Image processing apparatus, authentication method, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017054875-A1
Application number	US-201615240469-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2016
Priority date	Aug 21, 2015
Publication date	Feb 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an authentication information requesting portion that transmits one or more requests for authentication information to a portable terminal apparatus upon receipt of a connection request therefrom, the connection request not requiring user identification; a first authentication portion that performs first authentication not requiring user identification by comparing authentication information to first reference data, the authentication information being received in return for the request; a second authentication portion that performs second authentication by comparing the authentication information to second reference data for user identification; and a processor that takes one piece of authentication information or any one of multiple pieces of authentication information received in return for the one or more requests, according to a predetermined rule, and that makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication using the one piece of authentication information or the any one of the multiple pieces of authentication information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
an authentication information requesting portion that transmits one or more requests for authentication information to a portable terminal apparatus upon receipt of a connection request from the portable terminal apparatus, the connection request not requiring user identification; a first authentication portion that performs first authentication for the judgment whether or not to permit a connection with the portable terminal apparatus, the first authentication not requiring user identification, by comparing authentication information to first reference data, the authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus in return for the request being transmitted by the authentication information requesting portion; a second authentication portion that performs second authentication for the judgment whether or not it is an authenticated user of the image processing apparatus, by comparing the authentication information to second reference data for user identification; and a processor that takes one piece of authentication information or any one of multiple pieces of authentication information according to a predetermined rule, the one piece of authentication information or the multiple pieces of authentication information, respectively, being received from the portable terminal apparatus in return for the one or more requests, and that makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication using the one piece of authentication information or the any one of the multiple pieces of authentication information being taken.

2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the first authentication portion completes the first authentication unsuccessfully using authentication information, the authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus, the processor then makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication using the authentication information.

3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the first authentication portion is disabled, the processor then makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication using authentication information, the authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus.

4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
after the first authentication portion successfully completes the first authentication using authentication information, the authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus, the authentication information requesting portion transmits a request for next authentication information to the portable terminal apparatus; and the processor makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication using next authentication information, the next authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus.

5 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the second authentication portion needs to perform the second authentication of multiple subjects; and after the second authentication portion completes the second authentication of one subject, the authentication information requesting portion transmits a request for other next authentication information to be used for the second authentication of another subject.

6 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the portable terminal apparatus transmits a connection request using a specific protocol; and the first authentication portion performs the first authentication using authentication information, the authentication information being received using the specific protocol.

7 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
multiple protocols are workable for establishing a connection with the portable terminal apparatus; and the processor makes the second authentication portion perform the second authentication only when a connection with the portable terminal apparatus is established using one of the workable protocols, the one workable protocol being specific.

8 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the authentication information consists of multiple elements of authentication information according to a predetermined rule; and the second authentication portion extracts the elements of authentication information therefrom and performs the second authentication of different subjects using the elements of authentication information extracted therefrom.

9 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the authentication information consists of a title of authentication information and an element of authentication information according to a predetermined rule; and the second authentication portion extracts the title of authentication information and the element of authentication information therefrom and performs the second authentication of a subject using the element of authentication information extracted therefrom, the subject being indicated by the title of authentication information extracted therefrom.

10 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the second authentication portion completes the second authentication unsuccessfully, the processor denies a connection with the portable terminal apparatus.

11 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising an allowable limit setting portion that determines an allowable limit of the number of authentication failures, the authentication failures to be made by the second authentication portion, wherein:
if the second authentication portion completes the second authentication unsuccessfully and the number of the authentication failures does not reach the allowable limit determined by the allowable setting portion, the authentication information requesting portion transmits a request for authentication information and the second authentication portion performs the second authentication using authentication information, the authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus in return for the request; or if the second authentication portion completes the second authentication unsuccessfully and the number of the authentication failures reaches the allowable limit, the processor denies a connection with the portable terminal apparatus.

12 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second authentication portion judges whether or not a print job received from the portable terminal apparatus is an authorized activity of the user; and the second authentication portion comprises an accepting portion that accepts the print job only if the second authentication portion judges that the print job is an authorized activity of the user.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing an authentication program to make a computer of an image processing apparatus execute:
transmitting one or more requests for authentication information to a portable terminal apparatus upon receipt of a connection request from the portable terminal apparatus, the connection request not requiring user identification; performing first authentication for the judgment whether or not to permit a connection with the portable terminal apparatus, the first authentication not requiring user identification, by comparing authentication information to first reference data, the authentication information being received from the portable terminal apparatus in return for the request bei

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Maruyama Tomoko
• Nishimura Ryosuke
• Shozaki Toshiya
• Haba Shoko
• Shiraishi Jun

Classifications

• G06F21/629

  to features or functions of an application · CPC title

• H04N2201/0055

  By radio · CPC title

• H04N1/00204

  with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server (programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561) · CPC title

• H04N1/00278

  with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title