Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and computer program product

• US 9,038,165 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2013
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shigemasa, Tsuyoshi, Kasatani, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Yin-Chen
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, John B
• Application Number:
  US13/890,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20130312085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 726/17
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof

Abstract

According to an embodiment, there is provided is an information processing apparatus including: a storage unit that stores therein information, which is set for a screen to be displayed on an information display unit, as to whether or not to permit an external input device to enter data to the information processing apparatus, and information as to whether or not to permit data entered from an external input device; an external-input-unit control unit that controls data entry to the screen from an external input device by utilizing information about a type of the external input unit and the information as to whether or not to permit the external input unit to enter data; and an input-key control unit that controls the data entry permitted by the external-input-unit control unit by consulting the information as to whether or not to permit data entered from the external input unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores therein first information as to whether or not to prohibit an external input device to enter any data to one or more input fields arranged on a screen of the information processing apparatus, the first information being set for the screen to be displayed on an information display, and second information as to whether or not to permit specific data entered from the external input device, wherein the memory stores the second information as input-key control information containing prohibited key sequences;

an external-input-device controller that controls data entry to the screen from the external input device by utilizing control information about a type of the external input device and the first information that is set for the screen as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to the one or more input fields, wherein the type of the external input device is stored in the control information as device information which is associated with a permission indicator or prohibition indicator for data entry from the external input device, wherein the device information indicates a user'"'"'s authority level information; and

an input-key controller that controls the data entry permitted by the external-input-device controller by consulting the second information, wherein when the external input device is not prohibited from entering any data, the input-key controller discards specific data entry that is prohibited, by consulting the second information,

wherein the first information that is set for the screen as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to the one or more input fields arranged on the screen of the information processing apparatus is configured as operation permission information for containing operation permission assigned to a plurality of input fields such that when there are a plurality of input fields simultaneously displayed on the information display there is separate information set as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to each respective one of the plurality of input fields.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external input device is a human interface device.

3. An information processing system comprising:

a first information processing apparatus that includes an information display, receives data entered via the information display, and transfers the data over a network; and

a server that allows a plurality of information processing apparatuses, which includes the first information processing apparatus, connected to one another via the network to carry out mutual communications by receiving data from one of the information processing apparatuses and transfers the received data to at least another one of the information apparatuses, wherein

the first information processing apparatus includes

a memory that stores therein first information as to whether or not to prohibit an external input device to enter any data to one or more input fields arranged on a screen of the information processing apparatus, the first information being set for the screen to be displayed on an information display, and second information as to whether or not to permit specific data entered from the external input device, wherein the memory stores the second information as input-key control information containing prohibited key sequences,

an external-input-device controller that controls data entry to the screen from the external input device by utilizing control information about a type of the external input device and the first information that is set for the screen as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to the one or more input fields, wherein the type of the external input device is stored in the control information as device information which is associated with a permission indicator or prohibition indicator for data entry from the external input device, wherein the device information indicates a user'"'"'s authority level information, and

an input-key controller that controls the data entry permitted by the external-input-device controller by consulting the second information, wherein when the external input device is not prohibited from entering any data, the input-key controller discards specific data entry that is prohibited, by consulting the second information,

wherein the first information that is set for the screen as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to the one or more input fields arranged on the screen of the information processing apparatus is configured as operation permission information for containing operation permission assigned to a plurality of input fields such that when there are a plurality of input fields simultaneously displayed on the information display there is separate information set as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to each respective one of the plurality of input fields.

4. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the information processing system is a video conference system.

5. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium that contains a computer program that, when executed by an information processing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus to perform a method comprising:

storing first information as to whether or not to prohibit an external input device to enter any data to one or more input fields arranged on a screen of the information processing apparatus, the first information being set for the screen to be displayed on an information display, and second information as to whether or not to permit specific data entered from the external input device, wherein the memory stores the second information as input-key control information containing prohibited key sequences,

controlling data entry to the screen from the external input device by utilizing control information about a type of the external input device and the first information that is set for the screen as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to the one or more input fields, wherein the type of the external input device is stored in the control information as device information which is associated with a permission indicator or prohibition indicator for data entry from the external input device, wherein the device information indicates a user'"'"'s authority level information, and

controlling the data entry that is permitted by consulting the second information, wherein when the external input device is not prohibited from entering any data, discarding specific data entry that is prohibited, by consulting the second information

wherein the first information that is set for the screen as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to the one or more input fields arranged on the screen of the information processing apparatus is configured as operation permission information for containing operation permission assigned to a plurality of input fields such that when there are a plurality of input fields simultaneously displayed on the information display there is separate information set as to whether or not to prohibit the external input device to enter any data to each respective one of the plurality of input fields.