US-12621401-B2 - Communication system and image obtaining device configured to transmit image data and to transmit encryption key, nontransitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer readable instructions for image obtaining device, and controlling method for image obtaining device

US12621401B2US 12621401 B2US12621401 B2US 12621401B2US-12621401-B2

Abstract

An image obtaining device includes a communication interface configured to communicate with a terminal and a controller in communication with the communication interface. The controller configured to: generate encrypted image data using an encryption key and image data received by the controller, transmit the encrypted image data to the terminal via the communication interface; and transmit the encryption key to the terminal via the communication interface in a first situation, wherein the encryption key is not transmitted to the terminal in a second situation different from the first situation.

Inventors

Satoru Yanagi

Assignees

BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240205
Priority Date: 20231215

Claims (12)

1 . An image obtaining device, comprising: an operation structure; a communication interface configured to communicate with a terminal; a controller in communication with the communication interface, the controller configured to: generate image data based on either of a first obtaining instruction for a pull scan received from the terminal via the communication interface or a second obtaining instruction for a push scan input on the operation structure; generate encrypted image data using an encryption key and the image data generated based on the first obtaining instruction; transmit the encrypted image data to the terminal via the communication interface; transmit the encryption key to the terminal via the communication interface in a first situation; and transmit the image data generated based on the second obtaining instruction to the terminal via the communication interface, wherein the encryption key is not transmitted to the terminal in a second situation different from the first situation, and wherein the first situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the first obtaining instruction and the user selects a button in a confirm screen including a device name indicating a device to transmit the encryption key, the button being for the user to agree to transmitting of the encryption key to the device, and the second situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the second obtaining instruction.
2 . The image obtaining device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether situation of the image obtaining device is the first situation or the second situation, wherein the controller transmits the encryption key to the terminal in response to determining of the first situation, and wherein the controller does not transmit the encryption key to the terminal in response to determining of the second situation.
3 . The image obtaining device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an operation structure, wherein the first situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the first obtaining instruction and a predetermined operation is performed on the operation structure after the encrypted image data is transmitted to the terminal, and wherein the second situation is the situation where the image data is generated based on the second obtaining instruction and a situation where the image data is generated based on the first obtaining instruction and the predetermined operation is not performed on the operation structure after the encrypted image data is transmitted to the terminal.
4 . The image obtaining device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller transmits the encryption key to the terminal after completely transmitting the encrypted image data to the terminal.
5 . The image obtaining device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a uniquely encryption key each time the image data is generated.
6 . A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer-readable instructions for an image obtaining device, the image obtaining device comprising: an operation structure; a communication interface configured to communicate with a terminal; a processor, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image obtaining device to: generate image data based on either of a first obtaining instruction for a pull scan received from the terminal via the communication interface or a second obtaining instruction for a push scan input on the operation structure; generate encrypted image data using an encryption key and the image data generated based on the first obtaining instruction; transmit the encrypted image data to the terminal via the communication interface; transmit the encryption key to the terminal via the communication interface in a first situation; transmit the image data generated based on the second obtaining instruction to the terminal via the communication interface; and wherein the encryption key is not transmitted to the terminal in a second situation different from the first situation, wherein the first situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the first obtaining instruction and the user selects a button in a confirm screen including a device name indicating a device to transmit the encryption key, the button being for the user to agree to transmitting of the encryption key to the device, and the second situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the second obtaining instruction.
7 . A control method for an image obtaining device, the image obtaining device comprising an operation structure and a communication interface configured to communicate with a terminal, wherein the control method comprising: generating image data based on either of a first obtaining instruction for a pull scan received from the terminal via the communication interface or a second obtaining instruction for a push scan input on the operation structure; generating encrypted image data using an encryption key and the image data generated based on the first obtaining instruction; transmitting the encrypted image data to the terminal via the communication interface; transmitting the encryption key to the terminal via the communication interface in a first situation; transmitting the image data generated based on the second obtaining instruction to the terminal via the communication interface; and wherein the encryption key is not transmitted to the terminal in a second situation different from the first situation, wherein the first situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the first obtaining instruction and the user selects a button in a confirm screen including a device name indicating a device to transmit the encryption key, the button being for the user to agree to transmitting of the encryption key to the device, and the second situation is a situation where the image data is generated based on the second obtaining instruction.
8 . A communication system comprising: an image obtaining module; and a controller in communication with the image obtaining module and configured for communication with a terminal, the controller configured to: cause the image obtaining module to obtain image data; encrypt the image data if an instruction to obtain image data is received from the terminal by using an encryption key; and communicate either of the encrypted image data or non-encrypted image data to the terminal, the controller further configured to perform either of a first process or a second process, wherein: the first process includes communication of the encryption key to the terminal if a user initiates, at the terminal, communication of the encrypted image data to the terminal and a user authorizes communication of the encryption key, and communication of the non-encrypted image data to the terminal if a user initiates, at the image obtaining module, communication of the non-encrypted image data to the terminal; and the second process includes communication of the encryption key to the terminal if a user initiates, at the image obtaining module, communication of the encrypted image data to the terminal and the user selects a button in a confirm screen including a device name indicating a device to transmit the encryption key, wherein the button is for the user to agree to transmitting of the encryption key to the device.
9 . The communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the image obtaining module includes a scan unit and at least one selected from a group of a display and an operation structure.
10 . The communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the image obtaining module is connected to a housing.
11 . The communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the user is an authorized user.
12 . The communication system according to claim 8 , wherein the communication system is configured as a scanner.

Description

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-211812 filed on Dec. 15, 2023. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND ART A known Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP) performs scanning in accordance with a scan instruction from a smartphone and transmits a file generated by the scanning to the smartphone. DESCRIPTION Various kinds of data are described in the file received by the MFP. From the viewpoint of security, information needs appropriate protection. Aspects of the disclosure provide a technique for appropriately protecting information included in an image. An image obtaining device according to an aspect of the disclosure may include a communication interface configured to communicate with a terminal and a controller in communication with the communication interface. The controller is configured to: generate encrypted image data using an encryption key and image data received by the controller; transmit the encrypted image data to the terminal via the communication interface; and transmit the encryption key to the terminal via the communication interface in a first situation, wherein the encryption key is not transmitted to the terminal in a second situation different from the first situation. According to the above configuration, the image data is protected by being encrypted with the encryption key. The encryption key is transmitted to the terminal in the first situation, but is not transmitted to the terminal device in the second situation. In the second situation, the information included in the image can be protected more strongly than in the first situation. Thus, the information included in the image may be appropriately protected. A communication system according to an aspect of the disclosure may include an image obtaining module and a controller. The controller is in communication with the image obtaining module and configured for communication with a terminal and is configured to: cause the image obtaining module to obtain image data; encrypt the image data if an instruction to obtain image data is received from the terminal; communicate at least one of the encrypted image data or non-encrypted image data to the terminal, the controller further configured to perform at least one of a first process or a second process, wherein: the first process includes communication of an encryption key to the terminal if a user initiates, at the terminal, communication of the encrypted image data to the terminal and a user authorizes communication of the encryption key, and communication of the non-encrypted image data to the terminal if a user initiates, at the image obtaining module, communication of the non-encrypted image data to the terminal; and the second process includes communication of the encryption key to the terminal if a user initiates, at the image obtaining module, communication of the encrypted image data to the terminal. According to the above configuration, the image data is protected by being encrypted and an encryption key is transmitted if a user initiates, at the terminal, communication of the encrypted image data to the terminal and a user authorizes communication of the encryption key, or if a user initiates, at the image obtaining module, communication of the encrypted image data to the terminal. Thus, the information included in the image may be appropriately protected. A computer program for implementing the image obtaining device and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program may have novelty and utility. In addition, a method for controlling the image obtaining device may also have novelty and utility. FIG. 1 is a configuration of a network system. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an overview of pull scan and push scan. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of a specific case of the pull scan. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of a specific case of the push scan. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of a specific case of the pull scan and the push scan. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of a specific case of the pull scan and the push scan. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of a specific case of the push scan. FIRST EMBODIMENT The Configuration of the Network System 2; FIG. 1 The network system 2 includes an image obtaining device 10 and a terminal 100. The image obtaining device 10 has a capability of communicating with the terminal 100 via a wireless or wired LAN 4. The terminal 100 is a device such as a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a smartphone, a tablet terminal. The name “td1” is assigned to the terminal 100. A control program for controlling the image obtaining device 10 is installed in the terminal 100. The control program is provided by a vendor of the image obtaining device 10. Configuration of the Image Obtaining Device 10; FIG. 1 The image obtaining device 10 has a capability of performing a function of obtaining an image. The image obtaining device may be a peripheral device (e.g., a