US 8,009,833 B2 · Data communication apparatus, control method therefor, and program for implementing the method

Abstract

A data communication apparatus which is capable of easily selecting a desired encryption scheme that is appropriate to the size of data that is to be transmitted. A key to be used for encryption is acquired. An encryption means corresponding to the acquired key is searched. The period of time required for encryption of data to be transmitted by the searched out encryption scheme is calculated. Encryption means candidates for encrypting data to be transmitted are determined based on the calculated period of time required for encryption. A user is notified of the determined encryption means candidates in a selectable manner together with the period of time required for encryption.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims16

Dependent claims

A data communication apparatus comprising:

an acquiring device that acquires a key to be used for encryption;
a searching device that searches at least one encryption scheme corresponding to the key acquired by said acquiring device;
a setting device that sets a threshold value of a period of time required for the encryption;
a calculating device that calculates, based on a data size of a scanned image file to be transmitted, a period of time required for encryption of the scanned image file to be transmitted, the encryption of the scanned image file being performed by the encryption scheme searched out by said searching device;
a first determining device that determines whether or not the period of time calculated by said calculating device is shorter than the threshold value set by said setting device;
a display device that displays the encryption scheme together with the period of time required for encryption of the scanned image file as a selectable candidate when the period of time calculated by said calculating device is determined to be shorter than the threshold value;
a second determining device that determines the encryption scheme as the encryption scheme for encryption of the scanned image file to be transmitted when the selectable candidate is selected by a user;
and
a transmission device that transmits the image file encrypted by the determined encryption scheme to the outside of the data communication apparatus, by using the key acquired by the acquiring device,
wherein the data communication apparatus is a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine that performs at least two functions selected from the group consisting of copying, printing, scanning, and faxing.

7 more elements

A data communication method executed by a data communication apparatus, the method comprising:

acquiring a key to be used for encryption with an acquiring device;
searching at least one encryption scheme corresponding to the key acquired by said acquiring device with a searching device;
setting a threshold value of a period of time required for the encryption with a setting device;
calculating, based on a data size of a scanned image file to be transmitted, a period of time required for encryption of the scanned image file to be transmitted, the encryption of the scanned image file being performed by the encryption scheme searched out by said searching device with a calculating device;
determining whether or not the period of time calculated by said calculating device is shorter than the threshold value set by said setting device;
displaying the encryption scheme together with the period of time required for encryption of the scanned image file as a selectable candidate on a display device when the period of time calculated by said calculating device is determined to be shorter than the threshold value;
determining the encryption scheme as the encryption scheme for encryption of the scanned image file when the selectable candidate is selected by a user;
and
transmitting the image file encrypted by the determined encryption scheme to the outside of the data communication apparatus, by using the key acquired by the acquiring device,
wherein the data communication apparatus is a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine that performs at least two functions selected from the group consisting of copying, printing, scanning, and faxing.

7 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with a computer program, that when executed by a computer in a data communication apparatus causes the data communication apparatus to perform a data communication method, the data communication method comprising:

acquiring a key to be used for encryption with an acquiring device;
searching at least one encryption scheme corresponding to the key acquired by said acquiring device with a searching device;
setting a threshold value of a period of time required for the encryption with a setting device;
calculating, based on a data size of a scanned image file to be transmitted, a period of time required for encryption of the scanned image file to be transmitted, the encryption of the scanned image file being performed by the encryption scheme searched out by said searching device with a calculating device;
determining whether or not the period of time calculated by said calculating device is shorter than the threshold value set by said setting device;
displaying the encryption scheme together with the period of time required for encryption of the scanned image file as a selectable candidate on a display device when the period of time calculated by said calculating device is determined to be shorter than the threshold value;
and
determining the encryption scheme as the encryption scheme for encryption of scanned image file to be transmitted when the selectable candidate is selected by a user,
wherein the data communication apparatus is a copier, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine that performs at least two functions selected from the group consisting of copying, printing, scanning, and faxing.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,319 words

Summary972 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus which employs a data encryption technique, a control method therefor, and a program for implementing the method.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings11 figures

#FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the construction of a communication system including a data communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the construction of a copier appearing in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a conceptual representation of user key information stored on an IC card;

Detailed description5,099 words

#The present invention will now be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof.

#FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the construction of a communication system including a data communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

#In FIG. 1, a copier 1001 as a data communication apparatus, a printer 1002, a facsimile machine 1003, a database/mail-server 1004, and a client computer 1005 are connected together via the Ethernet (registered trademark) 1006, for data communication with one another. The copier 1001, the printer 1002, the facsimile machine 1003, the database/mail-server 1004, the client computer 1005, and the Ethernet (registered trademark) 1006 constitute the communication system.

Facts

Application

11/204,365Filed 15 Aug 2005

Priority

JP 2004-23659916 Aug 2004

Published

US 2006/0034459 A116 Feb 2006

Granted

30 Aug 2011

Term ends

16 Jul 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,066 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

G06F 21/6209
Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules: to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope,…
G06F
Computing and data processing

Timeline

16 Aug 2004Priority claimedJP 2004-236599
15 Aug 2005Application filedUS 11/204,365
15 Aug 2005Assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaishaassignment of assignor's interest
16 Feb 2006PublishedUS 2006/0034459 A1
30 Aug 2011GrantedUS 8,009,833 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
16 Jul 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 1,066 days of adjustment

Data communication apparatus, control method therefor, and program for implementing the method

Life of this patent

Data communication apparatus, control method therefor, and program for implementing the method

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims16

Description6,319 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,319 words