the printer application in the example shown in FIG. FIG. 10 illustrates the F
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a parallel operation of an AX application and a printer application. The above supplementary explanation will be made with reference to FIGS.
The resources surrounded by broken lines are virtual resources, and do not have the execution (display in the case of the operation unit) right, and the resources surrounded by solid lines indicate the state of having taken the execution right.

The example shown in FIG. 9 shows an interleaving operation between the copy application 51 and the printer application 52. The copy application 51 includes “operation unit”, “image forming apparatus”, “image reading apparatus” resources 91a, 91b,
91c is in execution with all execution rights. At this time, the “image forming apparatus” resource 92 b
When only the use request is received, if the interleave mode is enabled in the user setting, the system control 60
Controls time-division allocation of “image forming apparatus” resources.
The time-sharing allocation control dynamically changes the execution right of a resource among a plurality of applications. As a result, the output from the “image forming apparatus” is output by mixing the copy application output and the printer application output. During this time, the "image forming apparatus" can be changed without stopping, so that the waiting time of both can be minimized.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, the fax application 53 has the display right of the operation unit, and shows the parallel operation of the printing operation of the printer application 52 and the fax application 53. The fax application 53 uses, for example, only the “operation unit” and the “image reading device” resources 93a and 93c in a facsimile transmission mode or the like. On the other hand, the printer application 52 uses the “image forming device” such as a printer output. "Only the resource 92b is required. For this reason, even if the printer application 52 and the fax application 53 request resources at the same time, resource conflict does not occur, and it is possible to accept the requests of both applications without having to perform exclusive or time-division allocation. Therefore,
The operations of the printer application 52 and the fax application 53 can be performed at the same time.

Next, communication between the system controller and each unit or application, and communication between the system controller and the key card will be described. The communication handshake may be serial communication, parallel transmission, or the like. The serial communication implemented in the present invention will be described as an example. In the present invention, the transmission rate is 9600 bit / s, the synchronization method is start-stop synchronization (asynchronous), the data length is 8 bits, the start bit is 1 bit, the stop bit is 1 bit, and the parity bit is an odd number. are doing.

FIG. 11 is a transmission state transition diagram for explaining communication between the system controller and each unit or application and communication between the system controller and the key card. FIG. 12 is a reception state transition diagram for explaining communication between the system controller and each unit or application, and communication between the system controller and the key card. Transmission and reception are performed in units of each frame.
As a communication error recovery means, when a receiving station receives a frame (S11), the receiving station returns "Acknowledge (hereinafter AC).
K) ”or“ Non-Acknowledge (NAK) ”to the transmitting station (S13, S14). Upon receiving the ACK, the transmitting station recognizes that the other station has received the frame normally. On the other hand, if the NAK is received, it is assumed that an error (for example, parity error, framing error, etc.) has occurred on the line, and the transmission frame is retransmitted (S2, S4). (In the present embodiment, 300 ms), neither ACK nor NAK can be received (when a time-out error occurs), the partner station determines that there is no response, and performs retransmission (S2).
S4). Even if retransmission is performed several times (in this embodiment, four times)
If K cannot be received, the other station is determined to be abnormal (S
6).

In the embodiment, the data frame is A
An SCII character string (H'20 to H'FF) is used, and control data such as ACK and NAK are allocated to an area from H'00 to H'1F (specifically,
ACK = H'04, NAK = H'05). In FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, BFL is a control code (specifically, BFL = H'03) for the other station to notify the reception buffer of a full state.

<Management Device (Key Card)> In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a management device (appearance) used as a user-restricted device, and a card 14 denotes each use for identifying a user. This is a card with a magnetic stripe that records a code (ID code) unique to the user. The recording medium read by the management device unit is a card with a magnetic stripe, and information such as the number of copies is stored in the RA in the management device 12.
M.

The magnetic cards 14 are distributed for each individual or for each department. If this card conforms to the format registered in the management device in advance, the card can be used as it is. For example, when managing the copying machine 11 using an employee ID card, the type of magnetic card , The format must be registered in the management device in advance.

The reading unit 15 of the management device 12 is provided with a plug-in card reader capable of reading both sides of the magnetic card 14, and by inserting the key card 14 from the right side in the figure, the magnetic information on the card 14 is read. Can be read. The I / F section of the management apparatus section exchanges data between the reader and the control section, and controls the image forming apparatus 11.
Do with. Therefore, in the figure, a part of the image forming apparatus 11 is referred to as a management device unit.

The conventional management device includes a display unit and a switch, but the display unit and the operation unit of the copying machine are shared. In this embodiment, the type of the magnetic card is JISI, II (JI
I-type and II-type magnetic cards defined by SX-6301), respectively, and written by the track position, recording density, recording method (frequency modulation method), and recording angle specified by JIS-X-6302. It is assumed that Of course, other types of storage media can be used. In this embodiment, the card reader 1 is provided outside the copying machine 11.
There are only two readers and the type of reader can be selected, so this device may be replaced with another reader. If the recording medium is already used for security or the like, by connecting the reader, the one used so far can be used as it is.

First, the manager first checks the card type (J
ISI / II). Of course, JISI and II cards can be used together. Well, JISI and JISII
The magnetic surface is completely opposite to the card reading direction. For example, put the magnetic card 14 in the reader 1 from right to left.
When passing through 2, the magnetic surface comes down and JISI, and the magnetic surface comes up JISII. Therefore, JISI /
To be able to read both II cards, the head must be positioned above and below the reader. For this purpose, this apparatus is equipped with two heads (in the embodiment, JI
In SI, the head is arranged at a position where the track 2 can be read.)

Next, the manager specifies the position of a recognition code unique to the magnetic card, which is described on the magnetic card. For example, a case where an employee ID card is created with a magnetic card according to the JIS II standard will be described as an example. Normally, an employee ID card created with a magnetic card contains a company-specific identification code. This is for discriminating a magnetic card written in the same standard.

The format of the JIS II magnetic card is
It is as follows. -Start code: 1 character-Data: 69 characters at maximum-End symbol: 1 character-LRC code: 1 character-Total: 72 characters at maximum Since data is a maximum of 69 characters, when creating an employee ID card with a JIS II magnetic card In this range, the company's unique identification code, employee number, and the like are described. Therefore, where the specific code is described depends on the company.

For example, suppose that the employee card of the company is defined as follows (the number on the left is the number of bytes from the head). 1: Start code 2-5: Space 6-10: Recognition code "RICOH" 11-16: Employee No. 17-22: Date of issue YYMMDD 23: Gender, 0: Male, 1: Female 24-37: Name 38-70: Space 71: End code 72: LRC code 73-: Space

Therefore, the administrator makes the following settings in the management device section. (1) Set that the recognition code is the 6th to 10th bytes. (2) Set that the recognition code is “RICOH”. (3) Set that the employee number is the 11th to 16th bytes. This information is stored in the RAM of the management device unit and is valid until the operation of clearing the RAM is performed. Further, the above setting can be performed only by the administrator and the maintenance person. After entering the setting mode, the setting is performed by the display unit and the switch.

The copier 11 and the card reader 12 are connected by an interface cable, and exchange card information. If it is a prepaid card, use a card reader / writer.
When there are a plurality of copiers, card readers for the number of copiers are required, and are similarly connected to the copiers.
To make a copy, the card 14 is inserted into the card reader 12.

As described above, the magnetic card has a recognition code (a code indicating whether the card is a card for the management unit) and a card number (when a plurality of cards are owned by the same department). Indicates the same number). In some cases, the number of copies and the like are recorded. When the card is inserted, the management device reads the recognition code to determine whether the card is a card for the management device. If the recognition code does not match the one registered in the management device, a message indicating that the card cannot be used is displayed. If they match, permit the copy operation,
The total number of copies taken with the card number and, depending on the setting, the number of remaining copies are displayed.

In the copying machine 11, the light emitting portion of the start key in the operation section turns green when copying is possible, and turns red when copying is not possible. Display on the operation unit to insert. This determination is made based on a signal (user state notification) output from the management device unit described later.

Here, the setting of the use permission for each application is performed by using an operation unit or an externally connected personal computer for tallying, for example, by using an application or mode for which use is permitted for each ID, or prohibiting use. Application and mode to be set can be set, and such information is stored in a part of the logging memory. When the magnetic card is set, the setting of the corresponding use right is taken out based on the ID code stored in the card, and is notified to the main body together with the ID code. The main body can use this information to restrict users for each application and mode.

The prohibited items that can be set in the management device are as follows. (1) All prohibition (all department prohibition) Use of all departments is prohibited. The management device unit does not permit use regardless of which card is inserted.

(2) Prohibition by Card Number (Specified Department Prohibition) Use of a specific department is prohibited. The management device unit does not permit use only when a card of a preset number is inserted.

(3) Prohibition by Type It is possible to set in combination with all departments and designated departments. For example, only the design department does not prohibit, and the other departments prohibit color copying, thereby preventing color copies from being taken unnecessarily.

(4) Prohibition due to upper limit number The management unit stores the number of count signals input from the copying machine for each copy type and copy mode, and the number is the number set by the administrator. When the value reaches, the copy permission signal is not output. Settings can be made for each copy type for all departments and only for the designated department. For example, this is set when it is desired to limit the total number of copies per month or the number of color copies.

(5) Prohibition by Number of Repeat Copies When the operator inputs the number using the operation unit of the copying machine, the data is sent from the copying machine to the management unit. If the number is larger than the preset number, no copy permission signal is output. This is used when the user wants to use the printing machine when making more than a predetermined number of repeat copies.

When the card 14 is inserted into the card reader 12 or when there is a request for information (user status notification request) from the copying machine 11, the management device unit transmits the following information (user status notification). reply.

(A) ID code ID code written on the card (b) Card inserted state No card / card set (c) Copy counter state Remaining number of copies when upper limit is set (d) Information on whether copy, single-sided, double-sided, black-and-white, single-color, two-color, full-color, and staple are prohibited. (E) FAX counter status Remaining number of fax transmissions when the upper limit is set (F) FAX user restriction Information on whether FAX use is prohibited (g) Printer counter status Remaining print output status when the upper limit is set (h) Printer user restriction Printer used Information on whether prohibition is set

The above information is set as one set and transmitted from the management unit to the copying machine. Based on this information, the copier makes a determination to prohibit / permit switching of the application and to display a warning on the operation unit. Further, since the copier stores the above information until the work in the application is completed, even if the card is removed from the card reader during use of the application, there is no need to stop the operation (except when the upper limit is set). ).

Conventionally, since this information has not been sent from the management device, it was necessary to immediately stop the operation when the card was removed. Therefore, if the IDs are different, it is impossible to reserve the next job. In the present embodiment, even if the management apparatus is connected to the copying machine, the next job can be reserved and the application can be switched, so that, for example, copy output and FAX reading using different IDs can be performed.

During operation, the following information (count request) is transmitted from the copying machine to the management unit. (A) ID code Information on which ID code the count request is for. (B) Count target Information on whether the count request is for copy, fax transmission, fax reception, scanner reading, print, staple, plate creation, or management report.

(C) Count parameter Information on the number of counts and the type. The information here changes depending on the count target. For copying: number of copies, color mode, single-sided / double-sided, size, paper type, concatenated output, etc. For FAX transmission: number of transmissions, transmission fee, number of transmitted documents, transmission time, line type, etc. For FAX reception: number of receptions, Single side / double side, paper size,
Line type Print: Number of prints, color mode, one-sided / two-sided,
Paper size, paper type, post-processing: Number of staples Plate (printer plate): Number of plate creations Management report: Number of output The above information is set as one set and transmitted from the copier to the management unit.

In addition, the following information is exchanged. (D) Notification of management device status When the management device unit cannot receive the count, such as during initialization of the RAM, it notifies the status.

The flow of the actual operation will be described (FIG. 1). <When Copying> When a card is not set in the card reader 3a, "Please insert a card" is displayed on the display unit of the copying machine 3. Card reader 3
When the card is inserted into a, the management device sends a “user status notification” to the copying machine 3. The copying machine 3 determines an available application and mode based on the information, and prohibits switching to an unusable application, or displays a warning that it cannot be used when switched.

When copying is started, the copying machine 3 transmits a "count request" to the management device. When post-processing is also performed, a count request is also performed. In that case, the above-mentioned count parameter information is transmitted. The management device unit uses the ID and the count parameter therein to store the
In the count area. In the management unit, when a count request is received from the copying machine 3 for an object that is set not to be managed, the count request is ignored. If the card is removed during the job, the copying machine 3 invalidates the ID code after the job is completed. If the card is removed after the job ends, the ID code is invalidated at that time.

When forming an image, the copying machine 3 specifies an ID by a “user status notification” command.
The ID code is taken into the image. At this time, information such as a date can be added. For example, an image is formed on the upper right of the transfer paper, such as "'99 / 09/09123456". However, such information may be an obstacle to a document to be output to the outside. In that case,
For example, there is a method of setting whether or not to insert an ID code at the security level of a document. The copier 3 performs character recognition at the same time as scanning the original, and if the document includes characters such as "confidential", "confidential", and "secret", the ID is also included in the image. There are ways.

If the ID code alone is insufficient, there is a method of searching the code for, for example, the name of the user and inserting the information into an image. that time,
In the copying machine 3, all information such as an ID and a name are registered. However, it is difficult to perform registration for all copying machines. Therefore, there is a method of diverting the data of the counting device 5. Originally, information such as an ID, a department name (user name), and a department code is registered in the counting device 5 in advance, so that when the card is inserted into the management device, the counting device 5
, Information about the ID code is requested, so that information other than the ID code can be included in the image.

<Switching of Application and Interrupt Processing> The case of performing FAX transmission by another card while copying is being used is as shown in Table 1.

[0063]

[Table 1]

The above is a management method using a card. Next, a method not using a card will be described. Conventionally,
There was a method of entering a password using the numeric keypad on the operation unit of the copier to manage the copy.However, detailed management such as a management device or management with a large number of departments is not possible due to the limitation of the storage area. It was possible. Therefore, the internal management of the copying machine is used when only a small number of IDs (departments) and the number of copies are managed, and a management device is connected when the number of IDs and detailed management are performed. In this embodiment, the ID code is accompanied with the count request from the copying machine.
The ID code uses a numeric keypad of the copying machine, and the management can be performed by a management device (extended password code).

<Extended PIN Code> When a copy is made using the extended PIN code, it is as shown in Table 2.

[0066]

[Table 2]

<Data Collection> When the number of management devices is small, a printer or the like is connected to the management devices to print out count information, and the information of each management device is added up. When the copying machine is a digital machine, data is output by the device. However, when the number of management devices is large, this method requires considerable labor. Further, when the management apparatus, that is, the image forming apparatus is installed in various places, it is necessary to go to each management apparatus to collect data. A connection is made to a private line, a LAN, or a public line via an I / F, and data is similarly collected by a PC (personal computer) connected to the private line, a LAN, or a public line (FIG. 5). .

This I / F uses the one mounted on the copying machine. For example, various external I / Fs are prepared in a copying machine, and a desired I / F is selected according to a user's use environment. For a FAX machine, a telephone line and a modem are already prepared, so that the copying machine (management device) to the totaling device may be connected by telephone. If there is a FAX machine on the same line, the data is sent to the FAX, and thereafter, the data is transmitted using the telephone line connected to the FAX. If you are connected as a network printer, use it as is. There is also a method of connecting to a line for SCSI or remote diagnosis. Here, the remote diagnosis is a system for automatically notifying a repair center when a failure occurs in a copying machine. The relay device receives the call from the copying machine, and the device notifies the center using the telephone line.

An application for totaling data (hereinafter referred to as totaling software) is started on the PC, and a data collection command is executed there. The management device instructed by the PC transmits the count information stored in the RAM to the PC. The PC sequentially collects data for each copying machine (management device), and collects data for all the copiers (management devices), in some cases, for a specific management device.

[0070]

(1) Effect of the invention of claim 1 By inserting an ID code into a copy image, it is possible to manage a copy of a document with a high security level.

(2) Effect of the Second Embodiment When a specific keyword is present in a copy document, the ID code is inserted into the image, so that information is not described in a copy of the document to be output to the outside. In addition, it is possible to manage only documents with a high confidential level.

(3) Effect of the Third Embodiment The name of the user is retrieved from the ID code and the information such as the name is inserted into the copy image, so that the copy person can be easily specified.

(4) Effect of the Invention of Claim 4 When a card is inserted into the management device, user information is collected from the counting device, so that the user registration work is simplified, and If the log is left, the user can be managed in a time series.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a usage status management system for each user of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining another embodiment of the usage status management system for each user of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a digital copying machine for explaining an example of an image forming apparatus used in an image forming apparatus user usage management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation unit (operation panel) of the digital copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the digital copying machine shown in FIG.

6 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of a configuration of system software of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram for explaining an example of a configuration of system hardware of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between an application layer and a system control layer in the example shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram for describing an interleaving operation between a copy application and a printer application in the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a parallel operation of a FAX application and a printer application in the example shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a transmission state transition diagram for explaining communication between the system controller and each unit or application, and communication between the system controller and the key card.

FIG. 12 is a reception state transition diagram for explaining communication between the system controller and each unit or application, and communication between the system controller and the key card.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Laser printer, 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 34 ...
Card reader, 2 FAX, 3 Copy, 4 Scanner, 5 Compiling device, 6, 37 Ethernet, 7 Private line, 8 Public line, 11 Digital copier, 12 Key card device, 13 Key card display part, 14 ... card,
15: Key card reading unit, 21: Program registration /
Call key, 22: Interrupt key, 23: Initial setting key, 24: FAX shortcut key group, 25: Numeric keypad, 26
… Application switching key, 27… Operation part LC
D, 31: copy machine control unit, 32: management device control unit, 33
... Storage unit, 35 ... Operation / display unit, 36 ... Printer network unit, 38 ... Scanner unit, 39 ... SCSI, 40 ...
Fax unit and modem, 41: telephone line, 42: remote diagnostic communication unit, 43: dedicated line.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/387 5C076 1/387 B41J 29/00 Z F-term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ06 2C087 AA03 AA09 AC08 BA03 BB10 BC07 DA13 5B017 AA06 CA16 5B021 AA01 AA05 AA19 AA21 NN19 NN22 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA17 AA30 AA35 AB08 AB10 AB22 AB43 AC04 AC24 AE07 AF08 AF12 AF14 BA00 5C076 AA14 AA16 BA06

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus, and a user's use status corresponding to the ID code of the image forming apparatus is stored and stored using user information (ID code) provided corresponding to the image forming apparatus. Management device for managing, and management device and LA
N or a tallying device connected to a network such as a public line to collect information stored in the management device. The ID code input to the management device is included in an image to be formed in the image forming device. And a usage status management system for each user of the image forming apparatus. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a specific keyword is present in a document, said ID code is inserted into said image. Forming device user usage management system. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a name of the user is searched from the ID code, and the name is inserted into the image. A usage management system for each user of an image forming apparatus. 4. The management system according to claim 3, wherein the management device includes the I-mode.
When the card on which the D code is recorded is inserted, the ID
A usage status management system for each user of an image forming apparatus, wherein information on a user corresponding to the code is collected from the totaling device.