JP2003326777A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus in which management of image data being stored in an image storing means is facilitated while enhancing the security function and the work efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus 1 registers the user name as the name of a holder for storing image data and displays the list of user names corresponding to the holder at a display section 12 upon receiving a designation for storing or reading out the image data. On the other hand, a pass word is registered for each holder and the list of file names being stored in the holder is displayed when an inputted pass word is authenticated. Furthermore, a second pass word is registered for each file stored in the holder and the image data is displayed when an inputted second pass word is authenticated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus provided with an image storage means such as a hard disk, a multi-functional machine based on a copying machine and having functions such as a printer and a facsimile has been widely used. Such a multifunction machine has not only a copying machine function of optically reading an original image and printing it out, but also a printer function of printing image data sent from an external computer, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and the like. Since the image data input to the image storage means is stored, the image data is read out in accordance with a user's instruction, and printing can be appropriately performed.

Here, the image data stored in the image storage means is stored in a folder created for each predetermined classification (for example, for each user), but the image data for which security is ensured can be stored. Therefore, a password is used to manage the image data in and out of the folder. For example, when the user inputs a password on a predetermined input screen, the folder corresponding to the input password is read out, and the file name or thumbnail (reduced image sample) of the image data stored inside this folder is displayed. Listed. Then, the user browses the displayed thumbnails, selects desired image data,
Various processing such as printout was performed.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional image forming apparatus, since the password itself is the folder name for saving the image data, unless all passwords are input, the image It was not possible to display a list of the folders stored in the storage means and the file names of the image data stored in the folders. Also, when the entered password is authenticated, the image data stored in the folder corresponding to this password will be in a password-free state, so that only certain image data cannot be browsed. It was not possible to manage by password.

Further, since image data stored in folders having different passwords cannot be combined to generate a job, when the user wants to perform processing on image data stored in different folders, the user needs to perform processing for each folder. Since it is necessary to generate a job and instruct each process,
There is a problem that the operation becomes complicated and the work efficiency is poor.

Further, the image data stored in the image storage means is important image data because the image data is automatically deleted after a lapse of a predetermined time in order to secure the storage capacity. However, there is a problem that the image is deleted from the image storage means after a predetermined time has elapsed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which facilitates management of the image data stored in the image storage means and improves the security function and work efficiency.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 stores an image data acquiring means for acquiring image data, and image data acquired by the image data acquiring means in a folder. An image forming apparatus including: an image data storage unit that stores the image data stored in the image data storage unit; and an image forming unit that reads the image data stored in the image data storage unit and forms an image on a print medium. Input means for inputting the identification information of the folder to be stored in and the instruction to read the folder stored in the image data storage means, and the input means for instructing to read the folder stored in the image data storage means. When input, the identification information of the folder is acquired from the image data storage means and displayed in a list on the display means. It is characterized by comprising a 示制 control means.

Therefore, for example, when saving or reading image data, the user can visually confirm the folder as the save destination or the read source,
A target folder can be easily recognized and selected. As a result, the labor and time required for saving or reading the image data can be saved, and the work efficiency of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the input means inputs the identification information of the image data stored in the folder, and the image data storage means stores the folder. The image data and the identification information of the image data are stored and stored in the lower layer of the.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the input unit selects and inputs a folder from the identification information of the folders displayed in the list, and the display control unit. Is characterized by causing the display means to display a list of identification information of image data stored in the lower hierarchy of the selected folder.

Therefore, the image data stored in the image data storage means can be classified and stored for each folder, the image data can be efficiently managed, and the image data stored in the selected folder can be stored. By displaying the list, it is possible to easily recognize the stored image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the input unit causes a password corresponding to identification information of the folder to be input, and the password input by the input unit is input to the folder. It is characterized by further comprising a password storage unit that stores the password in association with the identification information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the password input by the input means and the password corresponding to the identification information of the folder stored by the password storage means are provided. Further, the display control means corresponds to the password input by the input means by the determination means and the identification information of the folder stored by the password storage means. When it is determined that the passwords match, the identification information of the image data stored in the folder is acquired and displayed in a list on the display unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the input means inputs an instruction to read out a folder stored in the image data storage means, and the discrimination means is concerned. If the password corresponding to the identification information of the folder is stored in the password storage unit, the display control unit determines whether the password of the folder is stored when the determination unit determines that the password is not stored. It is characterized in that the identification information of the image data stored in the lower hierarchy is displayed as a list on the display means.

Therefore, since the folder can be managed using the password, the folder in which the important image data is stored can be handled only by a specific user to protect the important image data, Security can be improved.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the image forming apparatus described above, the input unit causes a password corresponding to the identification information of the image data to be input,
It is characterized by further comprising second password storage means for storing the password input by the input means in association with the identification information of the image data.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the password input by the input means and the identification information of the image data stored by the second password storage means correspond to each other. Password and
Second discriminating means for discriminating whether or not they match, the password inputted by the input means by the second discriminating means, and the identification information of the image data stored by the second password storing means. And a control unit that permits the image forming unit to read the image data when it is determined that the password corresponds to the password.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the input means inputs an instruction to read the image data stored in the image data storage means, and the determination means When the password corresponding to the identification information of the image data is stored in the second password storage means, the control means determines that the password is not stored by the determination means, It is characterized in that the image forming means is allowed to read the image data.

Therefore, since the password can be managed for each image data, the image data can be managed with higher security, and only a specific user can display the image data. The image data is not browsed by the user, and the privacy can be protected.

The invention as defined in claim 10 is defined by claim 1 through claim 9.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a job generating unit that combines image data stored in different folders to generate a job, and the image forming unit is based on the job generated by the job generating unit. The image data is read out from the image data storage means to form an image on a print medium.

Therefore, since the processing of the image data stored in different folders can be executed by one job, it is not necessary to generate a job for each folder, and the work efficiency is improved.

The invention described in claim 11 is from claim 1 to claim 1.
In the image forming apparatus described in any one of 0, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed since the image data was stored in the image data storage means, and when the predetermined time has passed, the image data is deleted. An image forming apparatus comprising means, wherein the input means selects and inputs image data for which deletion by the deletion means is prohibited, and the image data storage means stores the image data input by the input means. It is characterized in that prohibition information for prohibiting deletion is additionally stored and the deletion means does not delete the image data when prohibition information is additionally stored in the image data.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the important image data from being deleted, so that only the necessary image data can be saved and the unnecessary image data can be automatically deleted. Data can be managed.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the illustrated example. Here, the correspondence relationship between each component in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention and the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be clearly shown. That is, the image forming apparatus of the present invention corresponds to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and the image data acquisition unit of the present invention corresponds to the image processing unit 14 and the scanner unit 15 of the present embodiment. ing. Further, the image data storage means of the present invention corresponds to the storage device 17 of the present embodiment, and the image forming apparatus of the present invention is
It corresponds to the printer unit 16 of the present embodiment.

The input means of the present invention corresponds to the operation section 13 of the present embodiment, the display means of the present invention corresponds to the display section 12 of the present embodiment, the display control means of the present invention, Discrimination means, second discrimination means, control means, job generation means,
The deleting unit corresponds to the control unit 11 of this embodiment. Furthermore, the non-volatile memory of the present embodiment is an example of the password storage means of the present invention, and the storage device 17 of the present embodiment is an example of the second password storage means of the present invention. The folder identification information of the present invention corresponds to the user name registered in the folder name in the present embodiment, and the password corresponding to the folder identification information of the present invention corresponds to the password of the present embodiment. is doing.
Further, the file identification information of the present invention corresponds to the file name in the present embodiment, and the password corresponding to the image data identification information of the present invention corresponds to the second password of the present embodiment. . Note that the illustrated correspondences are examples, and the present invention is not limited to these.

First, the structure will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 12, an operation unit 13, an image processing unit 14, a scanner unit 15, a printer unit 16, a storage device 17, and the like.

The control unit 11 is a CPU (Centra) not shown.
l Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memor)
y), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc.,
The CPU reads various control programs stored in the ROM, and according to the control programs, the image forming apparatus 1
Centrally controls the operation of each part constituting the. In addition, the control unit 1
1 includes a DRAM control IC, an image memory (DRAM), a non-volatile memory, a reading processing unit, a compression IC, a writing processing unit, a decompression IC, and the like, and the image processing unit 14 and the scanner are controlled by the CPU. The image data input from the unit 15 and the storage device 17 are subjected to various processes and output to the printer unit 16 and the storage device 17.

Specifically, the control unit 11 performs an image saving / reading process (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, as a process characteristic of the present embodiment.
). Regarding this image saving and reading process,
The details will be described later.

The display unit 12 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tub).
e), a monitor such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the like. Display information input from the operation unit 13 according to an instruction input from the control unit 11,
Display information including image data generated by the control unit 11 is displayed on the monitor.

The operation unit 13 includes a keyboard provided with cursor keys, numeral input keys, and various function keys, and outputs a depression signal corresponding to a key depressed by the keyboard to the control unit 11. Further, the operation unit 13 is a CRT, LC
A touch panel provided so as to cover the display unit 12 configured by D or the like is provided, and the touched coordinates are detected by a coordinate reading principle such as an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetostrictive type, and a pressure sensitive type, and the detected coordinates are positioned It is output to the control unit 11 as a signal.

The image processing unit 14 includes a DRAM control unit (not shown), a controller control CPU, and an image memory (DRA).
M), a LAN I / F unit and the like. L
The ANI / F unit is an interface connectable to a transmission medium connected to a network N such as LAN, WAN, or the Internet, and outputs image data input via the network N to a DRAM control IC.
The DRAM control IC performs predetermined processing on the input image data according to the control of the controller control CPU,
The image is stored in the image memory and is output to the DRAM control IC of the control unit 11. The DRAM controller is the controller 1
1 is connected to the DRAM control IC provided in No. 1 via a PCI bus.

The scanner section 15 is composed of a light source, a lens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a scanner control section and the like, which are not shown, and forms an image of the reflected light of the light scanned from the light source to the original to perform photoelectric conversion. The original image is read, and the read image data is output to the reading processing unit of the control unit 11.

The printer unit 16 includes a paper feed unit (not shown) in which continuous paper or cut paper is mounted as printing paper and a paper discharge unit (not shown). The input print data can be transferred to infrared laser light or LED (Ligh
The print data is transferred to the printing paper and discharged for output by an electrophotographic method using projection light from a t-Emitting Diode).

The storage device 17 has a recording medium (not shown) in which programs, data and the like are stored in advance, and this recording medium is composed of a magnetic recording medium, an optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. There is. The recording medium is fixedly provided in the storage unit 17 or is detachably mounted, and stores a system program, various processing programs corresponding to the system, data processed by the various processing programs, and the like. Remember. Also,
The storage device 17 stores the image data input via the image processing unit 14 and the scanner unit 15 for each folder.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, an example of a directory structure of folders and a data structure of files stored in the storage device 17 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a directory structure in the storage device 17. As shown in FIG. 2, each folder is configured in a hierarchical structure, and folders for a plurality of users are configured immediately below the root directory at the top of the hierarchy. In addition,
Files with the same file name can be stored as long as they are stored in different folders.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of users 1 to n and a file configuration example of files 1 to n stored in a directory configured for each user. As shown in FIG. 3, "user n" stores a user name and a password corresponding to the user name, and "file n" stores a second password corresponding to the file name and image attribute data (file Name, header information, prohibition information, etc.) and image data are stored. The password corresponding to the user name is also stored in the non-volatile memory of the control unit 11.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. As a premise of the explanation of the operation, a program for realizing each processing described in the following flowcharts is stored in the ROM in the form of a program code that can be read by the control unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 1. Control unit 11
Sequentially executes the operation according to the program code.

4 to 5 are flowcharts showing the image storing / reading process executed by the control unit 11. As shown in FIG. 2, when the save button is pressed via the operation unit 13 (step S1; YES), the control unit 11 causes the storage device 1 to operate.
The user name, which is the name of the folder stored in No. 7, is acquired and displayed as a list on the display unit 12 (step S
2). Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the user name is selected and input via the operation unit 13 on the screen (see FIG. 6) in which the user names are displayed in a list (step S).
3).

Here, the user names listed in the display unit 12 are selected and input (step S3; YES), and O
When the K button is pressed (step S4; YES), the control unit 11 displays a screen for inputting the password (see FIG. 7) (step S5). Then, the password is entered on this screen (step S6), and OK.
When the button is pressed (step S7; YES), the control unit 11 acquires the password registered in the corresponding folder from the non-volatile memory and determines whether the input passwords match. (Step S8). Here, if the entered password does not match the password registered in the folder (step S8; N
O), the control unit 11 causes the display unit 12 to display an error message, performs password disagreement processing that prompts the user to enter the password again (step S9), and proceeds to step S8.

When the entered password and the password registered in the folder match (step S8; YES), the control section 11 displays the file name input screen (see FIG. 8) to display the file name. And the second password are input (step S10). Subsequently, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the LOCK button for setting the file lock that prevents the image data from being erased in a predetermined time is pressed (step S11), and when the LOCK button is pressed (step S11; (YES), the control unit 11 creates prohibition information for prohibiting file deletion, attaches it to the attribute data of the image, and registers the file lock (step S12).

Then, the control section 11 judges whether or not the OK button has been pressed (step S13), and when the OK button has been pressed (step S13; YES), the condition setting screen for reading the document (FIG. 9). Display) (step S)
14). Subsequently, the control unit 11 receives various conditions,
When the start button is pressed (step S15; YE
S), the scanner unit 15 is controlled to read the document (step S16).

Then, the control section 11 judges whether or not the reading of the original is completed (step S17), and when the reading of the original is completed (step S17; YES),
The image data is stored with the specified file name in the folder with the specified user name (step S18).
Then, the control unit 11 moves to step S2 and repeats the processing of steps S2 to 18.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, step S1
If the save button is not pressed in step S1 (step S1;
NO), the controller 11 determines whether or not the read button has been pressed (step S31). Here, when the read button is pressed (step S31; YES), the control unit 11
Acquires the user names of the folders stored in the storage device 17 and causes the display unit 12 to display a list (step S
32). Next, a screen showing a list of user names (Fig. 1
0), the user name is selected via the operation unit 13 and the OK button is pressed (step S34; YE
S), the control unit 11 displays a screen for inputting the password (see FIG. 11) (step S35).

Subsequently, when a password is input on this screen (step S36) and the OK button is pressed (step S37; YES), the control unit 11 displays the password registered for each folder from the nonvolatile memory. It is acquired and it is determined whether or not it matches the entered password (step S38). If the entered password does not match the password registered in the folder (step S38; NO), the control unit 11
An error message is displayed on the display unit 12, and the password is prompted again (step S39), and step S38.
Move to.

When the entered password matches the password registered in the folder (step S8; YES), the control unit 11 displays a list of file names stored in the selected folder (step S8). S4
0). Next, when the file name is selected via the operation unit 13 on the screen in which the file names are displayed in a list (see FIG. 12) (step S41) and the OK button is pressed (step S42). , A screen for inputting the second password (see FIG. 13) is displayed (step S43).

Then, when the second password is input on the password input screen (step S44) and the OK button is pressed (step S45; YES), the control unit 1
1 acquires the second password of the corresponding file from the storage device 17 and determines whether or not it matches the input second password (step S46). Here, when the input second password and the second password registered in the file do not match (step S46; NO), the control unit 11 causes the display unit 12 to display an error message and displays the second password again. The user is prompted to input the password 2 (step S47), and the process proceeds to step S46.

When the entered second password matches the second password registered in the file (step S46; YES), the control unit 11 moves the selected file to the combination box. Screen (Fig. 1
4)) (step S48). Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the file selection is completed (step S49). When the file selection is completed (step S49; YES), the file moved to the combination box is registered in the job. (Step S51), the main image saving / reading process is terminated.

When the file selection is not completed (step S49; NO), the control section 11 determines whether or not the continue button is pressed (step S50), and when the continue button is pressed (step S50). By moving to step S32 and repeating the processing of steps S32 to S49, it is possible to select a file stored in another folder and move it to the combination box. If the continue button is not pressed (step S50; NO), the process proceeds to step S40, the processes of steps S40 to S49 are repeatedly executed, and the files stored in the same folder are selected.

Next, with reference to the transition screen examples shown in FIGS. 6 to 15, the operation procedure in the above-mentioned image saving / reading process will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a view showing a user name list display screen displayed on the display unit 12 when the save button is pressed in step S1 of the image saving / reading process. On this screen, the user selects a desired user name and specifies the storage destination of the image data. Here, for example, when the user name “NAGASHIMA” is selected and input, as shown in FIG. 7, a screen for inputting the password corresponding to “NAGASHIMA” is displayed. On this screen, the user can select the password "***" corresponding to "NAGASHIMA".
Enter "***".

If the entered password is correct, a screen for entering the file name of the save destination and the second password is displayed as shown in FIG. In addition,
If the password is not registered in the “NAGASHIMA” folder, the “NAGASHIMA” user name is selected and OK.
When the button is pressed, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Further, when the new registration button is pressed on the user name list display screen of FIG. 6, the screen shown in FIG. 7 is also displayed, but the user name and the password name are blank. Therefore, when the user inputs an arbitrary user name and password through the operation unit 13 and presses the OK button, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. The password can be entered arbitrarily, and it is possible to create a folder without registering the password.

Next, the user displays the screen shown in FIG.
Enter the file name and the second password. Also in this case, the input of the second password is optional, and it is possible to save the file without registering the second password. Then, when the OK button is pressed, as shown in FIG. 9, the document reading condition setting screen is displayed. On this screen, the user inputs and sets various conditions of the document to be read. Then, when the start button is pressed, a document reading process is performed, and the read image data is stored in a designated file in a designated folder.

Next, step S31 of the document saving / reading process.
When the read button is pressed in, the user name list display screen is displayed as shown in FIG. On this screen, for example, when the user name “KOIZUMI” is selected and the OK button is pressed, as shown in FIG. 11, “KOIZUMI” is displayed.
A screen for entering the password corresponding to "IZUMI" appears. On this screen, the user inputs the password "*****" corresponding to "KOIZUMI".

Here, if the entered password is correct, as shown in FIG. 12, a screen listing the file names stored in the selected folder is displayed. When the password is not registered in the selected folder, the folder is selected and the OK button is pressed to display the screen shown in FIG. On this screen, the user selects, for example, "FILE1" and clicks OK.
When the button is pressed, as shown in FIG. 13, a screen for inputting the second password of "FILE1" is displayed.
On this screen, the user inputs the second password corresponding to "FILE1".

When the entered second password is correct, "FILE1" is moved to the combining box and displayed, as shown in FIG. Further, when the second password is not registered in the selected file, the file is selected, and when the OK button is pressed, the screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. The example of the display screen shown in FIG.
An example in which "LE1", "FILE3", and "FILE5" are selected is shown.

Further, when the continue button is pressed on this screen, the screen returns to the user name list display screen shown in FIG. 10, and files stored in other folders can be selected and combined in the combination box. it can. If the user presses the OK button on this screen, "FILE
"1", "FILE3", and "FILE5" are registered in the job, and various processes are executed. If there is a file for which file lock is registered in the folder, “L” is displayed for the file locked file, as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the user name is registered in the name of the folder for storing the image data and the instruction to save or read the image data is input. Then, a list of user names corresponding to the folders is displayed on the display unit 12. In addition, a password is registered for each folder, and when the entered password is authenticated, a list of file names stored in the folder is displayed. In addition, the second for each file stored in the folder
The password is registered, and the image data is displayed when the input second password is authenticated.

Therefore, when the user saves the image data, the user can select the folder as the save destination or the read source from the screen in which the user names are displayed, so that the user can easily specify the target folder. Therefore, the operability is improved and the image data can be efficiently managed. Further, by registering the password in the folder, the folder containing the important image data can be handled only by a specific user, so that the important image data can be protected. Alternatively, the image data stored in the folder will not be inadvertently viewed by others, and privacy can be maintained. Further, by registering the second password for each file, it is possible to manage finer image data.

Further, when the image data is read and the job is generated, the image data stored in different folders can be combined to generate the job. Therefore, the job is generated for each folder and various processes are performed. Since there is no need to execute it, the labor and time involved in the work can be saved.

Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1 in which the image data stored in the storage device 17 for which a predetermined time has elapsed is deleted, the file lock is performed on the file containing the arbitrary image data, and Can be prohibited from being deleted. Therefore, the necessary image data is stored in the storage device 17, and
You can automatically delete unnecessary image data,
The storage device 1 manages important image data easily.
The storage capacity of 7 can be efficiently used.

The above description in the present embodiment is an example of a suitable image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the present embodiment, the password registered for each folder is stored in the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 11 and the storage device 17, and the second password registered for each file is the storage device 1
Although the configuration in which the password is stored has been described above, the area in which the password is stored is an example, and may be stored in either the nonvolatile memory or the storage device 17. Alternatively, it may be configured to be stored in another storage medium or the like.

The name of the folder is not limited to the user name, and any name can be registered. In addition, the detailed configuration and the detailed operation of the components of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0063]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user can visually confirm the folder as the save destination or the read source when the image data is saved or read. The folder can be easily recognized and selected. As a result, the labor and time required for saving or reading the image data can be saved, and the work efficiency of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 2 or 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the image data stored in the image data storage means can be classified and stored for each folder, The image data can be efficiently managed, and the image data stored in the selected folder can be displayed in a list, so that the stored image data can be easily recognized.

According to the invention described in claims 4 to 6, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, since the folder can be managed by using a password, a folder in which important image data is stored. Protects important image data by making it available only to specific users,
Security can be improved.

According to the invention described in claims 7 to 9, in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, it is possible to perform management using a password for each image data. Since it is possible to manage the image data with high security and only a specific user can display the image data, it is possible to protect the privacy because the image data is not viewed by other users.

According to the invention of claim 10, claim 1
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of 1 to 9, since it is possible to execute the processing of the image data stored in different folders with one job, it is not necessary to generate a job for each folder, and work efficiency is improved. Is improved.

According to the invention of claim 11, claim 1
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of 10 to 10, it is possible to prevent important image data from being deleted. Therefore, only necessary image data is saved and unnecessary image data is automatically deleted. Since it can be deleted, the image data can be efficiently managed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a directory structure of folders stored in a storage device 17 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of a file stored in a storage device 17 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a part of an image saving / reading process executed by a control unit 11 of FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing a part of an image saving / reading process executed by a control unit 11 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S2 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S5 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S10 of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S14 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S32 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S35 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S40 of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S43 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed in step S48 of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when there is a file for which a file lock is registered.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image forming device 11 Control unit 12 Display 13 Operation part 14 Image processing unit 15 Scanner 16 Printer section 17 Storage N network

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 12/14 320 G06F 12/14 320C 320F H04N 1/00 H04N 1/00 C (72) Inventor Yoshihara Kitahara Naro 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Stock Company F-term (reference) 2C187 AC07 AD03 AD04 AD14 AE01 BF34 GD02 5B017 AA06 BB09 BB10 CA07 CA09 CA11 CA16 5B082 AA13 EA01 EA07 EA12 GC03 GC04 5C062 AC05A21AA22 A05 A22 A05 AF14

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data, and an image data storage unit for storing the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit in a folder for storage.
Image forming means for reading the image data stored by the image data storage means and forming an image on a print medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an input unit for inputting identification information of a folder to be stored in the image data storage unit and an instruction to read a folder stored in the image data storage unit; and the input unit, A display control unit that acquires identification information of the folder from the image data storage unit and displays a list on the display unit when an instruction to read the folder stored in the image data storage unit is input. Image forming apparatus. 2. The input means inputs the identification information of the image data stored in the folder, and the image data storage means stores the image data and the identification information of the image data in a lower hierarchy of the folder. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus stores the image. 3. The input means selects an arbitrary folder from the identification information of the folders displayed in a list on the display means to input the selected folder, and the display control means sets a lower hierarchy of the selected folder. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification information of the stored image data is displayed as a list on the display unit. 4. The input means further comprises password storage means for inputting a password corresponding to the identification information of the folder, and storing the password input by the input means in association with the identification information of the folder. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The display device further comprises a determination unit that determines whether or not the password input by the input unit and the password corresponding to the identification information of the folder stored by the password storage unit match each other. The control unit stores the password in the folder when the determination unit determines that the password input by the input unit and the password corresponding to the identification information of the folder stored by the password storage unit match. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the identification information of the image data is acquired and displayed in a list on the display unit. 6. The input means inputs an instruction to read a folder stored in the image data storage means, and the determination means stores a password corresponding to identification information of the folder in the password storage means. The display control means, when the determination means determines that the password is not stored, lists the identification information of the image data stored in the lower hierarchy of the folder on the display means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image is displayed. 7. A second password storage for inputting a password corresponding to the identification information of the image data, and storing the password input by the input means in association with the identification information of the image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a unit. 8. A second judgment for judging whether or not the password input by the input means and the password corresponding to the identification information of the image data stored by the second password storage means match each other. And the password determined by the input unit and the password corresponding to the identification information of the image data stored in the second password storage unit match, The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a control unit that allows the image forming unit to read the image data. 9. The input means inputs an instruction to read the image data stored in the image data storage means, and the discriminating means has a password corresponding to identification information of the image data as the second password. The control unit determines whether the image data is stored in the storage unit, and when the determination unit determines that the password is not stored, the control unit permits the image forming unit to read the image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8. 10. A job generating means for generating a job by combining image data stored in different folders, wherein the image forming means has the image data storing means based on the job generated by the job generating means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is read from the image forming apparatus to form an image on a print medium. 11. An image forming apparatus comprising: a deletion unit that determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the image data was stored in the image data storage unit and deletes the image data when the predetermined time has elapsed. The input unit selects and inputs image data for which deletion by the deletion unit is prohibited, and the image data storage unit prohibits deletion of the image data input by the input unit. 11. The information is additionally stored, and when the prohibition information is additionally stored in the image data, the deleting unit does not delete the image data. The image forming apparatus described.