Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, confidential information management method, and recording medium

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: a voice recognizer that recognizes information input by voice; a hardware processor that gives an instruction to execute a process based on the information recognized by the voice recognizer; and a first authenticator that performs, in response to executing the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using first confidential information that is set in advance, wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the first confidential information, the hardware processor invalidates the first confidential information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
 a voice recognizer that recognizes information input by voice;   a hardware processor that gives an instruction to execute a process based on the information recognized by the voice recognizer; and   a first authenticator that performs, in response to executing the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using first confidential information that is set in advance,   wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the first confidential information, the hardware processor invalidates the first confidential information.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the first confidential information, the hardware processor invalidates the first confidential information after execution of the process corresponding to the authentication. 
     
     
         3 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hardware processor generates new confidential information for the first authenticator, and   wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the first confidential information, the hardware processor replaces the first confidential information with the new confidential information.   
     
     
         4 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an input unit through which another information is input by a method other than voice input,   wherein the hardware processor prompts the new confidential information to be input through the input unit, and   wherein, if the another information corresponds to the new confidential information, the hardware processor permits execution of the authentication   
     
     
         5 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the another information is input through a touching operation on a touch screen. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the another information is input through a key operation of a keyboard. 
     
     
         7 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a storage that stores a notification destination of a user,   wherein the first authenticator determines whether authority over the execution of the process has been given to the user, and   wherein the hardware processor notifies the notification destination of the new confidential information.   
     
     
         8 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input unit through which another information is input by a method other than voice input,   wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the first confidential information, the hardware processor prompts the new confidential information to be input through the input unit.   
     
     
         9 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second authenticator that performs authentication to determine whether authority over execution of the process has been given using second confidential information different from the first confidential information,   wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the first confidential information, the hardware processor invalidates the first confidential information and does not invalidate the second confidential information.   
     
     
         10 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the second authenticator performs card authentication where information stored in a card is read for authentication or biometric authentication where biometric information of a user is used.   
     
     
         11 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hardware processor detects whether there is a person other than an operator within a predetermined distance from the image forming apparatus,   wherein, if a person other than the operator is detected within the predetermined distance, the hardware processor invalidates the first confidential information, and   wherein, if a person other than the operator is not detected within the predetermined distance, the hardware processor does not invalidate the first confidential information.   
     
     
         12 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the voice recognizer measures volume of voice input into the voice recognizer, and   the hardware processor changes the predetermined distance depending on the measured volume of voice.   
     
     
         13 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the voice recognizer measures volume of noise around the image forming apparatus, and   the hardware processor changes the predetermined distance depending on the measured volume of noise.   
     
     
         14 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first confidential information is a password used in printing document data regarding security document printing. 
     
     
         15 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first confidential information is a password used in using a folder that stores image data generated by scanning an original, or document data received through a communication network. 
     
     
         16 . An image forming apparatus comprising the image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
 a voice recognizer that recognizes information input by voice;   a hardware processor that gives an instruction to execute a process based on the information recognized by the voice recognizer; and   an authenticator that performs, in execution of the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using confidential information that is set in advance,   wherein, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the confidential information, the hardware processor notifies a user of a predetermined warning regarding security of the confidential information.   
     
     
         18 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined warning includes a prompt to change the confidential information. 
     
     
         19 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a display,   wherein the hardware processor causes the display to display the predetermined warning.   
     
     
         20 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the hardware processor transmits an email including the predetermined warning to the user. 
     
     
         21 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 ,
 wherein the hardware processor detects whether there is a person other than an operator within a predetermined distance from the image forming apparatus,   wherein, if a person other than the operator is detected within the predetermined distance, the hardware processor invalidates the confidential information, and   wherein, if a person other than the operator is not detected within the predetermined distance, the hardware processor does not invalidate the confidential information.   
     
     
         22 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the voice recognizer measures volume of voice input into the voice recognizer,   wherein the hardware processor changes the predetermined distance depending on the measured volume of voice.   
     
     
         23 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the voice recognizer measures volume of noise around the image forming apparatus,   wherein the hardware processor changes the predetermined distance depending on the measured volume of noise.   
     
     
         24 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the confidential information is a password used in printing document data regarding security document printing. 
     
     
         24 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the confidential information is a password used in using a folder that stores image data generated by scanning an original, or document data received through communication network. 
     
     
         26 . An image forming apparatus comprising the image processing apparatus according to  claim 17 . 
     
     
         27 . A confidential information management method comprising:
 recognizing information input by voice;   instructing to execute a process based on the information recognized in the recognizing;   performing, in response to executing the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using confidential information that is set in advance; and   invalidating the confidential information if the information recognized in the recognizing corresponds to the confidential information.   
     
     
         28 . A confidential information management method comprising:
 recognizing information input by voice;   instructing to execute a process based on the information recognized in the recognizing;   performing, in response to executing the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using confidential information that is set in advance; and   notifying, if the recognized information corresponds to the confidential information, a user of a predetermined warning regarding security of the confidential information.   
     
     
         29 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a computer of an image forming apparatus that includes a voice recognizer that recognizes information input by voice, a hardware processor that instructs to execute a process based on the information recognized by the voice recognizer, and an authenticator that performs, in response to executing the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using confidential information that is set in advance, the program causing the computer to function as:
 a hardware processor that invalidates, if the information recognized by the voice recognizer corresponds to the confidential information, the confidential information.   
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for controlling a computer of an image forming apparatus that includes a voice recognizer that recognizes information input by voice, a hardware processor that instructs to execute a process based on the information recognized by the voice recognizer, and an authenticator that performs, in response to executing the process, authentication to determine whether authority over the execution of the process has been given using confidential information that is set in advance, the program causing the computer to function as:
 a hardware processor that notifies, if the recognized information corresponds to the confidential information, a user of a predetermined warning regarding security of the confidential information.