US 8,045,191 B2 · Information processing device with attached security settings and security setting-dependent operation modes

Abstract

In a printer 1 which is an information processing apparatus of the present invention, after a password is accepted from a PC 2 together with image data and job information, the image data is encrypted and stored in a storage part 106, the job information is associated with the password and stored in a management part 104 as a job management table, and the process waits. In a case where a security program is executing, in case that a main power 110 is turned off, the operation of a backup part 105 to supply power to the management part 104 is inhibited, so that the job information table stored in the management part 104 is deleted. In a case where the security program is not executing, power is supplied to the management part 104 by the backup part, thereby maintaining the job management table stored in the management part 104.

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

a power switch for activating the information processing apparatus;
a receiving unit that receives an instruction for turning off the power switch;
a storage unit that stores data to be processed;
a management record unit that records processing contents data representing processing contents of the data to be processed;
a control unit that controls to carry out information processing, based on the processing contents data recorded in the management record unit, about the data to be processed stored in the storage unit;
a resuming unit that resumes, when the information processing is temporarily stopped and resumed, the information processing based on the processing contents data which is not changed between pre- and post-resuming;
an invalidating unit that invalidates the processing contents data recorded in the management record unit;
an operation admission unit that utilizes a setting which determines whether or not the processing contents should be invalidated to make the invalidating unit operable so that after the information processing is carried out, the invalidating unit invalidates the processing contents data representing processing contents of data for which the information processing has been carried out;
a decision unit that decides in response to the reception of the instruction by the receiving unit whether the invalidating unit is allowed to invalidate or not, on the basis of the setting of the operation admission unit;
and
a limiting unit that limits, when the power switch is turned off and the invalidating unit is operable, the operation of the resuming unit, wherein the information processing is resumed after deleting a part or all of the processing contents data recorded in the management record unit, wherein
the information processing apparatus is set to operate one of first and second operation modes, the first and second operation modes being independent of settings attached to any processing contents data,
when the information processing apparatus is set to operate in the first mode, the decision unit decides that the invalidating unit is allowed to invalidate in response to the reception of the instruction by the receiving unit,
when the information processing apparatus is set to operate in the second mode, the decision unit decides that the invalidating unit is not allowed to invalidate in response to the reception of the instruction by the receiving unit,
when the receiving unit receives the instruction, the invalidation unit performs the invalidation or not on the basis of the decision result by the decision unit, and then the power switch is turned off,
the limitation performed by the limiting unit is prevented when the power switch is turned off and the invalidating unit is not operable, and
if the storage unit successively stores the data to be processed, the control unit controls to carry out successive information processing about data to be processed having already been stored in the storage unit.

14 more elements

Information processing device with attached security settings and security setting-dependent operation modes

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Information processing device with attached security settings and security setting-dependent operation modes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13