Image forming apparatus and method for outputting information of the image forming apparatus

• US 8,005,994 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Takara, Syusaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai; Henry W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong; Titus
• Application Number:
  US12/468,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 710/2
• US Class Current: 710/2
• 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 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32609 Fault detection or counter-measures, e.g. original mis-positioned, shortage of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32694 Storing a fault condition in memory
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a communication section configured to communicate with an external storage device which has a storage section that stores designated information for at least designating information which is output from an apparatus, an operation state information storage section configured to store operation state information representing an operation state of an operation module for operating a corresponding device provided inside the apparatus, a detection section configured to detect whether or not communication can be made with the external storage device through the communication section, an information obtaining section configured to, when the detecting section detects that communication can be made with the external storage device, obtain the designated information at least from the external storage device, and an information outputting section configured to, based on the designated information, output the operation state information to the external storage device through the communication section.

Claims

1. A method for outputting operation state information to an external storage device from an image forming apparatus that stores operation state information indicating operational states of one or more operation modules within the image forming apparatus, comprising:

detecting connection of an external storage device which stores designation information to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface provided in the image forming apparatus;

when connection of the external storage device is detected, acquiring password information from the external storage device and judging if the acquired password information matches predetermined password information stored in a storage region of the image forming apparatus; and

when the acquired password information and the predetermined password information match, acquiring the designation information from the external storage device and outputting operation state information to the external storage device via the USB interface based on the acquired designation information.

2. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface;

an operation state storage unit configured to store operation state information indicating operational states of one or more operation modules within the image forming apparatus;

a password information storage unit configured to store predetermined password information;

a detection unit configured to detect connection of an external storage device to the USB interface; and

an information output unit configured to;

acquire password information from the external storage device,

acquire designation information from the external storage device, and

output operation state information from the operation state storage unit to the external storage device via the USB interface in accordance with the designation information only if the password information acquired from the external storage device agrees with the predetermined password information stored in the password information storage unit,

wherein the information output unit acquires the password information from the external storage device, acquires the designation information from the external storage device, and outputs the operation state information from the operation state storage unit to the external storage device via the USB interface in accordance with the designation information in response to the detection unit detecting connection of the external storage device to the USB interface.

3. The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the designation information retrieved from the external storage device comprises date and time information indicating a date and time when operation state information was previously output to the external storage device.

4. The image forming apparatus of claim 3, wherein

the operation state information is associated with date and time information indicating a date and time when the operation state information was stored in the operation state information storage unit, and

the information output unit outputs operation state information to the external storage device only if the date and time when the operational state information was stored in the operation state information storage unit is equal to or later than the date and time when operation state information was previously output to the external storage device.

5. The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein

the designation information comprises selection information to select operation state information to be output to the external memory device.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein

the information output unit outputs only the operation state information indicated by the selection information.

7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

first means, including a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, for connecting an external storage device;

second means for storing operation state information indicating operational states of one or more operation modules within the image forming apparatus;

third means for storing predetermined password information;

fourth means for acquiring password information stored in the external storage device and judging if the acquired password information matches the predetermined password information stored in the third means;

fifth means for acquiring designation information from the external storage device and outputting operation state information stored in the second means to the external storage device via the first means in accordance with the designation information only if the fifth means judges that the password information acquired from the external storage device agrees with the predetermined password information stored in the third means; and

sixth means for detecting connection of the external storage device to the USB interface,

wherein the fifth means acquires the password information from the external storage device, acquires the designation information from the external storage device, and outputs the operation state information from the second means to the external storage device via the first means in accordance with the designation information in response to the sixth means detecting connection of the external storage device to the USB interface.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein

the designation information retrieved from the external storage device comprises date and time information indicating a date and time when operation state information was previously output to the external storage device.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the operation state information stored in the second means is associated with date and time information indicating a date and time when the operation state information was stored in the second means, and

the fifth means outputs operation state information to the external storage device only if the date and time when the operational state information was stored in the second means is equal to or later than the date and time when operation state information was previously output to the external storage device.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 7, wherein

the designation information comprises selection information to select operation state information to be output to the external memory device.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 10, wherein

the fifth means outputs only the operation state information indicated by the selection information.