Data communication apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

• US 9,131,185 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Morita, Hiroyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiferaw, Eleni
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLAHAN, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US13/682,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20130132716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 713/165, 713/183, 713/184, 726/17, 726/18, 726/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/46 by designing passwords or checking the strength of passwords
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• 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: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08

Abstract

A data communication apparatus that is capable of improving operability when inputting authentication information. An authentication unit accepts authentication information inputted when a user logs in to the data communication apparatus and authenticates the user based on the accepted authentication information. A designation unit designates a file transmission destination that is inputted by the authenticated user. A transmission unit transmits a file to the transmission destination inputted. A registration unit registers the transmission destination of the file. A control unit prohibits registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the accepted authentication information is used for file transmission, and permits registration of the authentication information at the time of registration of the transmission destination of the file when the inputted authentication information is not used for file transmission.

Claims

1. A data communication apparatus comprising:

a processor connected to a memory, the processor being configured to perform;

a scanning function of scanning an original image;

a setting function of setting an address of a file server on a network as a transmission destination for transmitting a file corresponding to the original image scanned by said scanning function;

an obtaining function of obtaining authentication information to be used for authentication of the file server, the authentication information being inputted at the time of a login to the data communication apparatus or being inputted at the time of the setting of the transmission destination;

a transmission function of transmitting the file to the file server designated by the transmission destination in a case that the authentication of the file server is successful on a basis of the authentication information;

a registration function of registering the transmission destination set by said setting function and the authentication information obtained by said obtaining function; and

a control function of prohibiting registration of the authentication information if the authentication information is inputted at the time of the login to the data communication apparatus, and permitting registration of the authentication information if the authentication information is inputted at the time of the setting of the destination.

2. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the authentication information is inputted at the time of the setting of the destination, request the user to designate whether or not to register the authentication information.

3. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission destination and the authentication information registered by said registration function are called by a user'"'"'s call operation.

4. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said registration function includes registering the transmission destination and the authentication information in relation to a user who logs in to the data communication apparatus, and wherein said transmission function includes transmitting the file concerned using the authentication information registered by said registration function in relation to the user, when transmitting the file to the transmission destination inputted by the user.

6. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, the processor and memory being further configured to perform:

a determining function of determining whether the authentication information being inputted at the time of the login to the data communication apparatus is usable as authentication information required at the time of file transmission, and prohibiting registration of the authentication information if it is found that the authentication information is usable, and permitting registration of the authentication information if it is found that the authentication information is not usable.

7. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, the processor and memory being further configured to perform:

a first determining function of determining whether the transmission destination set by said setting function is a new transmission destination,

wherein said registration of the authentication information is prohibited if the transmission destination is a new transmission destination.

8. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, the processor and memory being further configured to perform:

a third determining function of determining whether the transmission destination set by said setting function is in an address book;

a fourth determining function of determining whether authentication information is to be inputted by a user each time a file is transmitted to the transmission destination; and

wherein said registration of the authentication information is prohibited if said third and a fourth determining function determining that the transmission destination is in an address book and a password should be inputted each time.

9. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, the processor and memory being further configured to perform:

a fifth determining function of determining whether the transmission destination is present in a list of transmission destinations;

a sixth determining function of determining whether the list of transmission destinations is managed by an authentication server; and

a selection function of selecting, based on the results of the fifth and sixth determining steps, whether to obtain the authentication information from the user'"'"'s login information, a set authentication connection or from some other source.

5. A control method for a data communication apparatus, comprising:

a scanner step of scanning an original image;

a setting step of setting an address of a file server on a network as a transmission destination for transmitting a file corresponding to the original image scanned by said scanning step;

an obtaining step of obtaining authentication information to be used for authentication of the file server, the authentication information being inputted at the time of a login to the data communication apparatus or being inputted at the time of the setting of the transmission destination;

a transmission step of transmitting the file to the file server designated by the transmission destination in a case that the authentication of the file server is successful on a basis of the authentication information;

a registration step of registering the transmission destination set by said setting step and the authentication information obtained by said obtaining step;

a prohibition step of prohibiting registration of the authentication information if the authentication information is inputted at the time of the login to the data communication apparatus; and

a permission step of permitting registration of the authentication information if the authentication information is inputted at the time of the setting of the destination.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for a data communication apparatus, the control method comprising:

a scanner step of scanning an original image;

a setting step of setting an address of a file server on a network as a transmission destination for transmitting a file corresponding to the original image scanned by said scanning step;

an obtaining step of obtaining authentication information to be used for authentication of the file server, the authentication information being inputted at the time of a login to the data communication apparatus or being inputted at the time of the setting of the transmission destination;

a transmission step of transmitting the file to the file server designated by the transmission destination in a case that the authentication of the file server is successful on a basis of the authentication information;

a registration step of registering the transmission destination set by said setting step and the authentication information obtained by said obtaining step;

a prohibition step of prohibiting registration of the authentication information if the authentication information is inputted at the time of the login to the data communication apparatus; and

a permission step of permitting registration of the authentication information if the authentication information is inputted at the time of the setting of the destination.