Information Processing Apparatus Capable of Authentication Processing Achieving Both of User Convenience and Security, Method of Controlling Information Processing Apparatus, and Recording Medium Recording Program for Controlling Information Processing Apparatus

• US 20100306842A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: ASANO, Motohiro, Murai, Chiho
• Granted Patent: US 8,756,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2151 Time stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

Whether a log-in button has been pressed or not is determined. When it is determined that the log-in button has been pressed, an ID selection screen is displayed. Whether an ID has been selected or not is determined. When it is determined that an ID has been selected, whether a secure printing job is present or not is determined. Thereafter, whether password matching is successfully achieved or not is determined. Thereafter, whether a password image function is ON or not is determined. Then, when it is determined that password matching was successfully achieved and a password image authentication function is ON, password image authentication is carried out.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a display for displaying an authentication screen; and

a controller for performing authentication processing in response to a user'"'"'s input instruction on said authentication screen,

said controller being capable of executing as said authentication processing, at least one of a first authentication scheme and a second authentication scheme more simplified than said first authentication scheme, and

said controller executing said second authentication scheme in next authentication processing when authentication processing in accordance with said first authentication scheme led to approval in response to said user'"'"'s input instruction.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first authentication scheme corresponds to password authentication.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said second authentication scheme corresponds to authentication using a password image.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said second authentication scheme corresponds to password authentication restricted in the number of characters, which is smaller than in said first authentication scheme.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

password authentication in accordance with said first authentication scheme is approved when first registered key data registered in advance matches with key data input in accordance with said user'"'"'s input instruction, and

in said password authentication restricted in the number of characters, key data generated under a prescribed rule from said first registered key data is registered as second registered key data.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said second registered key data corresponds to data obtained by extracting a part of a character string of said first registered key data.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

said second registered key data corresponds to data obtained by replacing a character in said first registered key data with a different character.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said controller causes said display to display registered key data to be used in said second authentication scheme when authentication processing in accordance with said first authentication scheme led to approval in response to said user'"'"'s input instruction.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first authentication scheme corresponds to authentication in a secure printing function.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said first authentication scheme corresponds to authentication for logging in the apparatus.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

in said first authentication scheme, an instruction to enter at least one of a user ID and a password is issued.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said controller has a time and day of approval registered, when authentication processing in accordance with said second authentication scheme led to approval in response to said user'"'"'s input instruction.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

said controller checks a validity period during which authentication processing in accordance with said second authentication scheme is permitted.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

said controller performs authentication processing in accordance with said second authentication scheme during the validity period during which authentication processing in accordance with said second authentication scheme is permitted, based on said time and day of approval.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein

said controller updates the time and day of approval when authentication processing in accordance with said second authentication scheme led to approval.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said controller executes said first authentication scheme when authentication processing in accordance with said second authentication scheme failed.

17. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

displaying an authentication screen; and

performing authentication processing in accordance with at least one of a first authentication scheme and a second authentication scheme more simplified than said first authentication scheme, in response to a user'"'"'s input instruction on said authentication screen, and

in said step of performing authentication processing, when authentication processing in accordance with said first authentication scheme led to approval 1 in response to said user'"'"'s input instruction, said second authentication scheme is executed in next authentication processing.

18. A recording medium recording a control program executed in a computer representing an information processing apparatus, said control program causing the computer to perform processing including the steps of

displaying an authentication screen, and

performing authentication processing in accordance with at least one of a first authentication scheme and a second authentication scheme more simplified than said first authentication scheme, in response to a user'"'"'s input instruction on said authentication screen, and

in said step of performing authentication processing, when authentication processing in accordance with said first authentication scheme led to approval in response to said user'"'"'s input instruction, said second authentication scheme is executed in next authentication processing.