Information processing apparatus, information processing system, authentication method, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10325082-B2
Application number	US-201715420318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2017
Priority date	Feb 3, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a radio communication unit configured to start emission of radio waves for performing radio communication with a radio tag, and obtain specific information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which a user in a predetermined range is detected by a detecting unit; a first authentication unit configured to execute first authentication for the radio tag, based on the specific information obtained by the radio communication unit; a second authentication unit configured to execute second authentication for a user included in an image acquired by an imaging unit, based on feature information of the image; and an apparatus authentication unit configured to authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus, if a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication is the same as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
at least one processor to execute computer readable instructions to configure the at least one processor to
detect a user being within a threshold distance range;
start emission of radio waves to perform radio communication with a radio tag, and obtain information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which the user, being within the threshold distance range, is detected;
execute first authentication for the radio tag, based on the information obtained;
cause an imaging device to image a user, and acquire an image including the user;
execute second authentication for the user included in the image, based on feature information, of the image, acquired; and
authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus, upon a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication being a same user as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the emission of radio waves is stopped upon the user being authorized to use the information processing apparatus.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:
calculate a first period from a start time of the radio communication to a completion time of the first authentication, and a second period from a time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and a completion time of the second authentication; and
start the emission of radio waves after a time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period; has elapsed, since the time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:
determine whether or not a timing of completion of the first authentication is relatively, earlier than a timing of completion of the second authentication; and
start the emission of radio waves after the time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, upon the timing of completion of the first authentication being relatively earlier than the timing of completion of the second authentication.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:
determine whether or not the second authentication is being executed, in response to completion of the first authentication; and
stop the emission of radio waves upon the second authentication being executed in response to the completion of the first authentication.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 5 , wherein upon at least one of:
the first authentication not being successful;
the second authentication not being successful; and
the user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication not being the same as the user authenticated by the second authentication,
and upon the emission of radio waves being stopped based on a result of determination of whether or not the second authentication is being executed, the the emission of radio waves is restarted.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to
stop the emission of radio waves upon a time period elapsing since detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and upon no operation being input on the information processing apparatus.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:
cause the information processing apparatus to shift to a power saving state upon the emission of radio waves being stopped because of:
elapse of the time period since the detection of the user being within the threshold distance range; and
no operation being input on the information processing apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to
continue the emission of radio waves upon the time period has not being elapsed since the detection of the user within the threshold distance range or upon an operation being input on the information processing apparatus.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein upon the information obtained from the radio tag being included in first user information in which identification information specific to each user and the information being associated, the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, being further configured to authenticate a user indicated by the identification information corresponding to the information in the first authentication.

11. The information processing apparatus of claim 10 , wherein upon feature information of the image acquired being included in second user information in which identification information specific to each user and image feature information including feature information indicating a feature of the user being associated, at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, being further configured to authenticate a user indicated by the identification information corresponding to the feature information of the image in the second authentication.

12. The information processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein upon identification information of the user authenticated by the first authentication in the first user information and identification information of the user authenticated by the second authentication in the second user information are of a same user, the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, being further configured to authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus.

13. An information processing system configured to execute authentication of a user for an information processing apparatus, the information processing system comprising:
at least one processor to execute computer readable instructions to configure the at least one processor to
detect a user being within a threshold distance range;
start emission of radio waves to perform radio communication with a radio tag, and obtain information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which the user, being within the threshold distance range, is detected;
execute first authentication for the radio tag, based on the information obtained;
to cause an imaging device to image a user, and acquire an image including the user;
execute second authentication for the user included in the image, based on feature information of the image acquired; and
authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus, upon a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication being a same user as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

14. The information processing system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:
calculate a first period from a start time of the radio communication to a completion time of the first authentication, and a second period from a time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and a completion time of the second authentication; and
start the emission

Assignees

• INOKUCHI Satoru
• Ikawa Taku
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• INOKUCHI Satoru
• Ikawa Taku

Classifications

• G06Q10/10

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title

• G06F21/35

  communicating wirelessly · CPC title

• G06Q2220/00

  Business processing using cryptography · CPC title

• G06F21/32 Primary

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title