Image transmission device, operations management method, and computer-readable medium having operations management program embodied therein

• US 7,552,339 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Sayama, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US11/109,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20050264831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 713/185, 713/186
• US Class Current: 713/186
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• 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: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0048 Indicating an illegal or impossible operation or selection to the user
• 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

An image transmission device is disclosed. When a device user starts to use the device or logs in, authentication is done. If the device user is identified as a customer engineer, the system control part displays operations not permitted to be performed by the customer engineer in a manner different from permitted operations on an operations display part. For instance, the non-permitted operations are displayed at half brightness. The permitted operations may be specified in advance by a user registered as a manager.

Claims

1. An image transmission device provided with a communication part capable of transmitting image data, comprising:

a managing/storing part that registers and stores personal identification information together with a maintenance operator'"'"'s right for performing maintenance work; and

a control part that performs a control operation for forcibly terminating transmission after transmission of one page even if there are plural documents or limits transmission data to chart data for a communication test prestored in the image transmission device, when the image transmission device is used with the maintenance operator'"'"'s right registered in the managing/storing part.

2. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the control part enables the predetermined minimum operations by limiting available operations and/or limiting items to be displayed, and

the log containing predetermined contents includes any one or a combination of a log of performed operations, a log of transmitted contents, and a log of displayed items.

3. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control part limits the available operations by any one or a combination of operations of preventing use of and reference to data registered in the device, restricting transmission of image data, preventing operations except minimum operations necessary for transmission, and limiting selectable transmission destinations.

4. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a reading part to read images of an original document;

wherein the control part restricts the transmission of image data by permitting transmission of data of the images read by the reading part for only one time, or permitting transmission of only predetermined chart data for a communication test.

5. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control part prevents the operations except minimum operations necessary for transmission by any one or a combination of operations of disabling redialing, preventing broadcast transmission, permitting transmission for only one time per line if plural lines are connected to the device, permitting transmission for only a predetermined number of times, and permitting only direct transmission.

6. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control part limits the items to be displayed by hiding destinations registered in the device and/or hiding items used for redialing.

7. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the managing/storing part registers and stores personal identification information together with a manager'"'"'s right, and

when the image transmission device is used with the manager'"'"'s right registered in the managing/storing part, the control part outputs the acquired log containing predetermined contents according to an input operation.

8. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the managing/storing part registers and stores personal identification information together with a manager'"'"'s right, and

when the image transmission device is used with the manager'"'"'s right registered in the managing/storing part, the control part receives input that specifies operations available if the image transmission device is used with the maintenance operator'"'"'s right.

9. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the maintenance operator'"'"'s right registered in the managing/storing part is associated with one of levels each specifying the minimum operations to be enabled, and

when the image transmission device is used with the maintenance operator'"'"'s right registered in the managing/storing part, the control part changes available operations according to the level associated with the maintenance operator'"'"'s right.

10. The image transmission device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the managing/storing part registers personal identification information together with a manager'"'"'s right, and

when the image transmission device is used with the manager'"'"'s right registered in the managing/storing part, the control part receives input that specifies operations available for each of the levels of the maintenance operator'"'"'s right.

11. An operations management method for use with an image transmission device, comprising:

registering and storing personal identification information together with a maintenance operator'"'"'s right for performing maintenance work in a storage device; and

forcibly terminating transmission after transmission of one page even if there are plural documents or limiting transmission data to chart data for a communication test prestored in the image transmission device with a control device.

12. The operations management method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

registering and storing personal identification information together with a manager'"'"'s right; and

outputting the acquired log containing predetermined contents according to an input operation performed with the manager'"'"'s right registered in the manager registering step.

13. The operations management method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

registering and storing personal identification information together with a manager'"'"'s right; and

receiving input performed with the manager'"'"'s right, the input specifying operations available with the maintenance operator'"'"'s right.

14. The operations management method as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the maintenance operator'"'"'s right is associated with one of levels each specifying the minimum operations to be enabled, and the method further comprises:

changing available operations according to the level associated with the maintenance operator'"'"'s right.

15. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions which when executed by an image transmission device, causes the image transmission device to implement a method comprising:

registering and storing personal identification information together with a maintenance operator'"'"'s right for performing maintenance work; and

forcibly terminating transmission after transmission of one page even if there are plural documents or limiting transmission data to chart data for a communication test prestored in the image transmission device.