JP5033205B2 - Image forming system and user manager server device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and a user manager server device.

  In recent years, directory services such as an active directory and an e directory have been introduced to manage users and devices in a network system. Some image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines have a network function, and currently users and groups (departments) can be managed using such a directory service. When performing user management with a directory service, user authentication of a user who has performed a login operation on an image forming apparatus is usually performed by a server apparatus of the directory service.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, an authorization process may be performed in which only a function permitted to the login user among various functions can be used. Normally, in the authorization process, for each user, authorization information that designates a function that is permitted to be used (or a function that is prohibited to be used) is preset in the image forming apparatus, and is used by the login user in accordance with the authorization information. Function to be limited. In addition, there is also a system that provides the login user authorization information to the image forming apparatus using an intermediate server device having authorization information for each user (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-140067 A

  In the above-described system, although authorization information for each user can be centrally managed by the intermediate server device, it is difficult to set authorization information flexibly for users and user groups.

  For example, when setting authorization information for a group different from the domain group in the directory service, it is not possible to set authorization information in a lump, so authorization information must be set for each of multiple users belonging to that group. Don't be. For this reason, the setting work of authorization information becomes complicated. It is possible to add such a group to the directory service as an organizational unit, but it may affect the directory service that is already in operation at the company. Is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an image forming system capable of flexibly setting authorization information for a user and a user group while centrally managing the authorization information, and the image forming system It is an object of the present invention to obtain a user manager server device that can be used for the following.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  An image forming system according to the present invention includes an image forming apparatus connected to a network and a user who is connected to the network and provides authorization information indicating a function permitted to be used by a login user of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus. A manager server device, and a directory server device that provides directory service and has registration information of domain groups and domain users. The user manager server device includes registration information of a local group including a domain user separately from the domain group, at least one of domain group authorization information for the domain group and domain user authorization information for the domain user, and local group authorization information for the local group. And the user authentication of the login user is performed by the directory server device, and (a) if the login user who has succeeded in the user authentication belongs to the local group, (a1) if there is domain user authorization information of the login user, And the local group authorization information, the authorization information for the logged-in user is permitted so that only the functions permitted for use in both the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information are permitted. (A2) When there is no domain user authorization information for the logged-in user, local group authorization information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus as authorization information for the logged-in user, and (b) user authentication If the login user who succeeded in the process does not belong to the local group, the domain group authorization information or the domain user authorization information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus as authorization information about the login user.

  Accordingly, the user manager server device can flexibly set the authorization information for the user and the user group while centrally managing the authorization information in the system. Further, the authorization information is strictly applied to a user to which a plurality of authorization information is applied in duplicate on the domain side and the local side.

  A user manager server device according to the present invention includes a network interface connected to a network, at least one of domain group authorization information and domain user authorization information for domain groups and domain users managed by a directory server device connected to the network, and A storage device having local group authorization information for a local group, a user authentication processing unit that performs authentication of a login user of an image forming apparatus connected to the network using a network interface, and (a) a user When the login user who succeeds in the authentication belongs to the local group, (a1) when there is domain user authorization information of the login user, the domain user authorization information and the local group From the authorization information, authorization information for the login user is generated so as to permit only the functions permitted to be used in both the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information, and is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. (A2) When there is no domain user authorization information of the login user, the local group authorization information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus as authorization information about the login user. (B) If the login user who has succeeded in user authentication does not belong to the local group, the domain An authorization processing unit that transmits group authorization information or domain user authorization information to the image forming apparatus as authorization information for the login user.

  As a result, the domain manager on the directory service is included in the user manager server device provided separately from the directory service server device without affecting the registration information in the directory service (registration information of groups, users, etc.). Since a new group can be registered and authorization information can be set for the group, authorization information can be flexibly set for users and user groups while centrally managing the authorization information. Further, the authorization information is strictly applied to a user to which a plurality of authorization information is applied in duplicate on the domain side and the local side.

  In addition to the above user manager server device, the user manager server device according to the present invention may be as follows. In this case, the storage device has local user registration information and local user authorization information for the local user. The user authentication processing unit authenticates the login user with the registration information of the local user or with the directory server device. When the logged-in user belongs to the local group and is a local user, the authorization processing unit only determines the functions that are permitted to be used in both the local user authorization information and the local group authorization information from the local user authorization information and the local group authorization information. Authorization information for the logged-in user is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus so as to permit.

  The user manager server device according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the user manager server devices described above. In this case, if the login user belongs to the local group and the domain group, the authorization processing unit is permitted to use both the domain group authorization information and the local group authorization information from the domain group authorization information and the local group authorization information. Authorization information for the logged-in user is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus so as to permit only the function.

  The user manager server device according to the present invention may be configured as follows in addition to any of the user manager server devices described above. In this case, the storage device has conversion data including a correspondence relationship between the card ID of the ID card and the user ID of the user assigned with the ID card, and the user authentication processing unit uses the network interface to Receives the card ID and password of the ID card assigned to the login user from the forming device, identifies the user ID of the login user from the received card ID according to the conversion data, and uses the user ID to authenticate the user I do.

  Thereby, since the card ID of the ID card is managed in the user manager server device, it is not necessary to manage the card ID in the directory service, and the login system using the ID card can be easily added to the system in which the directory service is already operating. Can be added.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to flexibly set authorization information for a user and a user group while centrally managing authorization information for the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction machine in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the user manager server apparatus in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device in FIG. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a user logs in to the multifunction machine in the system shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of multifunction peripherals 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B and a printer 1 </ b> C are connected to a network 2, and a user manager server device 3 and a directory server device 4 are connected to the network 2.

  The multifunction device 1A has a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, and the like, and executes various jobs with the above-described functions in accordance with commands from the operation panel on the multifunction device 1A, a host device connected to the network 2, and the like. An image forming apparatus. The multifunction machine 1B is a similar device. The printer 1C is also an image forming apparatus like the multifunction machines 1A and 1B, but does not have a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. In the following, the case where the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B function as image forming apparatuses will be mainly described. However, the printer 1C can also function as an image forming apparatus.

  The user manager server device 3 is a server device that accepts user authentication requests from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B and provides authorization information for users logged in to the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B. The directory server device 4 is a server device that provides directory services such as an active directory and an e directory.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the multifunction machine 1A in FIG. The multifunction machine 1B has a similar configuration. The multi-function device 1A includes an operation panel 21, a modem 22, a network interface 23, a printer 24, a scanner 25, and a control device 26.

  The operation panel 21 is installed in the housing of the multifunction machine 1A, and includes a display device 21a that displays various types of information to the user and an input device 21b that receives user operations. The display device 21a is, for example, a liquid crystal display or various indicators. The input device 21b is, for example, a touch panel or a key switch.

  The modem 22 can be connected to a subscriber telephone network such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and is a communication device that transmits and receives facsimile data.

  The network interface 23 can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (server device 3, host device not shown) connected to the network 2. Device.

  The printer 24 is an internal device that prints on a sheet according to a print request and discharges the printed matter. In the case of the electrophotographic method, after charging the photosensitive drum, the printer 24 emits a light source based on the print data to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum, and this electrostatic latent image is Development is performed with toner, the toner image is transferred and fixed on a sheet, and the sheet is discharged as a printed matter.

  The scanner 25 irradiates light on one or both sides of a document fed by an automatic document feeder or a document placed by a user and receives reflected light or the like to read an image of the document. It is an internal device that outputs as image data.

  The control device 26 is a device that controls each unit in the multifunction peripheral 1A and performs data processing. The control device 26 is configured as a computer having, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. In the control device 26, the CPU implements various processing units by loading a program stored in the ROM or other storage device (flash memory or the like) into the RAM and executing it. In the control device 26, a FAX communication unit 31, a network communication unit 32, a control unit 33, and a determination unit 34 are realized.

  The FAX communication unit 31 is a processing unit that controls the modem 22 and receives facsimile data. When receiving the facsimile data, the FAX communication unit 31 supplies a print request to the control unit 33.

  The network communication unit 32 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 23 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 32 transmits the user name (user ID) and password input to the operation panel 21 at the time of user login to the user manager server device 3 and receives the login user authorization information from the user manager server device 3. . For example, the network communication unit 32 receives a print request (such as PDL (Page Description Language) data) from the host computer, and supplies the print request to the control unit 33.

  The control unit 33 receives a job request by a user operation on the operation panel 21 or a job request received from the host device by the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32, and controls each unit in the multifunction peripheral 1A to control the job. A processing unit that executes a job corresponding to a request. The job request includes a print request, a scan request, a facsimile transmission request, and the like. In addition, when there is a login operation, the control unit 33 uses the network communication unit 32 to request user authentication, authorization information, and the like from the user manager server device 3.

  Based on the authorization information about the login user received from the user manager server device 3 by the network interface 23 and the network communication unit 32, the determination unit 34 uses the login user among the functions of the MFP 1A. It is a processing unit that specifies a function to be prohibited (or a function to be permitted) and stores data indicating whether or not to permit use of each function on, for example, a RAM. The control unit 33 refers to the data and restricts the use of the MFP 1A by the login user. For example, when the use of the color copy function is restricted for the logged-in user, a copy function menu is displayed on the operation panel 21 so that the color copy cannot be selected (for example, selecting a color from monochrome / color). Button is grayed out).

  In this way, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B are configured.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user manager server device 3 in FIG. The user manager server device 3 includes a storage device 41, a network interface 42, and an arithmetic processing device 43.

  The storage device 41 is a device that stores programs and data. As the storage device 41, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. The storage device 41 stores authorization policy data 51, local user data 52, and local group data 53.

  The authorization policy data 51 is data including authorization information used for specifying a function that is permitted to be used by the login user of the multifunction peripheral 1A, 1B. The authorization policy data 51 can include authorization information for users and authorization information for groups. Authorization information for a user is authorization information applied to the user, and authorization information for a group is authorization information applied to users belonging to the group. In addition, in the authorization policy data 51, authorization information (domain user authorization information) for a domain user registered in the directory server device 4 and authorization information for the user are registered in the user manager server device 3. Authorization information about local users (local user authorization information) can be included. Further, in the authorization policy data 51, authorization information (domain group authorization information) for a domain group registered in the directory server device 4 and authorization information for the group are registered in the user manager server device 3. It can include authorization information about local groups (local group authorization information). The authorization information for a user includes a user ID and information on a function that is permitted (or prohibited) for the user (for example, a function ID). The authorization information for a group includes a group ID and information on a function that is permitted (or prohibited) for a user belonging to the group (for example, a function ID). For example, functions permitted (or prohibited) to be used include large items such as printing, scanning, copying, and facsimile transmission, and small items (for example, a color / monochrome selection function) associated with each large item.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the authorization policy data 51 in FIG.

  In the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, the domain group A includes domain users A, B, C, and D, and the local group A includes local users A and B and domain users B and D. An authorization policy # 1 (policy data including authorization information) is set for the domain group A, an authorization policy # 2 is set for the domain user A belonging to the domain group A, and an authorization policy # for the local group A 3 is set, the authorization policy # 4 is set for the local user A belonging to the local group A, the authorization policy # 5 is set for the domain user B belonging to the domain group A, and the authorization for the domain user E is set. Policy # 6 is set, and authorization policy # 7 is set for local user C.

  The local user data 52 is data including registration information (user ID and password) of the local user. The local user is a user registered in the user manager device 3 separately from the domain user registered in the directory server device 4.

  The local group data 53 is data including registration information (group ID and user ID of a user belonging to the group) of the local group. The local group is a group registered in the user manager device 3 separately from the domain user registered in the directory server device 4. Local groups can include local users and domain users. That is, a local group consisting only of local users, a local group consisting only of domain users, and a local group consisting of local users and domain users can be set.

  The network interface 42 can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (such as the multifunction devices 1A and 1B and the server device 4) connected to the network 2. Device.

  The arithmetic processing unit 43 is configured as a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and loads various programs stored in the ROM or the storage device 41 into the RAM and executes them by the CPU, thereby realizing various processing units. . In the arithmetic processing device 43, a network communication unit 61, a user authentication processing unit 62, and an authorization processing unit 63 are realized.

  The network communication unit 61 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 42 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 61 receives a user name (user ID) and a password from the multifunction device 1A, and transmits authorization information about the user to the multifunction device 1A. For example, the network communication unit 61 transmits a user authentication request to the directory server device 4 and receives the authentication result and user information from the directory server device 4.

  The user authentication processing unit 62 is a processing unit that performs authentication of the login users of the multifunction peripherals 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B using the local user data 52 or the directory server device 4 using the network interface 42.

  If the login user of the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B) that has succeeded in user authentication belongs to the local group, the authorization processing unit 63 (a1) includes the login user domain user authorization information in the authorization policy data 51. In some cases, the authorization information for the login user is generated from the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information so that only the functions permitted for use in both the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information are generated and combined. (A2) When there is no domain user authorization information of the logged-in user in the authorization policy data 51, the local machine authorization information is used as authorization information for the logged-in user. Machine 1B) and (b) for user authentication If the login user who Gong does not belong to a local group, the domain group authorization information or domain user authorization information, and transmits the authorization information about the log-in user to the MFP 1A (or MFP 1B).

  As described above, when there are a plurality of authorization policies to be applied to a login user, such as when there is an authorization policy for a local group and an authorization policy for a domain user (for example, domain group authorization information, local group authorization information, local user authorization information). In the server device 3, the authorization processing unit 63 combines the authorization policies to generate one authorization policy, and transmits the generated authorization policy. When there are a plurality of authorization policies to be applied to a certain login user, the authorization processing unit 63 generates an authorization policy that permits the use of a function that is permitted to be used in any of those authorization policies. That is, the authorization processing unit 63 generates an authorization policy that prohibits the use of functions that are prohibited from being used in any of those authorization policies.

  For example, in the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the domain user A logs in to the multifunction device 1A, authorization information generated from the authorization policy # 2 and the authorization policy # 1 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the domain user B logs in to the multifunction device 1A, authorization information generated from the authorization policy # 5, the authorization policy # 3, and the authorization policy # 1 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. Is done. In the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the domain user D logs in to the multifunction device 1A, authorization information generated from the authorization policy # 1 and the authorization policy # 3 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the domain user E logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization information of the authorization policy # 6 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the local user A logs in to the multifunction device 1A, authorization information generated from the authorization policy # 4 and the authorization policy # 3 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the local user B logs in to the multifunction device 1A, the authorization information of the authorization policy # 3 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A. In the case of the authorization policy data 51 shown in FIG. 4, when the local user C logs in to the multifunction device 1A, authorization information of authorization policy # 7 is transmitted to the multifunction device 1A.

  Thus, the user manager server device 3 is configured.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the directory server device 4 in FIG. The directory server device 4 includes a storage device 71, a network interface 72, and an arithmetic processing device 73.

  The storage device 71 is a device that stores programs and data. As the storage device 71, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like is used. A directory service database 91 is constructed in the storage device 71, and the database 91 includes user data 91a and group data 91b. The user data 91a includes a user ID, a password, and user information (a telephone number, a facsimile number, an e-mail address, and other attribute information to be contacted). The group data 91b includes a group ID, a user ID list of users belonging to the group, and group information (contact information, responsible person, and other attribute information).

  The network interface 72 is a device that can be connected to a wired or wireless computer network 2 and performs data communication with other devices (such as the server device 3) connected to the network 2.

  The arithmetic processing unit 73 is configured as a computer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and implements various processing units by loading a program stored in the ROM or the storage device 71 into the RAM and executing the program by the CPU. In this arithmetic processing unit 73, a network communication unit 81 and a directory service processing unit 82 are realized.

  The network communication unit 81 is a processing unit that controls the network interface 72 and performs data communication with devices on the network 2 using various communication protocols. For example, the network communication unit 81 receives a user authentication request and transmits the authentication result and user information.

  The directory service processing unit 82 is a processing unit that manages domain users and domain groups. The directory service processing unit 82 performs registration and deletion of domain users and domain groups, user authentication, provision of user information of domain users and group information of domain groups, and the like. For user authentication, LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) authentication, Kerberos authentication, or the like is used. When the directory service is an active directory, the directory service processing unit 82 operates as a domain controller.

  Thus, the directory server device 4 is configured.

  Next, the operation of each device when the user logs in to the multifunction device 1A in the above system will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of each device when a user logs in to the multifunction peripheral 1A in the system shown in FIG. Each device operates in the same manner when a user logs in to the multifunction machine 1B.

  When the operation panel 21 of the multifunction peripheral 1A detects a user name (user ID) and password input operation by the user (step S1), the control unit 33 sends the user name and password to the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23. Use to transmit to the user manager server device 3 (step S2).

  In the user manager server device 3, the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the user name and password using the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42, and sends the user name, password, and authentication request to a predetermined protocol (LDAP LDAP). Etc.) to the directory server device 4 (step S3).

  In the directory server device 4, the directory service processing unit 82 uses the network communication unit 81 and the network interface 72 to receive the user name, password, and authentication request using a predetermined protocol, and refers to the directory database 91. It is determined whether or not the user name and password are those of a valid user (step S4).

  Then, the directory service processing unit 82 uses the network communication unit 81 and the network interface 72 to display the determination result (that is, the authentication result) and the user information of the user when the authentication is successful. As a response, it transmits to the user manager server apparatus 3 (step S5).

  In the user manager server device 3, the user authentication processing unit 62 uses the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42 to receive the authentication result as a response to the authentication request. Receive information. If the authentication is successful, the authorization processing unit 63 refers to the authorization policy data 51, identifies the authorization policy applied to the user, and there are a plurality of authorization policies applied to the user. In some cases, authorization information for the user is generated from those authorization policies. If there is one authorization policy applied to the user, authorization for the user is obtained from the authorization policy. Information is specified (step S6). For example, if color copying is prohibited in any of a plurality of authorization policies applied to the user, color copying is prohibited in the authorization information for that user. In addition, when an upper limit value for the number of prints is set in each of a plurality of authorization policies applied to the user, the lower of the upper limit values in the authorization information for the user is the upper limit value for the number of prints. Set as a value. Then, using the network communication unit 61 and the network interface 42, the authorization processing unit 63 transmits a response indicating authentication success to the multifunction device 1A together with the authorization information and user information (step S7).

  In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 receives the authorization information and user information using the network communication unit 32 and the network interface 23, and provides the authorization information to the determination unit 34 (step S8). Based on the authorization information, the determination unit 34 sets, on the RAM, data indicating whether or not the use of the user is permitted for each of the predetermined functions of the multifunction peripheral 1A.

  Thereafter, the user is permitted to use the multifunction device 1A in a state where the function is restricted according to the authorization information (step S9). In the MFP 1A, the control unit 33 refers to the above-described data set by the determination unit 34 and accepts and executes only jobs that use functions permitted for the user.

  When user authentication fails, only a response indicating authentication failure is transmitted from the user manager server apparatus 3 to the multifunction device 1A. When the multifunction device 1A receives a response indicating authentication failure, the message indicating authentication failure is transmitted. Is displayed on the operation panel 21 and the use of the multifunction device 1A by the user is prohibited.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 includes the local group data 53, the local user data 52, and the authorization policy data 51. When the login user of the multifunction device 1A (or multifunction device 1B) who has succeeded in user authentication belongs to the local group, the authorization processing unit 63 (a1) stores the domain user authorization of the logged-in user in the authorization policy data 51. When there is information, the authorization information for the login user is generated from the domain user authorization information and local group authorization information so that only the functions permitted to be used in both domain user authorization information and local group authorization information are allowed. (A2) When there is no domain user authorization information for the login user in the authorization policy data 51, the local group authorization information is used as authorization information for the login user 1A ( Or to the MFP 1B) and (b) If the login user successfully authenticated does not belong to a local group, the domain group authorization information or domain user authorization information, and transmits the authorization information about the log-in user to the MFP 1A (or MFP 1B).

  As a result, the domain manager on the directory service is included in the user manager server device provided separately from the directory service server device without affecting the registration information in the directory service (registration information of groups, users, etc.). Since a new group can be registered and authorization information can be set for the group, authorization information can be flexibly set for users and user groups while centrally managing the authorization information. Further, the authorization information is strictly applied to a user to which a plurality of authorization information is applied in duplicate on the domain side and the local side.

Embodiment 2. FIG.

  In the image forming system according to the second embodiment, an ID card (in this case, an IC card) assigned to the user is used instead of the user inputting the user name into the multifunction peripheral 1A at the time of login.

  In the second embodiment, an IC card reader is connected to the multifunction device 1A, and when an ID card is brought close to the IC card reader, the control unit 33 uses the IC card reader to change the ID card from the ID card to the ID card. The ID is read and transmitted to the user manager server apparatus 3 together with the password entered in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  In Embodiment 2, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 stores in advance conversion data for associating the card ID of the ID card with the user ID of the user assigned the ID card, and the user authentication processing unit 62 receives the card ID and password, refers to the conversion data, identifies the user ID corresponding to the card ID, and performs user authentication in the directory server device 4 based on the identified user ID and the received password. .

  Note that the other configurations and operations of the devices in the system according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, an IC card is used as the ID card, but a card (magnetic card or the like) having a recording medium of another method may be used. In that case, a reader capable of reading the card ID from the card of the system is used instead of the IC card reader. Furthermore, instead of the ID card, biometric information such as a fingerprint may be used. In that case, a reader capable of acquiring the biological information from the user is used instead of the IC card reader, and a feature amount obtained from the biological information is used as the ID.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the storage device 41 of the user manager server device 3 includes the conversion data including the correspondence between the card ID of the ID card and the user ID of the user to whom the ID card is assigned. The user authentication processing unit 62 receives the card ID and password of the ID card from the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B, specifies the user ID of the login user from the received card ID according to the conversion data, and User authentication is performed using the user ID.

  Thereby, since the card ID of the ID card is managed in the user manager server device 3, it is not necessary to manage the card ID in the directory service, and the login system using the ID card in the system where the directory service is already operating. Can be easily added.

  Each embodiment described above is a preferred example of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the above embodiments, local users and domain users are mixed and included in the local group, but there may be a local group including only local users or a local group including only domain users.

  In each of the above embodiments, the user manager server device 3 is connected to another network different from the network 2 without being connected to the network 2, and is connected to the directory server device 4 in the other network and the network 2. The user manager server device 3 and the directory server device 4 may perform data communication via another network.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the multifunction peripherals 1A and 1B are used as the image forming apparatus, but a printer, a copier, or the like may be used instead. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the system has three image forming apparatuses, but it is also possible to use one, two, or four or more image forming apparatuses.

  In each of the above embodiments, the authorization information may include an access authority level to the multifunction device. For example, either an administrator or a general user is set as the access authority level. In the case of an administrator, functions that cannot be used by general users, such as maintenance, can be used.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a network system having a plurality of image forming apparatuses.

1A, 1B MFP (an example of an image forming apparatus)
1C printer (an example of an image forming apparatus)
2 Network 3 User Manager Server Device 4 Directory Server Device 41 Storage Device 42 Network Interface 62 User Authentication Processing Unit 63 Authorization Processing Unit

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus connected to the network;
A user manager server device that is connected to the network and provides authorization information for identifying the functions permitted to be used by a login user of the image forming device to the image forming device;
A directory server device that provides directory service and has domain group and domain user registration information;
The user manager server device includes registration information of a local group including the domain user separately from the domain group, domain group authorization information for the domain group, domain user authorization information for the domain user, and the local group. And (a) when the login user who has succeeded in user authentication belongs to the local group, (a1) the login user's user authentication is performed by the directory server device. When there is domain user authorization information, use is permitted in both the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information from the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information. Authorization information for the logged-in user is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus so as to allow only the function to be permitted. (A2) When there is no domain user authorization information for the logged-in user, (B) when the login user who has succeeded in user authentication does not belong to the local group, the domain group authorization information or the domain user authorization information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus as authorization information about the login user. Transmitting to the image forming apparatus as authorization information about the user;
An image forming system. In the user manager server device that provides the image forming apparatus with authorization information that identifies the functions permitted to be used by the login user,
A network interface connected to the network;
A storage device having at least one of domain group authorization information and domain user authorization information for a domain group and a domain user managed by a directory server device connected to the network, and local group authorization information for the local group;
A user authentication processing unit that performs authentication of a login user of an image forming apparatus connected to the network by using the network interface;
(A) When the logged-in user who has succeeded in user authentication belongs to the local group, (a1) When there is the domain user authorization information of the logged-in user, the domain user authorization information and the local group authorization information are used to determine the domain Generate and send authorization information about the logged-in user to the image forming apparatus so as to permit only functions permitted to be used in both the user authorization information and the local group authorization information, and (a2) the login user's When there is no domain user authorization information, the local group authorization information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus as authorization information about the login user, and (b) the login user who has succeeded in user authentication does not belong to the local group , The domain group The variable information or the domain user authorization information, the authorization processing unit to be transmitted to the image forming apparatus as the authorization information for the logged-in user,
A user manager server device comprising: The storage device includes registration information of a local user and local user authorization information for the local user,
The user authentication processing unit performs authentication of the login user with registration information of the local user or with the directory server device,
When the logged-in user belongs to the local group and is the local user, the authorization processing unit uses both the local user authorization information and the local group authorization information from the local user authorization information and the local group authorization information. Generating authorization information for the logged-in user so as to allow only the functions permitted to be used and transmitting the authorization information to the image forming apparatus;
The user manager server device according to claim 2. The storage device has authorization information for the domain group,
When the logged-in user belongs to the local group and belongs to the domain group, the authorization processing unit uses both the domain group authorization information and the local group authorization information from the domain group authorization information and the local group authorization information. Generating authorization information for the logged-in user so as to allow only the functions permitted to be used and transmitting the authorization information to the image forming apparatus;
The user manager server device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the above-mentioned. The storage device includes conversion data including a correspondence relationship between a card ID of an ID card and a user ID of a user assigned with the ID card,
The user authentication processing unit receives a card ID and a password of an ID card assigned to the login user from the image forming apparatus using the network interface, and receives the received card according to the conversion data. Identifying the user ID of the login user from the ID and performing user authentication using the user ID;
The user manager server device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein

Images