Computer peripheral apparatus and method of controlling the same

Abstract

A computer peripheral apparatus of this invention has a check step of checking whether received data is infected with a computer virus. If the received data satisfies a predetermined condition, the apparatus executes the check step before predetermined data processing. If the received data does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the apparatus executes the check step before the predetermined data processing.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . An image processing apparatus, comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive data to be processed from a transmission source;   a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the transmission source is safe;   a checking unit configured to check whether or not the data includes malicious code data;   a processing unit configured to perform data processing using the data; and   a control unit configured to control the activation of the checking unit and the processing unit,   wherein if the determination unit determines that the transmission source is safe, the control unit activates the processing unit, and if the determination unit determines that the transmission source is not safe, the control unit activates the checking unit and then activates the processing unit.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the data to be processed comprises print data, and the image processing apparatus comprises a printing apparatus. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the transmission source of the data is safe based on attribute information included in the data, wherein the attribute information includes date information indicating the execution date of a malicious code data check for the data in the transmission source or version information of a pattern file used in the malicious code data check for the data in the transmission source. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store a reception log of data including malicious code data, or to store a group of safe transmission sources,
 wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the transmission source of the data is safe based on the reception log or the group of safe transmission sources stored on the storage unit.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein if the determination unit determines that the transmission source is safe, the control unit activates the checking unit after activating the processing unit. 
   
   
       7 . An image processing method, comprising the steps of:
 receiving data to be processed from a transmission source;   determining whether or not the transmission source is safe;   checking whether or not the data includes malicious code data;   performing data processing using the data; and   controlling the activation of the checking step and the processing step,   wherein if it is determined in the determining step that the transmission source is safe, then in the controlling step, the processing step is activated, and if it is determined in the determining step that the transmission source is not safe, then in the controlling step, the checking step is activated and then the processing step is activated.   
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the data to be processed comprises print data, and the method is executed in a printing apparatus. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the determining step further comprises determining whether or not the transmission source of the data is safe based on attribute information included in the data, wherein the attribute information includes date information indicating the execution date of a malicious code data check for the data in the transmission source or version information of a pattern file used in the malicious code data check for the data in the transmission source. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising the step of storing a reception log of data including malicious code data, or a group of safe transmission sources,
 wherein the determining step further comprises determining whether or not the transmission source of the data is safe based on the reception log or the group of safe transmission sources stored in the storing step.   
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein if it is determined in the determining step that the transmission source is safe, then in the controlling step, the checking step is activated after activation of the processing step. 
   
   
       12 . A computer-readable storage medium, storing, in executable form, program code for causing a computer to perform an image processing method, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving data to be processed from a transmission source;   determining whether or not the transmission source is safe;   checking whether or not the data includes malicious code data;   performing data processing using the data; and   controlling the activation of the checking step and the processing step,   wherein if it is determined in the determining step that the transmission source is safe, then in the controlling step, the processing step is activated, and if it is determined in the determining step that the transmission source is not safe, then in the controlling step, the checking step is activated and then the processing step is activated.   
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the data to be processed comprises print data, and the method is executed in a printing apparatus. 
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the determining step further comprises determining whether or not the transmission source of the data is safe based on attribute information included in the data, wherein the attribute information includes date information indicating the execution date of a malicious code data check for the data in the transmission source or version information of a pattern file used in the malicious code data check for the data in the transmission source. 
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the step of storing a reception log of data including malicious code data, or a group of safe transmission sources,
 wherein the determining step further comprises determining whether or not the transmission source of the data is safe based on the reception log or the group of safe transmission sources stored in the storing step.   
   
   
       16 . The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 12 , wherein if it is determined in the determining step that the transmission source is safe, then in the controlling step, the checking step is activated after activation of the processing step.