Information processing apparatus, information processing system, authentication method, and recording medium

• US 10,325,082 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Inokuchi, Satoru, Ikawa, Taku
• Primary Examiner(s): Avery, Jeremiah L
• Application Number:
  US15/420,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20170220787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a radio communication unit configured to start emission of radio waves for performing radio communication with a radio tag, and obtain specific information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which a user in a predetermined range is detected by a detecting unit; a first authentication unit configured to execute first authentication for the radio tag, based on the specific information obtained by the radio communication unit; a second authentication unit configured to execute second authentication for a user included in an image acquired by an imaging unit, based on feature information of the image; and an apparatus authentication unit configured to authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus, if a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication is the same as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

at least one processor to execute computer readable instructions to configure the at least one processor to

detect a user being within a threshold distance range;

start emission of radio waves to perform radio communication with a radio tag, and obtain information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which the user, being within the threshold distance range, is detected;

execute first authentication for the radio tag, based on the information obtained;

cause an imaging device to image a user, and acquire an image including the user;

execute second authentication for the user included in the image, based on feature information, of the image, acquired; and

authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus, upon a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication being a same user as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emission of radio waves is stopped upon the user being authorized to use the information processing apparatus.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

calculate a first period from a start time of the radio communication to a completion time of the first authentication, and a second period from a time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and a completion time of the second authentication; and

start the emission of radio waves after a time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period;

has elapsed, since the time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

determine whether or not a timing of completion of the first authentication is relatively, earlier than a timing of completion of the second authentication; and

start the emission of radio waves after the time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, upon the timing of completion of the first authentication being relatively earlier than the timing of completion of the second authentication.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

determine whether or not the second authentication is being executed, in response to completion of the first authentication; and

stop the emission of radio waves upon the second authentication being executed in response to the completion of the first authentication.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein upon at least one of:

the first authentication not being successful;

the second authentication not being successful; and

the user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication not being the same as the user authenticated by the second authentication,

and upon the emission of radio waves being stopped based on a result of determination of whether or not the second authentication is being executed, the the emission of radio waves is restarted.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to

stop the emission of radio waves upon a time period elapsing since detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and upon no operation being input on the information processing apparatus.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

cause the information processing apparatus to shift to a power saving state upon the emission of radio waves being stopped because of;

elapse of the time period since the detection of the user being within the threshold distance range; and

no operation being input on the information processing apparatus.

9. The information processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to

continue the emission of radio waves upon the time period has not being elapsed since the detection of the user within the threshold distance range or upon an operation being input on the information processing apparatus.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon the information obtained from the radio tag being included in first user information in which identification information specific to each user and the information being associated, the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, being further configured to authenticate a user indicated by the identification information corresponding to the information in the first authentication.

11. The information processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein upon feature information of the image acquired being included in second user information in which identification information specific to each user and image feature information including feature information indicating a feature of the user being associated, at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, being further configured to authenticate a user indicated by the identification information corresponding to the feature information of the image in the second authentication.

12. The information processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein upon identification information of the user authenticated by the first authentication in the first user information and identification information of the user authenticated by the second authentication in the second user information are of a same user, the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, being further configured to authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus.

13. An information processing system configured to execute authentication of a user for an information processing apparatus, the information processing system comprising:

at least one processor to execute computer readable instructions to configure the at least one processor to

detect a user being within a threshold distance range;

start emission of radio waves to perform radio communication with a radio tag, and obtain information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which the user, being within the threshold distance range, is detected;

execute first authentication for the radio tag, based on the information obtained;

to cause an imaging device to image a user, and acquire an image including the user;

execute second authentication for the user included in the image, based on feature information of the image acquired; and

authorize the user to use the information processing apparatus, upon a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication being a same user as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

14. The information processing system of claim 13, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

calculate a first period from a start time of the radio communication to a completion time of the first authentication, and a second period from a time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and a completion time of the second authentication; and

start the emission of radio waves after a time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, since the time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range.

15. The information processing system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor, upon executing the computer readable instructions, is further configured to:

determine whether or not a timing of completion of the first authentication is relatively earlier than a timing of completion of the second authentication; and

start the emission of radio waves after the time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, upon the timing of completion of the first authentication being relatively earlier than the timing of completion of the second authentication.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 15, wherein the programmed instructions, when run on a computer, cause the computer to further execute:

calculating a first period from a start time of the radio communication to a completion time of the first authentication, and a second period from a time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and a completion time of the second authentication; and

starting the emission of radio waves after a time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, since the time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range.

16. An authentication method by an information processing apparatus, the authentication method including:

detecting a user being within a threshold distance range;

starting emission of radio waves to perform radio communication with a radio tag, and obtaining information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which the user, being within the threshold distance range, is detected;

executing first authentication for the radio tag, based on the information obtained;

causing an imaging device to image a user, and acquiring an image including the user;

executing second authentication for the user included in the image, based on feature information of the image acquired; and

authorizing the user to use the information processing apparatus, upon a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication being a same user as the user authenticated by the second authentication.

17. The authentication method of claim 16, further comprising:

calculating a first period from a start time of the radio communication to a completion time of the first authentication, and a second period from a time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range and a completion time of the second authentication; and

starting the emission of radio waves after a time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, since the time of detection of the user being within the threshold distance range.

18. The authentication method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether or not a timing of completion of the first authentication is relatively earlier than a timing of completion of the second authentication; and

starting the emission of radio waves after the time period obtained by subtracting the first period from the second period has elapsed, upon the timing of completion of the first authentication being relatively earlier than the timing of completion of the second authentication.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium including programmed instructions to, when run on a computer, cause the computer to execute

detecting a user being within a threshold distance range of an information processing apparatus;

starting emission of radio waves to perform radio communication with a radio tag, and obtaining information from the radio tag, at least after a time point at which the user, being within the threshold distance range, is detected;

executing first authentication for the radio tag, based on the information obtained;

causing an imaging device to image a user, and acquiring an image including the user;

executing second authentication for the user included in the image, based on feature information of the image acquired; and

authorizing the user to use the information processing apparatus, upon a user of the radio tag authenticated by the first authentication being a same user as the user authenticated by the second authentication.