Image processing apparatus, method of notification of the number of ic card processes for the image processing apparatus, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018157855-A1
Application number	US-201715830532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 4, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2016
Publication date	Jun 7, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image processing apparatus for a public key cryptography-based system using an IC card comprises: a job execution portion that executes a job given by a user; an IC card reader that accesses the IC card; a first calculator that estimates the number of IC card processes when the job execution portion executes the job, the IC card processes to be performed in the job, the IC card processes requiring the IC card reader to access the IC card; and a notification portion that provides to the user a notification that more than one IC card process is to be performed if the estimation by the first calculator results in more than one IC card process.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image processing apparatus to be employed in a public key cryptography-based system using an 1 C card, the image processing apparatus comprising:
a job execution portion that executes a job given by a user; an IC card reader that accesses the IC card; a first calculator that estimates the number of IC card processes when the job execution portion executes the job, the IC card processes to be performed in the job, the IC card processes requiring the IC card reader to access the IC card; and a notification portion that provides to the user a notification that more than one IC card process is to be performed if the estimation by the first calculator results in more than one IC card process.

2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second calculator that estimates the remaining time to the start or end of the last one out of the IC card process, wherein the notification portion provides different information depending on either or both of the number of the IC card processes estimated by the first calculator and the remaining time estimated by the second calculator.

3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the IC card reader is any of the following types:
a contact IC card reader that accesses the IC card, the IC card being set in a card housing; a contactless IC card reader that accesses the IC card, the IC card being in an area adjacent to the contactless IC card reader; and a dual interface IC card reader having both contact and contactless reading functions.

4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a threshold specification portion that specifies either or both of a threshold value on the number of the IC card processes and a threshold value on the remaining time, wherein the notification portion provides different information depending on whether or not the number of the IC card processes or the remaining time is above the threshold value specified by the threshold specification portion.

5 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the notification portion provides different information depending on the type of IC card reader.

6 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein, if the IC card reader is of a contactless type and the number of the IC card processes is below the threshold value, the notification portion provides a message instructing to hold the IC card in an area adjacent to the IC card reader and the number of IC card processes having been completed, at the time of every IC card process.

7 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein, if the IC card reader is of a contact type, the number of the IC card processes is below the threshold value, and the remaining time is the threshold value or above, the notification portion provides a message warning not to remove the IC card from the IC card reader and the remaining time to the end of the last IC card process, after the IC card is set in the IC card reader.

8 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, if the number of the IC card processes to be performed is the threshold value or above, the notification portion provides a message inquiring whether or not to continue to start the job, before the job is started.

9 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, if the IC card reader is of a dual interface type, the IC card 30 is a dual interface support one matching the 1 C card reader having both contact and contactless reading functions, and the number of the IC card processes to be performed is the threshold value or above, the notification portion provides a message instructing to use the IC card in a contact manner on the condition that the user has been logged on using the IC card in a contactless manner.

10 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein, after the user uses the IC card in a contact manner, the notification portion provides the remaining time to the end of the last IC card process.

11 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein, if the user uses the IC card in a contactless manner in disregard of the message instructing to use the IC card in a contact manner, the notification portion provides the number of IC card processes having been completed.

12 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, if the remaining time to the end of the last IC card process is the threshold value or above, the notification portion provides the number of IC card processes having been completed and the remaining time.

13 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, if the remaining time to the end of the last IC card process is the threshold value or above, the notification portion provides the timings for the IC card processes and the remaining time.

14 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, the job involving the IC card processes is any of the following jobs:
a scan job that reads a document by a scanner, converts it to a PDF file, and performs a PDF signature process; a transmission job that performs a S/MIME signature transmission process; and a print job that decrypts encrypted print data and performs printing.

15 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the scan job reads a document by the scanner, splits scan data by pages, converts each page of data to a PDF file, and performs a PDF signature process on each PDF file; and if the scanner repeatedly performs reading and a PDF signature process in a parallel manner, the first calculator estimates the number of IC card processes to be performed with reference to information of the document loaded on the scanner.

16 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the notification portion is a display of the image processing apparatus, the display showing on a screen a notification that more than one IC card process is to be performed.

17 . A method of notification of the number of IC card processes for an image processing apparatus to be employed in a public key cryptography-based system using an IC card, the image processing apparatus comprising:
a job execution portion that executes a job given by a user; and an IC card reader that accesses the IC card, the program allowing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute: estimating the number of IC card processes when the job execution portion executes the job, the IC card processes to be performed in the job, the IC card processes requiring the IC card reader to access the IC card; and providing to the user a notification that more than one IC card process is to be performed if the estimation results in more than one IC card process.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program of notification of the number of IC card processes for an image processing apparatus to be employed in a public key cryptography-based system using an IC card, the image processing apparatus comprising:
a job execution portion that executes a job given by a user; and an IC card reader that accesses the IC card, the program allowing a computer of the image processing apparatus to execute: estimating the number of IC card processes when the job execution portion executes the job, the IC card processes to be performed in the job, the IC card processes requiring the IC card reader to access the IC card; and providing to the user a notification that more than one IC card

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Hase Junichi
• Asai Yuki

Classifications

• G06F21/34

  involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards · CPC title

• G06K7/10297

  arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 (cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00) · CPC title

• G06F21/608 Primary

  Secure printing · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

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

• G06F21/602

  Providing cryptographic facilities or services · CPC title