INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS HAVING USER AUTHENTICATION FUNCTION AND AUTHENTICATION METHOD

• US 20140153031A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Toyamasaki, Kenta
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4095 Secure printing computer driven secure printing G06F3/1238
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00 Individual registration on entry or exit
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/30 not involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00856 Preventive measures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function

Abstract

The information processing apparatus includes first authentication portion, human body detecting portion, de-authentication portion, and second authentication portion. The first authentication portion shifts the state of the information processing apparatus to a login state in accordance with a predetermined first login operation. The human body detecting portion detects a human body within a predetermined range from the information processing apparatus. The de-authentication portion cancels the login state when a human body is not detected by the human body detecting portion during the login state. The second authentication portion shifts the state of the information processing apparatus to the login state in accordance with a second login operation involving less operation steps than the first login operation after the login state is canceled by the de-authentication portion.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first authentication portion that shifts the state of the information processing apparatus to a login state in accordance with a predetermined first login operation;

a human body detecting portion that detects a human body within a predetermined range from the information processing apparatus;

a de-authentication portion that cancels the login state when a human body is not detected by the human body detecting portion during the login state; and

a second authentication portion that shifts the state of the information processing apparatus to the login state in accordance with a second login operation involving less operation steps than the first login operation after the login state is canceled by the de-authentication portion.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the login state is canceled by the de-authentication portion while an error is occurring in the information processing apparatus, and the error is eliminated afterward, the second authentication portion shifts the state of the image processing apparatus to the login state maintained before the occurrence of the error, in accordance with the second login operation.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a job storage control portion that stores in a storage portion job setup information concerning a job set up during the login state when the login state is canceled by the de-authentication portion; and

a job restart portion that restarts the job based on the job setup information stored in the storage portion in accordance with a job restart operation involving less operation steps than the first login operation after the login state is canceled by the de-authentication portion.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a display control portion that causes a display portion to display a re-login screen including either or both of a first operation key and a second operation key when the login state is canceled by the de-authentication portion during occurrence of an error in the information processing apparatus and the error is eliminated afterward, wherein

the second login operation includes operation of the first operation key, and

the job restart operation includes operation of the second operation key.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control portion causes the display portion to display the re-login screen when a human body is being detected by the human body detecting portion and not to display the re-login screen when a human body is not being detected by the human body detecting portion.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control portion causes the re-login screen to display a third operation key, and

the first authentication portion causes the display portion to display a normal login screen that allows the first login operation in accordance with operation of the third operation key.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an image processing portion that executes either or both of image forming processing and image reading processing.

8. An authentication method comprising:

a first authentication step of shifting the state of an information processing apparatus to a login state in accordance with a predetermined first login operation;

a de-authentication step of canceling the login state when a human body is not detected by a human body detecting portion that detects a human body within a predetermined range from the information processing apparatus during the login state; and

a second authentication step of shifting the state of the information processing apparatus to the login state in accordance with a second login operation involving less operation steps than the first login operation after the login state is canceled by the de-authentication step.