JP2005094689A - Radio tag system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit the processing of a book, a document having secrecy and read data of an image without depending upon the decision of an operator. <P>SOLUTION: Fine radio tags (1301 to 1309) are stuck on a record medium (1310) on which the image is recorded. Transfer processing or printing processing in the image data in which the image is read optically is limited or permitted on the basis of specified information recorded on the radio tags read by scanning a reader-writer device 1300. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless tag system in which a minute wireless tag is attached to a recording medium such as paper.

  In the case of electrically reading a copyrighted work or a confidential document or image, restrictions on the transfer process or print process in the read data are made one by one at the discretion of the operator.

  However, in the past, the management of the document or image read data that is restricted to the transfer process or the printing process is left to the operator's judgment, so that it is difficult to realize complete document management. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and enables complete document management by making it possible to limit the processing of read data of a copyrighted work or confidential document or image without relying on the judgment of the operator. It aims at realizing.

  The wireless tag system of the present invention is a wireless tag system in which a minute wireless tag is pasted on the recording medium corresponding to a predetermined image optically recorded on the recording medium. A predetermined code is recorded, and the code instructs restriction or permission for transfer processing or print processing in image data obtained by optically reading the image.

  According to the present invention, by attaching a wireless tag to a recording medium on which an image is printed, controlling data to be written to the wireless tag, and setting permission or prohibition of copying or reading of the image, Alternatively, it is possible to limit the processing of confidential document and image read data without depending on the operator's judgment, and it is possible to realize complete document management.

  Next, various embodiments of a wireless tag system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an overview of a wireless tag system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 102 denotes a server connected to the network 101, and reference numerals 103a and 103b denote clients. In addition, although not shown, many clients are connected to the network 101 in addition to these. Hereinafter, the client is represented as 103. Further, MFP (Multi Function peripheral) 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, 104 d is connected to the network 101. Here, the MFPs (104a, 104b, 104c, 104d) are color 4-drum MFPs that can perform scanning, printing, and the like in full color. Reference numeral 105 denotes a one-drum color laser beam printer (LBP) connected to the network.

  Although not shown, other devices such as an MFP, a scanner, a printer, and a FAX are connected to the network 101. Here, on the client 103, application software that executes so-called DTP (Desk Top Publishing) is operated to create / edit various documents / graphics. The client 103 converts the created document / figure into PDL (Page Description Language) and transmits it to the MFP 104 and LBP 105 via the network 101 for printout.

  The MFP 104 and the LBP 105 each have communication means capable of exchanging information with the server 102 and the client 103 via the network 101, and has a mechanism for sequentially informing the server 102 and the client 103 of the information and status of the MFP 104 and the LBP 105. . Further, the server 102 and the client 103 have utility software that operates in response to the information, and manages the MFP 104 and the LBP 105.

Next, the configuration of the MFP (multifunction machine) 104 will be described with reference to FIG.
The MFP 104 includes a scanner unit 201 that reads an image, an IP unit 202 that performs image processing on the image data, a FAX unit 203 that transmits and receives an image using a telephone line such as a facsimile, and a network. A network interface card (NIC) unit 204 that exchanges image data and device information by using the image data and device information, and a PDL unit 205 that develops a page description language (PDL) sent from the client 103 into an image signal. Depending on how the MFP 104 is used, the core unit 206 temporarily stores an image signal and determines a route.

  The image data output from the core unit 206 is sent to the printer unit 208 that performs image formation via the PMW unit 207. Here, the sheet printed out by the printer unit 208 is sent to the finisher unit 209, where sheet sorting processing and sheet finishing processing are performed. The display unit 210 is used for confirming the contents of an image without printing out the image, and confirming (previewing) the state of the image before printing out.

Next, the configuration of the scanner unit 201 will be described with reference to FIG.
An original 302 placed on the original table glass 301 is irradiated by an illumination lamp 303, and the reflected light passes through mirrors 304, 305, 306 and is imaged on a CCD 308 by a lens 307. The first mirror unit 310 including the mirror 304 and the illumination lamp 303 moves at a speed v, and the second mirror unit 311 including the mirrors 305 and 306 moves at a speed 1 / 2v to scan the entire surface of the original 302. The first mirror unit 310 and the second mirror unit 311 are driven by a motor 309.

Next, the configuration of the IP unit (image processing unit) 202 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the input optical signal is converted into an electric signal by the CCD sensor 308. The CCD sensor 308 is an RGB 3-line color sensor, and is converted into 8-bit digital image signals R0, G0, and B0 by the A / D converter 401 for each RGB color signal. Thereafter, the shading unit 402 performs shading correction using the read signal of the reference white plate for each color. Further, since the color line sensors of the CCD sensor 308 are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, the line delay adjustment circuit (line interpolation unit) 403 corrects the spatial deviation in the sub-scanning direction.

  Subsequently, the input masking unit 404 is a part that converts a reading color space determined by the spectral characteristics of the RGB filter of the CCD sensor 308 into an NTSC standard color space, such as sensitivity characteristics of the CCD sensor 308 / spectral characteristics of the illumination lamp. A 3 × 3 matrix operation is performed using constants unique to the apparatus in consideration of various characteristics, and the input R0, G0, B0 signals are converted into standard RGB signals.

  Subsequently, the luminance / density conversion unit (LOG conversion unit) 405 is configured by a look-up table (LUT) RAM, and converts RGB luminance signals into C1, M1, and Y1 density signals. An output masking (UCR circuit) unit 406 corrects the C1, M1, and Y1 signals into CMYK signals that are toner colors of the image forming apparatus, and outputs them.

  Subsequently, the gamma correction unit 407 converts the image data into CMYK data for image output using a look-up table (LUT) RAM that takes into account the color characteristics of the toner. Further, the spatial filter 408 performs edge enhancement or smoothing. Then, the image signal is sent to the core unit 206.

Next, the configuration of the NIC unit 204 and the PDL unit 205 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the NIC unit 204 has an interface function with respect to the network 101. For example, information from the outside is obtained by using an Ethernet (R) cable such as 10Basa-T / 100Basa-TX. It plays the role of obtaining information and distributing information to the outside.

  When obtaining information from the outside, first, the voltage is converted by the transformer 601 and sent to the LAN controller 602. The LAN controller unit 602 has a first buffer memory (not shown) in the inside thereof, determines whether the information is necessary information, and sends it to the second buffer memory (not shown). A signal is sent to the unit 205. On the other hand, when providing information to the outside, the data sent from the PDL unit 205 is added with necessary information by the LAN controller unit 602 and connected to the network 101 via the transformer unit 601.

Next, the configuration of the PDL unit 205 will be described.
The image data created by the application software running on the client 103 is composed of documents, figures, photographs, etc., each consisting of a combination of image description elements such as character codes, figure codes and raster image data. Yes. This is so-called PDL (Page Description language), which is typified by Adobe's PostScript (registered trademark) language.

  The PDL unit 205 performs conversion processing from the PDL data to raster image data. First, PDL data sent from the NIC unit 204 is once stored in a large-capacity memory 604 such as a hard disk (HDD) via the CPU unit 603, where it is managed and saved for each job. Subsequently, if necessary, the CPU unit 603 performs rasterized image processing called RIP (Raster Image Processing) to develop PDL data into a raster image. The raster image data that has been developed is stored for each job in a memory 605 that can be accessed at high speed, such as DRAM, for each color component of CMYK, and again through the CPU unit 603 in accordance with the status of the printer unit 208. It is sent to the core unit 206. Further, when the image signal read by the reader unit and converted into CMYK data cannot be immediately transmitted to the printer unit 208, the core unit 206 is controlled to temporarily store the image signal in the memory 604.

Next, the configuration of the core unit 206 will be described with reference to FIG.
The bus selector unit 701 of the core unit 206 plays a role of traffic control in using the MFPs 104 and 105. That is, the bus is switched according to various functions in the MFPs 104 and 105 such as a copying function, a network scan, a network printer, facsimile transmission / reception, or display display.

The bus switching pattern in the bus selector unit 701 for executing each function is shown below.
Copy function: scanner 201 → core 206 → printer 208
Network scan: scanner 201 → core 206 → NIC unit 204
Network printer: NIC unit 204 → core 206 → printer 208
Facsimile transmission function: scanner 201 → core 206 → FAX unit 203
Facsimile reception function: FAX unit 203 → core 206 → printer 208
Display display function: scanner 201 or FAX unit 203 or NIC unit 20
4 → core 206 → display 210

  Subsequently, the image data output from the bus selector unit 701 is sent to a printer unit 208 (PWM unit 207) or a display via a compression unit 702, a memory unit 703 including a large capacity memory such as a hard disk (HDD), and an expansion unit 704. To the unit 210. Here, the compression method used in the compression unit 702 may be a general method such as JPEG, JBIG, ZIP, or the like. The compressed image data is managed for each job and stored together with additional data such as a file name, a creator, a creation date and time, and a file size.

  Furthermore, if a job number and password are provided and stored together, the personal box function can be supported. This is a function for temporarily storing data and allowing only a specific person to print out (read from the HDD). When an instruction to print out a stored job is issued, after authentication by a password, it is called from the memory unit 703, decompressed to return to a raster image, and sent to the printer unit 207.

Next, the PWM unit 207 will be described with reference to FIG.
The multi-valued image data separated into four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) output from the core unit 206 passes through the PWM units 207, respectively. It is formed. Reference numeral 801 denotes a triangular wave generator, and reference numeral 802 denotes a D / A converter (D / A converter) that converts an input digital image signal into an analog signal. The signal from the triangular wave generator 801 (a in FIG. 7 (2)) and the signal from the D / A converter 802 (b in FIG. 7 (2)) are compared in magnitude by the comparator 803, and the signal in FIG. The signal C is sent to the laser drive unit 804, and each of CMYK is converted into a laser beam by each of the CMYK laser oscillators 805. Then, each laser beam is scanned by the polygon scanner 913 and irradiated to each photosensitive drum 917, 921, 925, 929.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a four-drum type color printer apparatus.
The polygon mirror 913 receives four laser beams emitted from the four semiconductor laser oscillators 805. One of them scans the photosensitive drum 917 through mirrors 914, 915 and 916, the next one scans the photosensitive drum 921 through mirrors 918, 919 and 920, and the next one scans the mirrors 922 and 923. 924, the photosensitive drum 925 is scanned, and the next one scans the photosensitive drum 929 via mirrors 926, 927, 928.

  The developing unit 930 supplies yellow (Y) toner and forms a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 917 in accordance with the laser light. The developing device 931 supplies magenta (M) toner and forms a magenta toner image on the photosensitive drum 921 in accordance with the laser beam. The developing unit 932 supplies cyan (C) toner and forms a cyan toner image on the photosensitive drum 925 in accordance with the laser light. The developing device 933 supplies black (K) toner, and forms a black toner image on the photosensitive drum 929 in accordance with the laser beam. The four color (Y, M, C, K) toner images are transferred onto the sheet, and a full-color output image can be obtained.

  The sheet supplied by any of the sheet cassettes 934 and 935 and the manual feed tray 936 is adsorbed onto the transfer belt 938 via the registration roller 937 and conveyed. In synchronism with the timing of paper feeding, toner of each color is developed in advance on the photosensitive drums 917, 921, 925, and 929, and the toner is transferred to the sheet as the sheet is conveyed. The sheet on which the toner of each color is transferred is separated and conveyed by the conveyance belt 939, and the toner is fixed to the sheet by the fixing device 940.

  The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 940 is once guided downward by the flapper 950, and after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the flapper 950, the sheet is switched back and discharged. As a result, the sheets are discharged in a face-down state, and are in the correct order when printed in order from the first page. The four photosensitive drums 917, 921, 925, and 929 are arranged at equal intervals with a distance d, and the sheet is conveyed at a constant speed v by the conveying belt 939, and this timing is synchronized. The four semiconductor lasers 805 are driven.

Next, the configuration of the display unit 210 will be described with reference to FIG.
Since the image signal output from the core unit 206 is CMYK data, the inverse LOG conversion unit 1001 needs to convert the image signal into RGB data. Subsequently, in order to match the color characteristics of the output CRT or other display device 1004, the gamma conversion unit 1002 performs output conversion using a lookup table. The converted image data is once stored in the memory unit 1003 and displayed on a display device 1004 such as a CRT.

  Here, the display unit 210 is used when the preview function for confirming the output image in advance, the proof function for verifying whether the output image is the intended one, or when it is not necessary to check whether the print is necessary. This is to eliminate the waste of the print sheet.

Next, the configuration of the finisher unit 209 will be described with reference to FIG.
The sheet exiting the fixing unit 940 (or 979) of the printer unit 208 enters the finisher unit 209. The finisher unit 209 includes a sample tray 1101 and a stack tray 1102, which are switched and discharged according to the type of job and the number of sheets to be discharged.

  There are two sort methods: a bin sort method that has a plurality of bins and sorts them into each bin, and an electronic sort function and a bin (or tray), which will be described later, are shifted in the back / front direction to output sheets for each job. There is a shift sort method. The electronic sort function is called collate. If the large-capacity memory described in the core section is used, the so-called collate function is used to change the buffered page order and discharge order using this buffer memory. This also supports electronic sorting functions. The group function is a function for sorting by page, while sorting is sorted by job.

  Further, when the sheets are discharged to the stack tray 1102, it is possible to store the sheets before being discharged for each job and bind them by the stapler 1105 immediately before the discharge. In addition to the two trays, there are a Z-folder 1104 for folding paper into a Z-shape and a puncher 1106 for punching two (or three) holes for files. Each process is performed accordingly.

  Further, the saddle stitcher 1107 binds the central part of the sheet at two places, and then folds the sheet in half by placing the central part of the sheet on a roller to create a booklet such as a weekly magazine or pamphlet. . The sheet created by the saddle stitcher 1107 is discharged to the booklet tray 1108. In addition, although not shown in the drawing, it is also possible to add binding by glue (gluing) for bookbinding or cutting for aligning the end surface opposite to the binding side after binding.

  The inserter 1103 is for sending a sheet set on the tray 1110 to one of the trays 1101, 1102, and 1108 without passing through the printer. As a result, the sheet set on the inserter 1103 can be inserted (inserted) between the sheets sent to the finisher unit 209. It is assumed that the user sets the tray 1110 of the inserter 1103 face up, and the pickup roller 1111 sequentially feeds the sheets from the uppermost sheet. Accordingly, the sheet from the inserter 1103 is discharged to the trays 1101 and 1102 as it is, and is discharged in a face-down state. Also, when sending to the saddle stitcher 1107, the face is aligned by sending it back to the puncher 1106 and then switching back.

Next, user utility software that operates on the server 102 and the client 103 will be described.
A standardized database called MIB (Management Information Base) is built in the network interface part (NIP part 204 + PDL part 205) in the MFP 104 and the LBP 105, and is connected via a network management protocol called SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). It communicates with a computer on the network, and can manage a scanner, a printer, a FAX, and the like connected to the network including the MFP 104 and the LBP 105.

  On the other hand, a software program called a utility operates on the server 102 and the client 103, and necessary information can be exchanged using the MIB by using the SNMP via the network. For example, whether the finisher unit 209 is connected as equipment information of the MFP 104 or LBP 105 is detected, whether status information is used to detect whether a print is currently output, or the names and settings of the MFP 104 and LBP 105 are detected. By using the MIB, such as entering, changing, or confirming a location, the user can confirm information on the MFP 104 and the LBP 105 connected to the network on the server 102 and the client 103. . These pieces of information can also be used to restrict read / write by distinguishing between the server 102 and the client 103.

  Therefore, by using this function, the user can obtain all information such as equipment information of the MFP 104 and LBP 105, apparatus status, network settings, job history, usage status management and control in front of the computers 103 and 102. Is possible.

Next, the configuration of the LBP 105 will be described with reference to FIG.
The LBP 105 is a network interface card (NIC) unit 204 that exchanges image data and device information using a network, and a PDL unit that develops a page description language (PDL) sent from the client 103 into an image signal. 205. The configurations of the NIC unit, PDL unit, and PWM unit are the same as those of the MFP 104.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a one-drum type color printer unit.
A polygon mirror 913 receives one laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 805, scans the photosensitive drum 917 through the mirror 914, and forms a latent image on the photosensitive member. The latent image on the photoreceptor reaches the color developing unit 961 and the black developing unit 960 while rotating counterclockwise. Each developing unit such as the color developing unit 961 and the black developing unit 960 functions to put (develop) toner according to the charge charged as a latent image on the photosensitive member. When the image is black and white, only the black developer 960 is used, and when the image is color, both the color developer 961 and the black developer 960 are used. The image generated on the photoconductor 917 is transferred to an intermediate transfer member 962 that rotates clockwise. This intermediate transfer member completes image formation on the intermediate transfer member by one rotation for black and white and four rotations for color.

  The color developing unit 961 controls the yellow developing unit 961y, the magenta developing unit 961m, and the cyan developing unit 961c to be in contact with the photosensitive drum 917 by rotating. First, when developing and transferring yellow toner, the color developing unit 961 rotates until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 12, and the drum rotates clockwise in synchronization with the laser exposure of the photosensitive drum 917. A yellow toner image is formed on the drum by the yellow developing device 961y. In synchronization with this, the transfer drum 962 rotates counterclockwise, and yellow toner is transferred from the photosensitive drum 917. Here, the circumference of the transfer drum 962 is such that an A3 size image can be formed in the longitudinal direction. When A3 size image formation is performed, an A3 size original is read, and a yellow toner image for one A3 size image is formed on the transfer drum 962 by the image signal.

  Subsequently, when developing and transferring magenta toner, after the color developing unit 961 rotates 120 degrees counterclockwise, the original is read in the same manner as described above, and laser exposure is performed on the drum 917 by the image signal. The drum rotates synchronously, and a magenta toner image is formed on the drum by the magenta developer 961m. In synchronization with this, the transfer drum 962 rotates counterclockwise, and magenta toner is transferred from the photosensitive drum 917. Subsequently, a cyan toner image is similarly transferred, and a black toner image is also formed on the photosensitive drum 917 by the developing unit 960 and transferred in the same manner.

  On the other hand, the recording paper fed from the upper cassette 970 or the lower cassette 971 by the pickup roller 972 or 973 is conveyed according to the paper feeding roller 974 or 975, and further conveyed by the conveyance roller 976 to before registration. The timing is such that the recording paper comes between the intermediate transfer member and the transfer belt 978 at the timing when the image formation on the photosensitive drum 917 serving as the intermediate transfer member is completed. Here, when the recording paper arrives, the transfer belt 978 contacts the intermediate transfer member, and the toner is transferred to the recording paper. The image transferred to the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing roller 979 by heat and pressure.

  The recording paper on which the image is fixed is conveyed to either the face-up paper discharge port 980 or the face-down paper discharge port 981 specified in advance by the printer controller, and is discharged. Thus, the image information sent from the printer controller can be output.

  The wireless tag used in the present invention is formed in a sufficiently small shape that can be attached to a recording sheet. FIG. 13 is a layout diagram of the wireless tags (1301 to 1309) attached to the recording paper 1310 and the reader / writer device 1300. Here, the reader / writer device 1300 includes a plurality of reader / writer units (1311-1317) for reading the wireless tags (1301-1309). FIG. 14 is a circuit block diagram of the wireless tag (1301 to 1309) and the reader / writer device 1300. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the scanning direction and sub-scanning direction of the reader / writer device 1300 with respect to the recording paper 1310 to which the wireless tags (1301 to 1309) are attached. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing two types of person images recorded on a sheet A as a recording medium, and wireless tags 1301 and 1302 are attached to the respective image portions. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a copy operation process according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 14, an antenna 1201 in the wireless tags (1301 to 1309) transmits and receives signals to and from the reader / writer device 1300 side. When the wireless tag (1301 to 1309) receives data from the reader / writer device 1300, a signal modulated from the reader / writer device 1300 is transmitted to the wireless tag (1301 to 1309) side via the antenna 1210 and the antenna 1201. . Then, the electromotive force generated in the antenna 1201 is rectified by the rectifier circuit 1202, and the power supply in the wireless tag is generated by the regulator 1203 and simultaneously demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 1204. The demodulated data is sent to the storage element 1205. Written.

  When the wireless tags (1301 to 1309) transmit data to the reader / writer device 1300, the carrier generated from the reader / writer device 1300 is transmitted with a signal modulated by data read from the storage element 1205. . Here, in the present embodiment, when the distance between the wireless tag and the antenna 1210 of the reader / writer device 1300 is sufficiently close, both can communicate. In addition, only a pair of wireless tags and a reader / writer unit can communicate with each other. In this embodiment, seven reader / writer units (1311 to 1317) having an antenna 1210 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the reader / writer device 1300 shown in FIG. Communication is performed along with this.

Next, the process in the present embodiment shown in FIG. 17 will be described by taking as an example the case of copying the sheet A shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, images of “person 1” and “person 2” are printed on the sheet A that is a recording medium, and the wireless tag 1301 and the wireless tag 1302 are pasted in the respective image areas. ing. Here, the surface on which the wireless tag is affixed may be the surface on which the image is printed, or the back surface thereof. In addition, the wireless tag 1301 is written with the coordinate information of the image of “person 1” and information indicating that copying is permitted, and the wireless tag 1302 contains the coordinate information of the image of “person 2”. It is assumed that information indicating that copying is prohibited is written.

  First, in step S1701, it is assumed that the operator places a sheet A on the platen glass 301 of the scanner unit 201 of the MFP 104a and issues a copy start instruction for the sheet A. Here, in the scanner unit 201 shown in FIG. 3, a reader / writer device 1300 for a wireless tag as shown in FIG. 13 (not shown in FIG. 3) is installed under the platen glass 301.

  Subsequently, in step S <b> 1702, the reader / writer device 1300 scans the original surface of the sheet A to read information of the wireless tag 1301 on the sheet A. Subsequently, in step S1703, the reader / writer device 1300 further scans the original surface of the sheet A to read information of the wireless tag 1302 on the sheet A.

  Subsequently, in step S1704, it is determined whether or not the image of “person 1” is permitted to be read from the information of the wireless tag 1301 read in step S1702. As a result, if it is determined that the image of “person 1” is permitted to be read, the process advances to step S1705 to read the image of “person 1” in the coordinate area as print data. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1704 that the image of “person 1” is not permitted to be read, the image of “person 1” is not read as print data or is printed. A masking process is sometimes performed, and the process proceeds to step S1706.

  Subsequently, in step S1706, it is determined from the information of the wireless tag 1302 read in step S1703 whether or not the image of “person 2” is permitted to be read. As a result, if it is determined that the image of “person 2” is permitted to be read, the process proceeds to step S1707, and the image of “person 2” in the coordinate area is read as print data. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1706 that the image of “person 2” is not permitted to be read, the image of “person 2” is not read as print data or printed. A masking process is sometimes performed, and the process proceeds to step S1708.

  In step S1708, the image data permitted to be read is printed, and the process ends. Here, for example, the coordinate area information and the copy permission information of the image in the area are written in the wireless tag 1301 corresponding to “person 1” of the sheet A, and the wireless tag 1302 corresponding to “person 2” is written. When the coordinate information and the copy prohibition information of the image in the area are written, the image is printed out as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of reader / writer units for reading a wireless tag are fixedly arranged on the reader / writer device 1300, and the reader / writer device 1300 is conveyed with respect to the document surface of the recording medium as shown in FIG. The wireless tag data is read by scanning in the direction. At this time, the density for detecting the wireless tag is determined by the arrangement interval of the reader / writer units. In order to solve this, as shown in FIG. 15, the reader / writer device 1300 reads the data of the wireless tag while further scanning the reader / writer device 1300 in the transport direction and in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction. The detection density of the wireless tag can be improved regardless of the number of installation. In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the reader / writer device 1300 includes one reader / writer unit 1311 and performs scanning in the illustrated scanning direction.

  In the present embodiment, copy permission or copy prohibition information for the corresponding image is written in the wireless tag attached to the copy target sheet. In addition, it is possible to rewrite the coordinate data of the copy-permitted or copy-prohibited image and the information that the copy is permitted or prohibited for the pasted wireless tag. Further, the image area may be determined from the read image data without giving coordinate data to the wireless tag.

  According to the present embodiment, unauthorized copying of an image can be prohibited by attaching a wireless tag to a copy target sheet on which an image is printed and controlling data to be written to the wireless tag. Thereby, it is possible to limit the processing of the read data of the copyrighted work or confidential document or image without depending on the judgment of the operator, and it is possible to realize complete document management.

  In addition, it is possible to set whether or not to copy an arbitrary image by rewriting the data of the corresponding wireless tag by charging or a predetermined passcode. Similar processing can be performed not only for copying but also for electrically reading out an image and extracting it as image data.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention is configured so that a wireless tag attached to a copy target sheet can record a predetermined ID code, and a copy of an image corresponding to the read ID code of the wireless tag. Information indicating permission or copy prohibition is recorded in the server 102 on the network, and by referring to the information, whether or not copying of an arbitrary image is determined. FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of a copy operation process in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, this process will be specifically described.

  First, in step S1901, the operator places a sheet A shown in FIG. 16 on the platen glass 301 of the scanner unit 201 of the MFP 104a and issues a copy start instruction for the sheet A. Here, in the scanner unit 201 shown in FIG. 3, a reader / writer device 1300 for a wireless tag as shown in FIG. 13 (not shown in FIG. 3) is installed under the platen glass 301.

  Subsequently, in step S1902, the reader / writer device 1300 scans the original surface of the sheet A and reads the ID code stored in the wireless tag 1301 on the sheet A. Subsequently, in step S1903, the reader / writer device 1300 further scans the original surface of the sheet A, and reads the ID code stored in the wireless tag 1302 on the sheet A. Subsequently, in step S1904, the server 102 is inquired about the ID code reading results of the wireless tags 1301 and 1302.

  In step S1905, it is determined whether the image of “person 1” is permitted to be read from the ID code in the wireless tag 1301 read in step S1902. As a result, if it is determined that the image of “person 1” is permitted to be read, the process advances to step S1906 to read the image of “person 1” as print data. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1905 that the image of “person 1” is not permitted to be read, the image of “person 1” is not read as print data or printed. A masking process is sometimes performed, and the process proceeds to step S1907.

  Subsequently, in step S1907, it is determined whether or not the image of “person 2” is permitted to be read from the ID code in the wireless tag 1302 read in step S1903. If it is determined that the image of “person 2” is permitted to be read, the process advances to step S1908 to read the image of “person 2” as print data. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1907 that the image of “person 2” is not permitted to be read, the image of “person 2” is not read as print data or printed. A masking process is sometimes performed, and the process proceeds to step S1909.

  In step S1909, the image data permitted to be read is printed, and the process ends. Here, for example, an ID code for permitting the copy of the image is written in the wireless tag 1301 corresponding to “person 1” of the sheet A, and the image is copied to the wireless tag 1302 corresponding to “person 2”. If the prohibited ID code has been written, it is printed out as an image as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, it is also possible to provide release means for releasing information recorded in the server 102 by charging, or releasing it by a predetermined passcode. The same processing can be performed not only when copying but also when an image is electrically read and taken out as image data.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to set whether or not to copy an arbitrary image on the server 102. In addition, by recording the coordinates of the image area corresponding to the wireless tag on the server 102, it is possible to set permission or prohibition of copying or reading of an arbitrary image area. Further, whether or not copying or reading can be set on the server 102 can eliminate the need to rewrite the data of the wireless tag on the copy target sheet in correspondence with the operator. That is, whether to copy or read on the server 102 can be determined according to the user level of the operator.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment of the present invention, a wireless tag is attached to one location of a copy target sheet, and position information of an image existing on the copy target sheet and copy permission information corresponding to each image are attached to the wireless tag. Is set to determine whether or not each image can be copied or read, or a predetermined ID code is recorded on the wireless tag so that whether or not each image can be copied or read can be set on the server 102. is there. FIG. 20 shows a schematic diagram of a storage medium according to the third embodiment.

  According to this embodiment, it is not necessary to prepare as many radio tags as the number of images to be pasted on a copy target sheet. In addition, it is possible to set whether or not any image can be copied on the server 102. In addition, by recording the coordinates of the image area corresponding to the wireless tag on the server 102, it is possible to set permission or prohibition in copying or reading an arbitrary image area. In the present embodiment, it is also possible to provide release means for releasing the information recorded in the server 102 by charging or releasing it by a predetermined passcode.

  Hereinafter, various aspects of the present invention will be collectively described as appendices.

[Appendix 1] In a wireless tag system in which a minute wireless tag is pasted on the recording medium corresponding to a predetermined image optically recorded on the recording medium,
A predetermined code is recorded on the wireless tag,
The wireless tag system according to claim 1, wherein the code is for instructing restriction or permission for transfer processing or printing processing in image data obtained by optically reading the image.

  [Supplementary Note 2] The wireless tag system according to Supplementary Note 1, further comprising release means for releasing the restriction on the transfer process or the print process by charging.

  [Appendix 3] The wireless tag system according to Appendix 1, wherein the wireless tag is attached to a recording position of the image on the recording medium.

  [Appendix 4] The wireless tag is attached to a position unrelated to the recording position of the image on the recording medium, and information related to the recording position is recorded on the wireless tag. The wireless tag system according to 1.

  [Appendix 5] The wireless tag system according to Appendix 1, further comprising a reference unit that refers to the code, and performs the restriction or the permission on the image data in accordance with a table in the referenced code. .

1 is an overview of a wireless tag system in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an MFP (multifunction machine). 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a scanner unit in the MFP. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an IP unit (image processing unit) in the MFP. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of a NIC unit and a PDL unit in the MFP. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a core unit in the MFP. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PWM unit in the MFP. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a four-drum color printer apparatus. It is a block diagram of a printer apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a display unit in the MFP. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a finisher unit in the MFP. 1 is a schematic view of a one-drum color laser beam printer (LBP). FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of a copy target sheet and a reader / writer device. It is a circuit block diagram of a wireless tag and a reader / writer device. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of a copy target sheet and a reader / writer device. It is the schematic which showed what two types of person images were recorded on the copy object sheet. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a copy operation process according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram when copying the image of a copy object sheet. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a copy operation process according to the second embodiment. It is the schematic of the storage medium in 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

102 Server 103 Client 104 MFP
105 LBP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Scanner part 202 IP part 203 FAX part 204 NIC part 205 PDL part 206 Core part 207 PMW part 208 Printer part 209 Finisher part 210 Display part 1300 Reader / writer apparatus 1301-1309 Wireless tag 1310 Recording paper (recording medium)
1311-1317 Lead dryer part

Claims (1)

In a wireless tag system in which a minute wireless tag is attached to the recording medium in correspondence with a predetermined image optically recorded on the recording medium,
A predetermined code is recorded on the wireless tag,
The wireless tag system according to claim 1, wherein the code is for instructing restriction or permission for transfer processing or printing processing in image data obtained by optically reading the image.

Images