Multifunction Apparatus, Multifunction Apparatus System and Computer Program Product

• US 20070122015A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Minamizawa, Fumihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A multifunction apparatus that includes: a read unit; a storage unit storing a fingerprint in association with at least one of a function of the multifunction apparatus, a set item and a set value; a call unit that reads from the storage unit at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with the fingerprint read by the read unit; an instruct unit that instructs execution of an operation based on at least one of the function, set item and set value read by the call unit; and an execute unit. When fingerprints are read sequentially by the read unit, the call unit sequentially reads at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with each of the fingerprints, and when the instruct unit instructs the execution, the execute unit executes the operation based on at least one of the thus read function, set item and set value.

Claims

1. A multifunction apparatus comprising:

a read unit that reads a fingerprint;

a storage unit that stores the fingerprint in association with at least one of a function of the multifunction apparatus, a set item and a set value, which are referred to when executing the function;

a call unit that reads from the storage unit at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with the fingerprint read by the read unit;

an instruct unit that instructs execution of an operation based on at least one of the function, set item and set value read by the call unit; and

an execute unit,

wherein when a plurality of fingerprints are read sequentially by the read unit, the call unit sequentially reads at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with each of the fingerprints, and

when the instruct unit instructs the execution, the execute unit executes the operation based on at least one of the thus read function, set item and set value.

2. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a designate unit that designates one of the function, set item and set value; and

a registration unit that registers the fingerprint read by the read unit and the function, set item or set value designated by the designate unit in the storage unit in association with each other.

3. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function includes at least a copy function, a print function and a facsimile function, and

different fingerprints are stored in the storage unit for different functions.

4. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each function hierarchically includes at least one set item, which is referred to when executing the function,

different fingerprints are associated with respective set values of the set item and registered,

the call unit reads from the storage unit the set value of the set item corresponding to the fingerprint read by the read unit in a state where the function is selected, and

the execute unit executes an operation corresponding to the set value of the set item read for the selected function.

5. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the registration unit allows registration of a same fingerprint for the function, set item and set value belonging to different hierarchical layers.

12. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a registration content display unit that, when the fingerprint is read by the read unit and the function, set item or set value corresponding to the fingerprint is registered in the storage unit, displays registration contents.

14. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first determination unit that determines whether an administrator identification information to identify an administrator is input or not; and

a registration mode transfer unit that, when the first determination unit determines that the administrator identification information is input, transfers a mode of the multifunction apparatus to a registration mode for accepting registration to be carried out by the registration unit.

16. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second determination unit that determines whether an individual identification information to identify an individual is input or not; and

an operation mode transfer unit that, when the second determination unit determines that the individual identification information is input, transfers a mode of the multifunction apparatus to an operation mode to allow the read unit to read the fingerprint for accepting operations to be executed by the call unit and the execute unit.

18. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising an operation panel containing at least one of a key and a switch,

wherein an input through the operation panel is accepted in the operation mode.

20. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a registration content confirm unit that confirms contents stored in the storage unit associated with the fingerprint.

22. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a timing generate unit that generates a predetermined timing; and

an update request unit that requests update of the registered contents according to a timing generated by the timing generate unit.

24. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising an error count record unit that records the number of times the fingerprint reading by the read unit is not made correctly,

wherein the timing generate unit, when the error count record unit shows that the number of times of errors exceeds a predetermined value, regards it as the predetermined timing.

26. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a period measure unit that measures a period having elapsed since registration of the fingerprint by the registration unit,

wherein the timing generate unit, when the period measured by the period measure unit exceeds a predetermined value, regards it as the predetermined timing.

6. A multifunction apparatus comprising:

a read unit that reads a fingerprint;

a first storage unit that stores the fingerprint in association with code information;

a second storage unit that allocates the code information for at least one of a function of the multifunction apparatus and a set value of a set item that is referred to when executing the function, the second storage unit storing the thus allocated code information;

a call unit that reads from the first storage unit the code information associated with the fingerprint read by the read unit and reads from the second storage unit the function or the set value of the set item corresponding to the code information; and

an execute unit that executes an operation based on the function or the set value of the set item read by the call unit.

7. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a designate unit that designates one of the code information; and

a registration unit that registers in the first storage unit the fingerprint read by the read unit and the code information designated by the designate unit in association with each other.

8. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the function includes at least a copy function, a print function and a facsimile function, and

different code information are stored in the first storage unit for different functions.

9. The multifunction apparatus according to claims 6, wherein each function hierarchically includes at least one set item, which is referred to when executing the function,

different code information are associated with respective set values of the set item and stored in the second storage unit,

the call unit reads the code information corresponding to the fingerprint read by the read unit from the first storage unit and reads the set value of the set item corresponding to the code information from the second storage unit in a state where the function is selected, and

the execute unit executes an operation corresponding to the set value of the set item read for the selected function.

10. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an instruct unit that instructs execution of an operation corresponding to the function or the set value of the set item read by the call unit,

wherein when a plurality of fingerprints are read sequentially by the read unit, the call unit reads code information corresponding to the thus read fingerprints and functions or the set values of the set items corresponding to the code information sequentially, and

when an instruction is given by the instruct unit, the execute unit executes an operation based on the function and the set value of the set item read until the instruction is given by the instruct unit.

11. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the registration unit allows registration of different code information for a same fingerprint.

13. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a registration content display unit that, when the fingerprint is read by the read unit and the code information corresponding to the fingerprint is registered in the first storage unit, and further when the function, set item or set value corresponding to the code information is registered in the second storage unit, displays registration contents.

15. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a first determination unit that determines whether an administrator identification information to identify an administrator is input or not; and

a registration mode transfer unit that, when the first determination unit determines that the administrator identification information is input, transfers a mode of the multifunction apparatus to a registration mode for accepting registration to be carried out by the registration unit.

17. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

a second determination unit that determines whether an individual identification information to identify an individual is input or not; and

an operation mode transfer unit that, when the second determination unit determines that the individual identification information is input, transfers a mode of the multifunction apparatus to an operation mode to allow the read unit to read the fingerprint for accepting operations to be executed by the call unit and the execute unit.

19. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an operation panel containing at least one of a key and a switch,

wherein an input through the operation panel is accepted in the operation mode.

21. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a registration content confirm unit that confirms contents stored in the first storage unit associated with the fingerprint.

23. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a timing generate unit that generates a predetermined timing; and

an update request unit that requests update of the registered contents according to a timing generated by the timing generate unit.

25. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an error count record unit that records the number of times the fingerprint reading by the read unit is not made correctly,

wherein the timing generate unit, when the error count record unit shows that the number of times of errors exceeds a predetermined value, regards it as the predetermined timing.

27. The multifunction apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a period measure unit that measures a period having elapsed since registration of the fingerprint by the registration unit,

wherein the timing generate unit, when the period measured by the period measure unit exceeds a predetermined value, regards it as the predetermined timing.

28. A multifunction apparatus system comprising:

a multifunction apparatus; and

a terminal apparatus connected to the multifunction apparatus via a network,

wherein the terminal apparatus comprises;

a terminal apparatus read unit that reads a fingerprint; and

a registration unit that registers the fingerprint read by the terminal apparatus read unit and at least one of a function of the multifunction apparatus, a set item and a set value, which are referred to when executing the function, in association with each other,

wherein the multifunction apparatus comprises;

an information acquire unit that acquires registration contents registered by the registration unit from the terminal apparatus;

a storage unit that stores the registration contents acquired by the information acquire unit;

a read unit that reads the fingerprint;

a call unit that reads from the storage unit at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with the fingerprint read by the read unit;

an instruct unit that instructs execution of an operation corresponding to the function, set item or set value read by the call unit; and

an execute unit, and

wherein when a plurality of fingerprints are read sequentially by the read unit, the call unit sequentially reads at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with each of the fingerprints, and

when the instruct unit instructs the execution, the execute unit executes an operation based on at least one of the function, set item and set value read until the instruction is given by the instruct unit.

29. A multifunction apparatus system comprising:

a multifunction apparatus; and

a terminal apparatus connected to the multifunction apparatus via a network,

wherein the terminal apparatus comprises;

a terminal apparatus read unit that reads a fingerprint; and

a registration unit that registers code information in association with the fingerprint read by the terminal apparatus read unit,

wherein the multifunction apparatus comprises;

an information acquire unit that acquires registration contents registered by the registration unit from the terminal apparatus;

a first storage unit that allocates the code information contained in the registration contents acquired by the information acquire unit;

a second storage unit that stores the code information contained in the registration contents in association with at least one of a function of the multifunction apparatus, a set value of a set item, which is referred to when executing the function, and a fingerprint corresponding to the code information, the second storage unit storing the code information and the fingerprints;

a read unit that reads the fingerprint;

a call unit that calls the code information associated with the fingerprint from the first storage unit, the call unit reading the function or the set value of the set item corresponding to the code information from the second storage unit; and

an execute unit that executes an operation based on the function or the set value of the set item corresponding to the code information read by the call unit.

30. A computer program product comprising:

software instructions for enabling a computer to perform predetermined operations, and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations including the steps of;

acquiring a fingerprint;

referring to a storage unit that stores at least a function of a multifunction apparatus, a set item and a set value, which are referred to when executing the function, in association with a fingerprint;

reading the function or the set value of the set item associated with the fingerprint acquired in the acquiring step;

detecting an execute instruction of an operation based on the function or the set value of the set item read in the reading step; and

executing the operation,

wherein when a plurality of fingerprints are read sequentially by the acquiring step, reading in the reading step at least one of the function, set item and set value associated with each of the fingerprints, and

when the execute instruction is detected in the detecting step, the operation based on at least one of the thus read function, set item and set value is executed in the executing step.

31. The computer program product according to claim 30, wherein the predetermined operations further including the steps of:

detecting that one of the function, the set item and the set value is designated; and

registering the fingerprint acquired in the acquiring step and the function, the set item or the set value detected in the detecting step in association with each other.

32. A computer program product comprising:

software instructions for enabling a computer to perform predetermined operations, and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

the predetermined operations including the steps of;

acquiring a fingerprint;

referring to a first storage unit that stores code information in association with a fingerprint and a second storage unit for allocating the code information in association with a function of the multifunction apparatus or a set value of a set item that is referred to when executing the function;

storing the function or the set value of the set item and the code information;

reading the code information associated with the fingerprint acquired in the acquiring step from the first storage unit and the function or the set value of the set item corresponding to the code information from the second storage unit;

detecting an execute instruction of an operation based on the function or the set value of the set item read in the reading step; and

executing the operation,

wherein when the execute instruction is detected in the detecting step, the operation based on the function or the set value of the set item read until the detection is made in the detecting step.

33. The computer program product according to claim 32, wherein the predetermined operations further including the steps of:

detecting that one of the code information is designated; and

registering the fingerprint acquired in the acquiring step and the code information detected in the detecting step in the first storage unit in association with each other.