DATA COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING CONTROL PROGRAM THEREFOR

• US 20130132716A1
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: MORITA, Hiroyasu
• Granted Patent: US 9,131,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/155
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/46 by designing passwords or checking the strength of passwords
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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

Abstract

A data communication apparatus that is capable of improving operability when inputting authentication information. An authentication unit accepts authentication information inputted when a user logs in to the data communication apparatus and authenticates the user based on the accepted authentication information. A designation unit designates a file transmission destination that is inputted by the authenticated user. A transmission unit transmits a file to the transmission destination inputted. A registration unit registers the transmission destination of the file. A control unit prohibits registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the accepted authentication information is used for file transmission, and permits registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the inputted authentication information is not used for file transmission.

Claims

1. A data communication apparatus comprising:

an authentication unit configured to accept authentication information that is inputted when a user logs in to the data communication apparatus and to authenticate the user based on the accepted authentication information;

a designation unit configured to designate a transmission destination of a file that is inputted by the authenticated user;

a transmission unit configured to transmit a file to the transmission destination inputted by the user;

a registration unit configured to register the transmission destination of the file;

a control unit configured to prohibit registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the authentication information that is inputted when the user logs in to the data communication apparatus is used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission, and to permit registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the inputted authentication information is not used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission.

2. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to request the user to designate whether or not to register the authentication information required at the time of file transmission when the inputted authentication information is not used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission, and to cause the registration of the authentication information concerned when the user designates to register.

3. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to permit registration of the authentication information required at the time of file transmission when the data communication apparatus is set so as to accept authentication information from the user each time a file is transmitted.

4. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store the authentication information required at the time of file transmission in relation to the user who is authenticated by said authentication unit, and wherein said transmission unit is configured to transmit the file concerned using the authentication information stored in said storage unit in relation to the user, when transmitting the file to the transmission destination inputted by the user.

5. A control method for a data communication apparatus, comprising:

an authentication step of accepting authentication information that is inputted when a user logs in to the data communication apparatus and of authenticating the user based on the accepted authentication information;

a designation step of designating a transmission destination of a file that is inputted by the authenticated user;

a transmission step of transmitting a file to the transmission destination inputted by the user;

a registration step of registering the transmission destination of the file;

a prohibition step of prohibiting registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the authentication information that is inputted when the user logs in to the data communication apparatus is used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission; and

a permission step of permitting registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the inputted authentication information is not used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission.

6. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a determination step of determining whether authentication information that is inputted when the user logs in to the data communication apparatus is usable as authentication information required at the time of file transmission, and

if it is found that the authentication information is usable, performing the prohibition step; and

if it is found that the authentication information is not usable, performing the permission step.

7. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first determination step of determining whether the transmission destination inputted by the user is a new transmission destination;

if the prohibition step has been performed and the transmission destination is a new transmission destination, a second determination step is performed of determining whether the authentication information related to the user who is specified using a user authentication function can be used as the authentication information at the time of transmission; and

if it is determined that the authentication information related to the user can be used as the authentication information at the time of transmission, an acquisition step of referring to the user'"'"'s login information and acquiring the authentication information is performed.

8. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a third determination step of determining whether the transmission destination inputted by the user is in an address book;

a fourth determination step of determining whether authentication information is to be inputted by a user each time a file is transmitted to the transmission destination; and

if it is determined in the third and fourth determination steps that the transmission destination is in an address book and a password should be inputted each time, the prohibition step is performed.

9. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising:

a fifth determination step of determining whether the transmission destination is present in a list of transmission destinations;

a sixth determination step of determining whether the list of transmission destinations is managed by an authentication server; and

a selection step of selecting, based on the results of the fifth and sixth determination steps, whether to obtain the authentication information from the user'"'"'s login information, a set authentication connection or from some other source.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for a data communication apparatus, the control method comprising:

an authentication step of accepting authentication information that is inputted when a user logs in to the data communication apparatus and of authenticating the user based on the accepted authentication information;

a designation step of designating a transmission destination of a file that is inputted by the authenticated user;

a transmission step of transmitting a file to the transmission destination inputted by the user;

a registration step of registering the transmission destination of the file;

a prohibition step of prohibiting registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the authentication information that is inputted when the user logs in to the data communication apparatus is used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission; and

a permission step of permitting registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the inputted authentication information is not used as authentication information required at the time of file transmission.