Apparatus for retrieving document data

• US 6,950,202 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kikugawa, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Gabriel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Thierry L.
• Application Number:
  US09/473,659
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/400, 358/404, 358/468, 358/403, 358/405, 358/444, 358/401, 358/1.14, 713/201, 707 1- 6, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00366 Marks in boxes or the like, e.g. crosses or blacking out H04N1/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report

Abstract

An information input/output system capable of reliably preventing improper leakage of information and of keeping confidential information secret. The information input/output system provides a digital copying machine compositely having a plurality of functions, such as a filing function, an OCR function, a facsimile function and a network function. The digital copying machine performs an information retrieval on the basis of a password from a user in response to an information retrieval requirement (information retrieval request) made through its operating section, an information retrieval requirement made by a information retrieval sheet sent from the external through the use of a facsimile or an information retrieval requirement made through a personal computer on a network. After the completion of the information retrieval, the digital copying machine issues a new password (for example, at random) and makes the previously used password invalid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for conducting a retrieval of document data, comprising:

storing means for storing the document data;

a receiver, for receiving from a user a request for retrieval of the document data, with the request including a password;

a transmitter, for transmitting the password, received by said receiver, to a managing unit on a network;

deciding means for, when said managing unit confirms the password transmitted by said transmitter, receiving a confirmation result from said managing unit to decide, on the basis of said confirmation result, whether or not the user is an authorized user;

retrieving means for retrieving the document data stored in said storing means according to a decision result obtained by said deciding means;

outputting means for outputting document data retrieved by said retrieving means;

issuing means for automatically issuing a new password in response to receiving from a user a request for retrieval of the document data by said receiver, wherein the user is notified of the new password if the user is authorized; and

registering means for transmitting the new password, issued by said issuing means, to said managing unit to register the new password as a valid password.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a local receiver for receiving a request from the user, if a local user, and a remote receiver for receiving a request sent from the user, if a remote user, through a network.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a control panel for performing a predetermined display in response to a key operation by the user, wherein said local receiver receives a retrieval request and a password inputted from said control panel.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a reader, for reading an original to produce image information, wherein said local receiver receives a retrieval request and a password extracted from the image information taken by said reader.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said remote receiver receives a retrieval request and a password sent from a terminal through a network.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said remote receiver a retrieval request and a password extracted from image information sent from a terminal through a network.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a facsimile receiver for receiving a facsimile image, wherein said remote receiver receives a document da retrieval request and a password extracted from an image which said facsimile receiver receives.

8. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said outputting means outputs document data in a different manner in accordance with whether said receiver behaves as said local receiver or said remote receiver.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a facsimile transmitter for conducting a facsimile transmission to a predetermined address, wherein said outputting means, when a retrieval request is receive through a facsimile reception, transmits document data retrieved by said retrieving means in the form of a facsimile image to a retrieval requesting facsimile unit through the use of said facsimile transmitter.

10. An apparatus for conducting a retrieval of document data, comprising:

storing means for storing the document data;

a receiver, for receiving a request for a retrieval of the document data, including a password, from a user;

confirming means for confirming authorization of the user through the use of the password which said receiver receives;

retrieving means for retrieving the document data stored in said storing means on the basis of a confirmation result by said confirming means;

outputting means for outputting document data retrieved by said retrieving means;

issuing means for issuing a new password automatically in response to a receiving operation of said receiving means, wherein the user is notified of the new password if the user is authorized; and

notifying means for notifying the user of the new password issued by said issuing means in a mode corresponding to a mode taken for when said receiver receives said retrieval request.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said receiver includes a local receiver for receiving a request from the user, if a local user, and a remote receiver for receiving a request sent from the user, if a remote user, through a network, and, for notification, said notifying means conducts a display on a control panel when said local receiver receives the request.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said local receiver receives a retrieval request and a password input from said control panel.

13. An apparatus according to 11, further comprising a reader, for reading an original to produce image information, with said local receiver receiving a retrieval request and a password extracted from the image information produced by said reader.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said notifying means makes a notification through a network when said remote receiver receives the request.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said remote receiver receives a retrieval request and a password sent from a terminal through a network.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said remote receiver receives a retrieval request and a password extracted from image information sent from a terminal through a network.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a facsimile receiver for receiving a facsimile image, with said remote receiver receiving a document data retrieval request and a password extracted from an image received through said facsimile receiver.

18. A processing method of conducting a retrieval of document data, comprising the steps of:

receiving a document data retrieval request, including a password, from a user;

transmitting the password to a managing unit on a network;

receiving from the managing unit a confirmation result relating to validity of the transmitted password to decide, on the basis of said result, whether or not the user is an authorized user;

retrieving the stored document data on the basis of a result of the decision;

outputting a result of the retrieval;

issuing a new password automatically, in response to receiving from a user a request for retrieval of the document data, wherein the user is notified of the new password if the user is authorized; and

transmitting the new password to the managing unit to register the new password as a valid password.

19. A processing method according to claim 18, wherein the reception of said password in said reception step includes local reception for receiving a request from the user, if a local user, and remote reception for receiving a request from the user, if a remote user, through a network.

20. A processing method according to claim 19, wherein, in said local reception, a retrieval request and the password, inputted through a control panel, are received.

21. A processing method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of reading an original to produce image information, with said local reception being conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from the image information.

22. A processing method according to claim 19, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password sent from a terminal through a network.

23. A processing method according to 19, wherein said remote reception is made to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from image information sent from a terminal through a network.

24. A processing method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of receiving a facsimile image through a facsimile receiver, with said remote reception being conducted to receive a document data retrieval request and a password extracted from the received facsimile image.

25. A processing method according to claim 19, wherein said retrieval result is outputted in a different manner in accordance with whether said password is received by way of said local reception or said remote reception.

26. A processing method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps of performing a facsimile transmission to a predetermined address through the use of a facsimile transmitter, and, when a retrieval request is received by facsimile reception, transmitting a retrieval result in the form of a facsimile image to a retrieval requesting facsimile unit through the use of the facsimile transmitter.

27. A processing method of conducting a retrieval of document data, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for a retrieval of the document data, including a password, from a user;

confirming that the user is authorized, on the basis of the received password;

retrieving the document data, stored, on the basis of a result of the confirmation;

outputting a result of the retrieval;

issuing a new password automatically in response to a receiving operation of the retrieval request, wherein the user is notified of the new password if the user is authorized; and

notifying the user of the new password in a mode corresponding to a mode taken at the reception of said retrieval request.

28. A processing method according to claim 27, wherein the reception of said retrieval request includes local reception for receiving a request from the user, if a local user, and remote reception for receiving a request from the user, if a remote user, through a network, and the notification of the password is made by displaying the password on a control panel when the request takes place by said local reception.

29. A processing method according to claim 28, wherein said local reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password inputted through the control panel.

30. A processing method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of reading an original to produce image information, with said local reception being conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from the image information.

31. A processing method according to claim 28, wherein the notification of the password is effected through a network when the request takes place by said remote reception.

32. A processing method according to claim 31, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password sent from a terminal through a network.

33. A processing method according to claim 31, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from image information sent from a terminal through a network.

34. A processing method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of receiving a facsimile image, with said remote reception being conducted to receive a document data retrieval request and a password extracted from the received facsimile image.

35. A computer readable record medium storing a computer program to be run by a computer of a processing unit for retrieving document data, said computer program comprising the steps of

receiving a request for a retrieval of the document data, including a password, from a user;

transmitting the received password to a managing unit on a network;

receiving from the managing unit a confirmation result of validity of the transmitted password to decide, on the basis of the confirmation result, whether or not the user is an authorized user;

retrieving the document data, stored, on the basis of a result of the decision;

outputting a result of the retrieval;

issuing a new password automatically, in response to receiving from a user a request for retrieval of the document data in said receiving step, wherein the user is notified of the new password if the user is authorized; and

transmitting the new password to the managing unit to register the new password as a valid password.

36. A record medium according to claim 35, wherein the reception of the password in said receiving step includes local reception for receiving a request from the user, if a local user, and remote reception for receiving a request from the user, if a remote user, through a network.

37. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said local reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password inputted through a control panel.

38. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said computer program further comprises the step of reading an original to produce image information, with said local reception being conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from the image information.

39. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password sent from a terminal through a network.

40. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from image information sent from a terminal through a network.

41. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said computer program further comprises the step of receiving a facsimile image through a facsimile receiver, with said remote reception being conducted to receive a document data retrieval request and a password extracted from an image obtained through facsimile transmission.

42. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said retrieval result is outputted in a different manner in accordance with whether said password is received by way of said local reception or said remote reception.

43. A record medium according to claim 36, wherein said computer program further comprises the steps of conducting facsimile transmission to a predetermined address through the use of a facsimile transmitter, and, when a retrieval request is received by a facsimile reception, transmitting said retrieval result in the form of a facsimile image to a request requesting facsimile unit through the use of said facsimile transmitter.

44. A computer readable record medium storing a computer program to be run by a computer of a processing unit for retrieving document data, said computer program comprising the steps of

receiving a request for a retrieval of the document data, including a password, from a user;

confirming that the user is authorized, on the basis of the received password;

retrieving the document data, stored, on the basis of a result of the confirmation;

outputting a result of the retrieval;

issuing a new password automatically in response to receiving of the retrieval request, wherein the user is notified of the new password if the user is authorized; and

notifying the user of the new password in a mode corresponding to a mode taken at the reception of the retrieval request.

45. A record medium according to claim 44, wherein the reception of the retrieval request includes local reception for receiving a request from the user, if a local user, and remote reception for receiving a request from the user, if a remote user, through a network, with the notification of the new password being made by displaying the new password on a control panel when the request is made through local reception.

46. A record medium according to claim 45, wherein said local reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password input through a control panel.

47. A record medium according to claim 45, wherein said computer program further comprises the step of reading an original to produce image information, with said local reception being conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from the image information.

48. A record medium according to claim 45, wherein the notification of the new password is made through a network when the request is made by said remote reception.

49. A record medium according to claim 48, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password sent from a terminal through a network.

50. A record medium according to claim 48, wherein said remote reception is conducted to receive a retrieval request and a password extracted from image information sent from a terminal through a network.

51. A record medium according to claim 48, wherein said computer program further comprises receiving a facsimile image, with said remote reception being conducted to receive a document data retrieval request and a password extracted from an image obtained by facsimile reception.