JP2002359740A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent copying of paper money or the like without mis-recognition in real time in an image forming device. SOLUTION: The image forming device decides whether or not input image data include a particular pattern and transmits the image data to a prescribed terminal via a network when deciding that the input image data include the particular pattern. Then the image forming device receives a reply from the terminal and the reply denotes that no particular pattern is included or the like, the image forming device generates an image based on the input image data and when the reply indicates that the image data include the particular pattern, the image forming device stops forming the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recognition function for a color image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the performance of image processing (forming) apparatuses such as a color copying machine and a color printer has been improved, and an effective counterfeiting prevention method for bills, securities and the like is required.
In order to prevent counterfeiting, various recognition techniques have been proposed for accurately and quickly recognizing a document (copy-prohibited image), such as a bill or a security, for which copying should be prohibited at the time of copying. When the copy prohibited image is recognized, for example, the copy operation is prohibited. Further, in order to track the operator of an image processing (forming) apparatus such as a color copying machine, for example, when the color copying machine detects the copying operation of a copy-inhibited image, it goes to the management center of the copying machine via a telephone line, and the date, time, and setting. Techniques for automatically notifying location, operator information, and information related to an image (not an image itself) are disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2908203, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-60165, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-178066, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. No. 131638 proposes.

[0003]

However, even if the image recognition function is improved, there are originals in the world that are very similar to the features of bills and securities, and the price of the color copier and the like may be high. In fact, it is very difficult to incorporate an anti-counterfeiting function that eliminates erroneous recognition into each device. Further, the above-described information notification technique is a method of obtaining necessary information when tracking an operator of a color copying machine, and does not prohibit a copying operation itself. That is, it does not stop the copying operation itself of the copy-inhibited image in real time.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to prevent real-time duplication of bills and the like without erroneous recognition.

[0005]

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, in an image processing (forming) apparatus, after judging the presence or absence of a specific pattern with respect to input image data, a detailed judgment is made by an external device. It is possible to make a more accurate determination without providing a detailed determination unit in the image processing (forming) apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is a determining unit that determines whether a specific pattern is included in the input image data, and when the determining unit determines that the specific pattern is included, the image data is transmitted via a network. A transmission / reception unit that transmits to a predetermined terminal and receives a reply to the transmission from the predetermined terminal, and the determination unit controls image formation based on the image data based on the content of the reply received from the terminal. The above-mentioned terminal is a place where more accurate determination is possible. For example, a manager of the terminal determines with naked eyes whether or not the image includes a specific pattern. Alternatively, a more accurate image recognition function is provided, and the presence or absence of a specific pattern is determined. Therefore, image formation can be controlled based on transmission of a more accurate determination result.

In the above-described image processing apparatus, when the content of the reply includes a specific pattern, for example, the image forming apparatus stops image formation. Also,
In the image processing apparatus, the transmitting unit transmits, for example, image data whose resolution is lower than that of the input image data. Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the image processing apparatus described above, and an engine unit that forms an image based on the input image data. Control. Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image processing apparatus, an image reading unit that reads a document and inputs image data of the document to the image processing apparatus, and forms an image based on the input image data A determination unit of the image processing apparatus controls image formation of the engine unit.

In the image forming method according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a specific pattern is included in the input image data, and when it is determined that the specific pattern is included, the image data is transmitted to a predetermined terminal via a network. Send. Next, a reply to the transmission from the terminal is received, and image formation based on the image data is controlled based on the content of the reply received from the terminal.

A program according to the present invention includes a step of determining whether or not a specific pattern is included in input image data, and a step of transmitting the image data to a predetermined terminal via a network when determining that the specific pattern is included. And causing the computer to execute a step of transmitting, a step of receiving a reply to the transmission from the terminal, and a step of controlling image formation based on the image data based on the content of the reply received from the terminal.

A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention records the above-mentioned program.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a forgery prevention system according to one embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of color copiers 10 are connected to a server 16 installed in a copier management room 14 that manages the color copiers 10 via a network (LAN or public telephone line) 12 through its NIC or modem 26 (FIG. 2). Connected to a remote diagnostic system. This is a system equivalent to a conventional remote diagnosis system in which the state of a copying machine can be checked periodically or appropriately by remote diagnosis. In the remote diagnosis system, the communication function is used to automatically contact the server 16 in the copier management room 14 when a machine trouble occurs in the color copier 10, and to promptly receive a repair service. Also, regular meter reading can be performed while staying in a remote copier management room.

In this embodiment, the remote diagnosis system is further provided with a function of preventing forgery. That is, if the copier 10 determines that a specific pattern characterizing a copy-inhibited image has been detected in the read image data of the original, the image data of the problem including the specific pattern is determined.
The data is automatically transferred to the server 16 via the network 12. The image data to be transmitted may be data with a reduced resolution within a range in which the image can be determined. The administrator of the copier management room 14 visually checks the image in question on the display device of the server 16 to determine whether or not the image is a copy-prohibited image, and sends the determination result back to the copier 10.
The copying machine 10 performs a copying operation based on the received determination result. If it is determined that the image is a copy prohibited image, the copy prohibited image is not copied. That is, the copying is stopped or an unusual copying operation is performed. This makes it possible to dramatically reduce the false recognition rate of a copy-inhibited image and prevent forgery crimes by using a determination result from a place where a more accurate determination can be made, such as the copy machine management room 14.

The server 16 accessed by the copying machine to determine whether or not the image is a copy-inhibited image is not limited to a remote management room at a remote location. For example, in the case of the color copying machine 10 installed in a convenience store, the server 16 may be installed beside the register of the same convenience store.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the color copying machine 10. The scanner unit 21 reads an image of a document placed on a platen. The image recognition unit 22 detects a document (or a specific pattern included in the document) whose copying is prohibited, such as a bill or a securities, based on the read image data. In the panel section 25, the user inputs a copy condition input and a copy start command. The control unit 23 controls the movement of the entire copying machine in accordance with the conditions input on the panel unit 25. Although not shown, the control unit 23 includes a CPU, a RAM,
It is a normal computer mainly composed of a ROM. The engine unit 24 forms an input image on a sheet according to an instruction from the control unit 23. A communication device (for example, NIC and modem) 26 connects to a LAN or a public telephone line.

FIG. 3 shows a control flow at the time of copying by the control unit 23 of the color copying machine 10. The operator operates the color copier 10
And set the copy conditions on the panel unit 25,
Start copying. In response to this, the control unit 23
The color copier 10 is controlled according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when a copy instruction is received from the panel unit 25 (S11), first, the original is scanned by the scanner unit 21 (S10). Next, the image recognizing unit 22 checks whether the image data read by the scanner unit 21 is a copy-inhibited image (that is, whether the image data includes a specific pattern) (S13). If the image is not a copy-prohibited image (ie, does not include a specific pattern), the image data is
4 for normal copying (S12). However, when it is determined that the image is a copy-prohibited image (that is, a specific pattern is included) (YES in S13), the image data is transmitted to the server 16 in the management room via the communication device 26. Then, wait for a more accurate judgment from the management room (S
17).

FIG. 4 shows a screen of the remote diagnosis system installed in the server 16. When the server 16 in the copier management room receives the image data via the communication device 26,
In the server 16, the remote diagnosis system 31 is activated,
The screen of the image recognition system 32 (FIG. 4) is displayed on the display device.
See). On this screen, a transmission image 33 determined to be a copy prohibited image by the color copying machine 10 is displayed, and further, a serial number (S / N) 33, an installation location 35, and a date and time 36 of the color copying machine 10 that transmitted the image are displayed.
Data, a message 37 requesting whether or not to copy ("copyable?") 37, a YES button 38 pressed by the administrator when the image is determined to be a copyable image,
Also, a NO button 39 pressed by the administrator when it is determined that the image is a copy-prohibited image is displayed. The image 33 is, for example,
It is a thumbnail image of a size that can distinguish bills, etc.
The resolution is usually lower than the original image.

In the remote diagnosis system 31, the administrator examines the contents of the image 33 with the naked eye and determines whether or not the image is a copy-prohibited image.
Click the O button 39. If it is determined that the image is a copy prohibited image, the administrator presses a NO button 39. YES
The judgment result input by clicking the button 38 or the NO button 39 is returned to the color copying machine 10 via the network 12.

Returning to FIG. 3, the control unit 23 of the color copier 10 transmits the image data to the management room, and then waits for a reply of the judgment result on the image (S17). When a reply is received, it is determined whether or not the result of the determination is a copy prohibited image (S16). If the determination is NO (unless the image is a copy prohibited image), the normal copy processing (S1
Perform 2). However, YES (if the image is a copy prohibited image)
If so, the copying process is stopped.

In this embodiment, when the image is a copy-inhibited image, the copying process is stopped and the process is terminated. However, other various unusual copying processes may be performed. For example, a copy process for making the entire surface black may be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the administrator judges the image 33 transmitted to the copier management room with his own eyes and sends a reply. However, an image recognition function that is higher in performance than the image recognition unit 22 mounted on the color copying machine 10 may be used instead of the naked eye of the administrator. Using this high-performance image recognition function, it is possible to automatically recognize an image and determine whether or not the image is a copy-inhibited image even when there is no administrator.

In the system described above, the forgery prevention by the color copying machine 10 has been described, but the same processing can be performed by a printer driver of a computer. Generally, when a printer is included in a network, a print driver of a client terminal transmits print job data to a network printer. Here, the print driver may perform the same processing as that of the control unit of the color copying machine 10 described above. That is, the presence / absence of a specific pattern is determined for the input image data, and when the specific pattern is detected, the image data is transmitted to an external place (eg, a predetermined server) capable of more accurate determination via the network. And, based on the reply content,
Controls image formation of the printer. For example, if the reply is that the image of the document is prohibited from being copied, the print job data is not transmitted to the printer.

[0021]

According to the present invention, when it is determined that an image for which image formation is prohibited is determined, the data of the image is automatically transferred to a place where a more accurate determination can be made externally (a predetermined terminal). I do. As a result, image formation can be controlled based on a determination result from a place where a more accurate determination can be made, so that the erroneous recognition rate of an image can be dramatically reduced and forgery can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system in which a plurality of color copiers and printers are connected to a copier management room via a network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a color copying machine;

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of a copying operation of the color copying machine;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a screen of a remote diagnosis system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 color copier, 12 network, 1
6 server, 21 scanner unit 2102 image recognition unit, 25 panel unit control unit 23, 24 engine unit 24, 26 NIC or modem.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5B047 AA01 AB04 CB22 5B057 AA11 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CD05 DA08 DA17 DB02 DB06 DB09 DC33 5C062 AA05 AA35 AB22 AB46 AC04 AC64 AE03 AF14 5C0 PP19 PP TT06 5L096 BA02 BA07 HA08

Claims (8)

[Claims] A determining unit for determining whether a specific pattern is included in the input image data; and a determining unit determining that the input image data includes the specific pattern, the image data is transmitted to a predetermined terminal via a network. An image transmission / reception unit that transmits and receives a reply to the transmission from a predetermined terminal; and the determination unit controls image formation based on the image data based on the content of the response received from the terminal. Processing equipment. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit stops image formation when the reply content includes a specific pattern. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits image data having a resolution lower than that of the input image data. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an engine unit configured to form an image based on the input image data, wherein the determination unit of the image processing apparatus includes the engine unit. An image forming apparatus for controlling image formation of a set. 5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image reading unit configured to read a document and input image data of the document to the image processing apparatus; An image forming apparatus, comprising: an engine unit that forms an image, wherein the determination unit of the image processing device controls image formation of the engine unit. 6. It is determined whether or not a specific pattern is included in the input image data. If it is determined that the specific pattern is included, the image data is transmitted to a predetermined terminal via a network. An image processing method for receiving a reply to the transmission, and controlling image formation based on the image data based on the content of the reply received from the terminal. 7. A step of determining whether a specific pattern is included in the input image data, and a step of transmitting the image data to a predetermined terminal via a network when determining that the specific pattern is included, A program for causing a computer to execute a step of receiving a reply to the transmission from the terminal, and a step of controlling image formation based on the image data based on the content of the reply received from the terminal. 8. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 7 is recorded.