JP2001189855A - Copying machine and its control method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a copying machine that can inhibit copying of an image of an original that is protected by the copyright and a document or the like that is generated by a document author with an intention of copy inhibition. SOLUTION: An image sensor 108 reads an image from an original of a copy object, and an imago processing circuit 111 and a printer section 115 form a visible image on recording paper. A specific image detection circuit 112 detects whether or not a copy inhibit mark is attached to the original based on the image data obtained from an image processing circuit 111. In the case that the specific image detection circuit 112 detects the copy inhibit mark, a control section 113 issues a copy inhibit command to the printer section 115 to inhibit a copy output by the printer section 115 from the original. Furthermore, when a mode setting section 114a sets an operating mode to disregard the copy inhibition, the control section 113 permits the printer section 115 to output the image of the original independently of the result of detection by the specific image detection circuit 112.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus having a so-called copy protection function for inhibiting illegal copying of a work and copying of a specific manuscript, a specific image, a specific document, and the like, and a control method therefor. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copying apparatus has been known as an apparatus for copying (copying) magazines, documents, manuscripts, and the like.

Generally, a commercially available copying apparatus is of a so-called analog type in which a document is illuminated, reflected light from the document is imaged on a photosensitive member, and copying of the document is realized by electrophotography. Was.

This copying apparatus has an excellent function of easily copying (copying) an image of a familiar document, but on the other hand, a creator of a copyrighted work, photograph, picture or document is prohibited from copying. There is a problem that documents and the like created with the intention of the above can be copied.

In recent years, laser beam printers (LB)
With the advance of P) technology, a digital copying apparatus has been developed in which a copying apparatus is read from a conventional analog copying apparatus by a CCD image sensor and converted into an electric signal and printed out by LBP. . Further, since this digital copying apparatus is capable of capturing an image into a computer (scanner function) and outputting an image of data received from the computer (print output), it has begun to spread widely with the recent spread of computers. .

[0006]

However, the digital copying apparatus has an excellent function of easily copying (copying) an image of a familiar document, but also has a copyrighted work or photograph. However, there is a problem that a picture or a document created by a document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying can be easily copied.

[0007] In the case of a digital copying apparatus, images handled via a computer and a network are stored in a third place.
Can be sent freely to people. Therefore, it is clear that there is a strong need for a mechanism (so-called copy protection function) to more reliably prohibit / permit copying of copyrighted works, photographs, paintings, and in-house copy-prohibited documents. Will.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to realize a copy protection function which is not supported by a conventional digital copying apparatus.

[0009]

A copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has, for example, the following configuration. That is, reading means for reading an image from a document to be copied, image forming means for forming a visible image in accordance with the image obtained by the reading means, and detecting means for detecting copy prohibition information added to the document to be copied And an obstructing means for obstructing a normal visible image output by the image forming means for the original when the copy prohibition information is detected by the detecting means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a document to be copied, and reference numeral 102 denotes a platen glass on which the document 101 is placed. Reference numeral 103 denotes a lamp.
The original 101 is illuminated to read the image No. 01. 1
04 to 106 are reflection mirrors. Reference numeral 107 denotes a lens, which forms reflected light from the document 101 on a light receiving surface of the image sensor 108. 108 is an image sensor,
The reflected light of the lamp 103 from the document 101 is read. 1
An amplifier 09 amplifies an output signal from the image sensor 108 to an appropriate signal level. Reference numeral 110 denotes an A / D converter, which converts the original reading signal amplified by the amplifier 109 into a digital signal.

Reference numeral 111 denotes an image processing circuit, which converts a digital image signal output from the A / D converter 110 from luminance to density conversion, gradation correction (density correction), color correction (color conversion), edge enhancement, Signal processing such as filtering is performed to form image data and output to the mark detection circuit 112 and the printer unit 115. Reference numeral 112 denotes a specific image detection circuit which inputs image data (digital signal) from the image processing circuit 111 and detects whether or not a specific image relating to “copy prohibition” is included in the document image.

A control unit 113 includes a CPU for executing various processes according to the control program, a ROM for storing various control programs executed by the CPU, and a RAM for providing a work area for the CPU. In particular, the control unit 113 of the present embodiment controls the image output by the printer unit 115 based on the detection result of the “copy prohibited” mark from the mark detection circuit 112. The operation of the control unit 113 will be described later.

An operation unit 114 performs various inputs by a user. Mode setting unit 114 in operation unit 114
“a” notifies the control unit 113 whether or not to perform a copy prohibition operation on a document image protected by copyright, a document created by a document creator with a copy prohibition intention (copy prohibition document), and the like ( Set). Copyright code input section 1
14b is a configuration required in a second embodiment described later, and details thereof will be described in the second embodiment.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a printer unit that forms a visible image based on image data input from the image processing circuit 111 by, for example, an electrostatographic method.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the specific image detection circuit 112 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 120 denotes an image memory for storing one-dimensional or two-dimensional information of all or part of image data.
Reference numeral 121 denotes a mark presence / absence determination unit which refers to image data in the image memory 120 and detects and determines whether or not the image data includes an image corresponding to a copy prohibition mark.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a copy prohibition mark according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a copy prohibition mark is recorded at the current predetermined position (lower right in the example of FIG. 3), and the mark presence / absence determination unit 121 determines the presence / absence of the copy prohibition mark. In addition, as the copy prohibition mark, one type or a plurality of types of marks with specific patterns, characters, and the like are considered. Further, a remark may be formed by a digital watermark. The copy prohibition mark may be present at a specific position in the document as shown in FIG. 3, or may be present at an arbitrary position in the document image without specifying the position.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the copy processing according to the first embodiment. The control shown in the flowchart of FIG.
This is realized by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM in the CPU.

First, in step S11, image data is input. That is, after the image of the document 101 on the platen glass 102 is read by the image sensor 108 and converted into digital data, the image processing circuit 1
At 11, the above-described processing is performed, and the obtained image data is stored in the image memory 120 of the specific image detection circuit 112.

Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the "copy prohibition mode" for prohibiting copying of a literary work or a copy-prohibited document is set by the mode setting section 114a. If the copy prohibition mode is not set, step S1 is performed regardless of the presence or absence of the copy prohibition mark.
The process proceeds to step S5, where the printer unit 115 is permitted to copy the image data input in step S11. On the other hand, if the copy prohibition mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, mark presence / absence determination section 1
21 determines whether or not a copy prohibition mark as described with reference to FIG. 3 exists in the image represented by the image data stored in the image memory 120. If the copy prohibition mark is not detected, the process proceeds from step S14 to step S15, and the printer unit 115 is permitted to copy the image data input in step S11.

If a copy prohibition mark is detected, the process proceeds from step S14 to step S16, and an instruction is given to the printer unit 115 to prohibit copy output of the image data input in step S11. For example,
For the image data input from the image processing circuit 111, a command is issued to the printer unit 115 to prohibit driving of the laser driver, paper feeding, and the like.

As described above, the control unit 113 obtains from the specific image detection circuit 112 the determination result as to whether or not there is a copy prohibition mark in the original image in reading the original, and sends it to the operation unit 114 (mode setting unit 114a). If the copy prohibition mode is set and a copy prohibition mark exists in the document image, the printing operation can be prohibited by the printer unit 115. The operation unit 11
If the copy prohibition mode is not set in 4, the normal copy operation is performed.

In the above embodiment, a signal to prohibit copy output is given to the printer unit 115 when copying is prohibited, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when copying is prohibited, it is apparent that control may be performed so as not to give a print start command to the printer unit 115.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, copying of a literary work or a copy-prohibited material is prohibited according to the presence or absence of a copy-prohibited mark as shown in FIG.
In the second embodiment, a barcode image is used instead of the copy prohibition mark. Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described, but the outline of the configuration of the printer according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), and the illustration is omitted. In the second embodiment, the operation unit 114 includes a copyright code input unit 114b. Further, instead of the specific image detection circuit 112, the specific image detection circuit 11
2 'shall be used.

In the second embodiment, the specific image detecting circuit 1
12 'detects and decodes the barcode. FIG. 5 shows the second
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the specific image detection circuit 112 'by embodiment. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 220 denotes an image memory for storing one-dimensional or two-dimensional information of all or part of image data. A bar code detecting / decoding unit 221 refers to image data in the image memory 120, detects whether a bar code is included in the image data, and determines in advance if a bar code is detected. The barcode is decoded by the predetermined method, and if the barcode is decoded normally, the barcode information is output to the control unit 113.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of recording a barcode image according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, a barcode of a predetermined format is recorded at a predetermined position (lower right in the example of FIG. 3) of the document, and the barcode detection / decoding unit 2
At 21, the barcode image is detected and decoded. The barcode in the document may be present at a specific position in the document as shown in FIG. 6, or may be present at an arbitrary position in the document image without specifying the position.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of a copy process according to the second embodiment. The control shown in the flowchart of FIG.
This is realized by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM in the CPU.

First, in step S21, image data is input. That is, after the image of the document 101 on the platen glass 102 is read by the image sensor 108 and converted into digital data, the image processing circuit 1
At 11, the above-described processing is performed, and the obtained image data is stored in the image memory 120 of the specific image detection circuit 112.

Next, in step S22, it is determined whether or not the "copy prohibition mode" for prohibiting the copying of a literary work or a copy prohibition document is set by the mode setting section 114a. If the copy prohibition mode has not been set, the process proceeds to step S27 without determining whether or not the image is a copy prohibition image, and permits the printer unit 115 to copy the image data input in step S21. On the other hand, if the copy prohibition mode has been set, the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the bar code detecting / decoding unit 221 detects and analyzes the bar code as described in FIG. 6 in the image represented by the image data stored in the image memory 220, and converts the copyright code. obtain. If the copyright code is not obtained (eg, if the bar code is not detected or the bar code does not represent the copyright code), it is determined that the original is not a copy-protected document or a copyrighted work. I do. Accordingly, the process proceeds from step S24 to step S27, and the printer unit 115 is permitted to copy the image data input in step S21.

On the other hand, if the bar code is detected and the copyright code is obtained, the process proceeds from step S24 to step S24.
25, the copyright code in the barcode obtained as a result of the analysis in step S23 is compared with the copyright code set by the user via the copyright code setting unit 114b. If they match, it is determined that copying of the document is permitted. That is, the process proceeds from step S26 to step S27, in which the printer unit 115 is permitted to copy the image data input in step S21.

If the result of the comparison in step S25 is that they do not match, the process proceeds from step S26 to step S28, where the printer unit 1 executes a copy output prohibition operation for the image data input in step S21.
Give instructions to 15. For example, a command is issued to the printer unit 115 to prohibit driving of a laser driver, paper feeding, and the like for image data input from the image processing circuit 111.

As described above, the control unit 113 can obtain the barcode information in the document image from the specific image detection circuit 112 (barcode detection / decoding unit 221) when reading the document. Then, the mode setting unit 1 of the operation unit 114
If the prohibition mode for prohibiting the copy of the copyrighted work is set in 14a and the bar code information obtained from the read signal of the original image contains the information of prohibition of copy (copyright information), the printer The print operation can be prohibited for the unit 115. Further, when the copy prohibition mode is not set by the mode setting unit 114a of the operation unit 114, and when the bar code information is not included in the document even when the copy prohibition mode is set, the normal copy operation is performed. Become.

Further, when a bar code image is detected from the input image data and a copyright code included in the bar code information is acquired, the copyright code acquired by the user through the copyright code input unit 114b is further obtained. Is set in the control unit 113, the control unit 113 determines whether the copyright code obtained from the barcode image matches the copyright code obtained by the user. If they match, copying is permitted, and if they do not match, copying is prohibited.

The contents contained in the copyright code acquired by the user include the following contents as necessary.

(A) Information (code) for specifying the copyrighted work (b) Information (code) for specifying the person who owns the copyright (c) Information (code) indicating the expiration date of the copyright (D) Information (code) indicating the upper limit of the number of copies of a copyrighted work.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
The user who has acquired the copyright code can be permitted to copy the copyrighted work.

<Third Embodiment> In the first and second embodiments, digital image data is analyzed, and a specific image such as a copy prohibition mark or a bar code is detected to permit or prohibit copying. I have. In the present embodiment, permission and prohibition of copying are controlled without analyzing the image data.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 3, components similar to those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, with respect to FIG. 8, a portion different from the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 330 denotes a magnetic sensor (or a metal sensor), which can move together with the original illumination lamp 103 and the mirror 104 when reading the original, and detects a magnetic or metallic component contained in the original paper or the original ink. Is a sensor that detects In the following description, the sensor is referred to as a sensor 330. In this case, a copyrighted work or a document created by the document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying (copy-prohibited document) contains metal or magnetic components in the original paper or ink used for the original. Assume that.

The control unit 113 can obtain from the sensor output of the sensor 330 whether or not the original image contains a metal component or a magnetic component in reading the original, and controls the inhibition and permission of copying based on the output. In the operation procedure, it is determined whether or not a metal component or a magnetic component is detected by the sensor 330 in steps S13 and S14 of the flowchart shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 4). )
If it is detected, the process may proceed to step S16 (copy prohibition).

As described above, according to the third embodiment,
The copy prohibition mode is set on the operation unit 114,
In addition, when the presence of a metal component or a magnetic component in the document is detected, the printer unit 115 can be prohibited from performing a printing operation. When the copy prohibition mode is not set on the operation unit 114, the normal copy operation is performed.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the first to third embodiments, the prohibition and permission of copying are controlled by giving instructions of prohibition and permission of copying to the printer unit 115. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, processing corresponding to copy inhibition and permission is realized by switching the operation of the image processing circuit 111.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 9, components similar to those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the following, with respect to FIG. 9, portions different from the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described.

In FIG. 9, when the control unit 113 determines that copying must be prohibited, a copy prohibition command from the control unit 113 is input to the image processing circuit 111. That is, step S16 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and step S16 in the flowchart of FIG.
At 28, a copy prohibition command is issued to the image processing circuit 111. Image processing circuit 111 that has received a copy prohibition command
Prohibits the output of image data to the printer unit 115 or performs a predetermined process on the image data and outputs it to the printer unit 115 to form an image different from the original image.

FIGS. 10 to 16 are block diagrams for explaining an example of the configuration for realizing the copy prohibition operation of the image processing circuit 111 in the fourth embodiment.

In FIG. 10, when a switch 1101 receives a copy prohibition instruction, it switches the data path to a constant value side and replaces each pixel value of the image data with a constant value.
As a result, when an attempt is made to copy a copy-protected original such as a copyrighted work, an image of a predetermined color (or density) is recorded,
Prohibition of copying is achieved. If a copy prohibition instruction has not been received, the data path is set to the document read image data side by the switch 1101, and the document image read by the image sensor is sent to the printer unit 115.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, when a copy prohibition is instructed, it is possible to control not to supply the image data itself and a print command to the printer unit 115 instead of a fixed value.

In FIG. 11, when the switch 1101 receives a copy prohibition command, it switches the data path to the pattern generation circuit 1102 and replaces the image data with a specific image pattern.

In FIG. 12, when the switch 1101 receives a copy prohibition instruction, it switches the data path to the character pattern generator 1103 and replaces the image data with a specific character image. In this case, the printed image can include a message such as "This document is protected by copyright and cannot be copied."

In FIG. 13, upon receiving a copy prohibition command, the bit rearrangement unit 1201 rearranges the bit arrangement of the input image data and destroys the image. If the copy prohibition command has not been input to the bit rearrangement unit 1201, the input image data is output as it is.

In FIG. 14, when the switch 1101 receives a copy prohibition command, it switches the data path to the look-up table (LUT) 1202 and scrambles the image data and outputs data obtained by scrambling the image data.
Output to 5 Note that the LUT 1202 may change the density of image data.

In FIG. 15, when the pixel order rearranging circuit 1203 receives the copy prohibition command, the pixel order of the input image data is changed (the pixel address is changed). As a result, the original image is destroyed.

Further, in FIG.
When 04 receives the copy prohibition command, it converts the color of the input image data.

In any of the above-described FIGS. 10 to 16, when a copy prohibition command is input to the image processing circuit 111, it is possible to prevent a desired normal copy from being obtained.

In the fourth embodiment, as described in the first and second embodiments, an apparatus for determining whether or not a document is a copy-inhibited document based on detection of a specific image by a specific image detection circuit is described. The case where the copy prohibition command is input to the image processing circuit 111 has been described. However, the fourth
Each configuration of the image processing circuit 111 described in the embodiment is
It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a configuration for determining whether or not to prohibit copying in accordance with a signal from the sensor 330 as described in the third embodiment. FIG. 17 shows an example of the device configuration in such a case.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a modification of the fourth embodiment.
In FIG. 17, the control unit 113 having received the detection signal from the sensor 330 determines whether or not the document is a copy prohibited matter, and issues a copy prohibition command to the image processing circuit 111 if the copy is prohibited. . The copy prohibition operation by the image processing circuit 111 is as described above.

<Fifth Embodiment> In the above-described first to third embodiments, a copy prohibition / permission instruction is given to the printer unit 115, and in the fourth embodiment, a copy prohibition / permission instruction is given. Is given to the image processing circuit 111, thereby prohibiting and permitting copying. On the other hand, in the fifth embodiment, prohibition and permission of copying are realized by on / off control of a document illumination lamp.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 18, components similar to those of the first embodiment (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, referring to FIG.
A description will be given of a portion different from the configuration of FIG.

In FIG. 18, reference numeral 501 denotes a lamp lighting control circuit which controls the lighting of the document illumination lamp 103 based on an instruction from the control unit 113.

The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The control unit 113 controls the lamp lighting control circuit 501 to turn off the lamp when the control unit 113 receives, from the specific image detection circuit 112, the detection information that the document image includes, for example, a copy prohibition mark. . Even if copying is performed with the lamp turned off, the copied image is black on one side, thereby preventing the copyrighted work from being copied.

In the fifth embodiment, as described in the first and second embodiments, an apparatus for determining whether or not a document is a copy-inhibited original based on detection of a specific image by a specific image detection circuit is described. The case where the copy prohibition command is output to the lamp lighting control circuit 501 has been described. However, each configuration of the image processing circuit 111 described in the fifth embodiment is different from the sensor 330 described in the third embodiment.
It is needless to say that the present invention is also applicable to a configuration for determining whether or not to prohibit copying in accordance with a signal from the printer. FIG. 19 shows an example of the device configuration in such a case.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a modification of the fifth embodiment.
In FIG. 19, the control unit 113 having received the detection signal from the sensor 330 determines whether or not the document is a copy prohibited matter, and issues a copy prohibited instruction to the lamp lighting control circuit 501 if the copy is prohibited. I do. The copy prohibition operation by the lamp lighting control circuit 501 is as described above.

<Sixth Embodiment> In each of the above embodiments,
It has been described that when it is determined that copying should be prohibited, printing of the document image is not performed, or at least control is performed so as to print an image different from the original document image.

In the sixth embodiment, when a copy prohibition occurs, the print output process is controlled as described in each of the above embodiments, and a display indicating that the copy prohibition has occurred, a history storage, or a host computer Etc. to the external device.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a configuration for displaying that copy prohibition has occurred, storing the history, and notifying the external device according to the sixth embodiment. In FIG. 20, 1
Reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU in the control unit 113. A display unit 1302 is, for example, a liquid crystal display provided on the operation unit 114. When copy prohibition has occurred (S16 in FIG. 4,
In step S28 in FIG. 7, the CPU 1301 displays "copy prohibited" on the display unit 1302.

Reference numeral 1303 denotes a copy prohibition act counter. In this example, an electromagnetic counter is used. When copy prohibition has occurred (S16 in FIG. 4 and S28 in FIG. 7), C
PU1301 is an increment control signal (pulse signal)
Is output to the copy prohibition act counter 1303. When the pulse signal is input, the copy prohibition act counter 1303 increments the count value by one.

Reference numeral 1304 denotes a history management memory,
This is a memory area in the RAM in the control unit 113. In addition,
The history management memory 1304 is backed up by a battery or the like so that the information is not lost even if the power of the digital color copying machine is turned off. When copy prohibition has occurred (S16 in FIG. 4 and S28 in FIG. 7), C
The PU 1301 stores, in the history management memory 1304, the occurrence of the copy prohibition, the occurrence time of the copy prohibition, the reason for the occurrence of the copy prohibition (for example, a mismatch of the copyright code), and the like.

Reference numeral 1305 denotes an interface (for example, a network interface) for communicably connecting to an external device. In this example, the interface is connected to a host computer 1306. When copy prohibition has occurred (S16 in FIG. 4, S28 in FIG. 7), the CPU 1301 notifies the host computer 1306 of the fact. At this time, information for composing the history information as described above may be notified.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copier, a facsimile, etc.) comprising one device Device).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A digital copying apparatus having a copy protection function is realized. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to prohibit copying of a document image protected by copyright or a document created by a document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying.

Further, by setting an operation mode or the like, it becomes possible to copy an original image protected by copyright or a document created by a document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying. For this reason, a user who has a right to copy a document that is subject to copy protection can copy the document using the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a specific image detection circuit 112 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy prohibition mark according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a copy process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a specific image detection circuit 11 according to a second embodiment.
It is a block diagram which shows a structure of 2 '.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a recording example of a barcode image according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a copy process according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows an image processing circuit 111 according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an image processing circuit 111 according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 12 is an image processing circuit 111 according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows an image processing circuit 111 according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an image processing circuit 111 according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 15 illustrates an image processing circuit according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 16 illustrates an image processing circuit according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example for implementing the copy prohibition operation of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to a modification of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for displaying that copy prohibition has occurred, storing a history, and notifying an external device according to the sixth embodiment.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/04 H04N 1/40 Z 5C077 21/00 560 B41J 29/00 Z G06T 1/00 G03G 21/00 554 H04N 1/00 G06F 15/66 A F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 HH01 HJ06 HK11 HN02 HN09 HN15 2H027 EC06 EC20 ED04 EE07 EE08 EF06 EF09 EJ08 FA08 FA25 FA30 FB05 FB11 GA32 BA01 BA11 5B02A04 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE08 CE11 CE17 CG10 CH18 DA20 DB02 DB06 DB09 DC09 DC33 5C062 AA05 AB02 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB23 AB41 AB43 AB44 AB46 AC02 AC04 AC05 AC22 AC24 AC58 AE03 AE15 AF12 AF14 AF15 AF16 5C019 PP32 P08 PP08 PP08 PP08 SS02 TT06

Claims (20)

[Claims] A reading unit configured to read an image from a document to be copied; an image forming unit configured to form a visible image according to an image obtained by the reading unit; and detecting copy inhibition information added to the document to be copied. Detection means for detecting, when the copy prohibition information is detected by the detection means, an inhibition means for obstructing a normal visible image output of the image forming means with respect to the document, and a detection result of the copy inhibition information by the detection means Setting means for setting an operation mode for stopping the function of the inhibiting means regardless of the setting. 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a specific image pattern added to a document to be copied as the copy inhibition information. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said detecting means detects a barcode of a predetermined format added to the original to be copied, and detects the copy inhibition information by decoding the detected barcode. Item 2. The copying apparatus according to Item 1. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit detects the copy prohibition information by detecting a magnetic component or a metal component contained in a material used for a document to be copied or a recording material. 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said inhibiting means inhibits output of an image formation start instruction to said image forming means, thereby inhibiting formation of a normal visible image corresponding to the original to be copied. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inhibiting means inhibits formation of a normal visible image corresponding to the original to be copied by inhibiting output of a visible image to said image forming means. 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1. 7. The reading means includes an irradiation lamp for optically reading an original, and the obstruction means turns off the irradiation lamp to thereby generate a normal visible image corresponding to the original to be copied. 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein formation is inhibited. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits formation of a normal visible image corresponding to the original to be copied by switching an image signal output to the image forming unit to a predetermined image signal. 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inhibiting unit applies a predetermined conversion process to the image signal obtained by the reading unit to inhibit formation of a normal visible image corresponding to the original to be copied. 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 10. The copying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said predetermined conversion process converts at least one of density and color of an image. 11. The copying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined conversion process is a pixel position conversion of an image obtained by the reading unit. 12. An analyzing means for analyzing copy prohibition information detected by said detecting means to extract specific information, and said copying based on the specific information obtained by said analyzing means and information input by a user. A determination unit that determines whether to permit copying of the target document; and a prohibition unit that prohibits execution of the inhibition unit when the determination unit determines that the copy is permitted. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inhibiting unit inhibits a normal visible image output by the image forming unit with respect to the document when the determining unit determines that copying is not permitted. 13. The copying apparatus according to item 12. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays, when the normal image forming operation in the image forming unit is inhibited by the inhibiting unit, that fact.
2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1. 15. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a history holding unit for holding a history of a case where a normal image forming operation in the image forming unit is inhibited by the inhibiting unit. apparatus. 16. A reading step of reading an image from an original to be copied, an image forming step of forming a visible image according to the image obtained by the reading step, and detecting copy inhibition information added to the original to be copied. Detecting the copy prohibition information, detecting the copy prohibition information when the detection step detects the copy prohibition information, and inhibiting the normal visible image output by the image forming step for the document, and detecting the copy prohibition information by the detection step. And a setting step of setting an operation mode in which the function of the inhibition step is stopped regardless of the setting. 17. An analysis step of analyzing copy prohibition information detected in the detection step to extract specific information, and performing the copy based on the specific information obtained in the analysis step and information input by a user. A determination step of determining whether to permit copying of the target document; and a prohibition step of prohibiting execution of the inhibition step when the determination that the copy is permitted is made in the determination step. The method of controlling a copying apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display step of displaying, when the normal image forming operation in the image forming step is inhibited by the inhibiting step, that fact.
7. The method for controlling a copying apparatus according to item 6. 19. The copying apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising, when a normal image forming operation in the image forming step is inhibited by the inhibiting step, a history retaining step of retaining a history of the fact. How to control the device. 20. A storage medium for storing a control program for causing a computer to realize a copying process, the control program comprising: a code for a reading step of reading an image from a document to be copied; A code of an image forming step of forming a visible image according to the read image, a code of a detecting step of detecting copy prohibition information added to the document to be copied, and if the copy prohibition information is detected by the detecting step, A code of an inhibition step for inhibiting a normal visible image output by the image forming step for the document, and a setting for setting an operation mode for stopping the function of the inhibition step regardless of the detection result of the copy prohibition information by the detection step And a process code.