JP2006087007A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable output management (use restriction, use prevention, leak prevention, etc. of an image data) of a special image (banknote, document requiring copyright protection, and so on). <P>SOLUTION: When storing into an HDD 5 an image data received from an external PC 19 via an NIC 14, an image recognition unit 16 recognizes the special image data requiring output management, and stores the result thereof into the HDD 5 together with the image data, as bibliographic information. When the stored image is distributed to the outside, the image is passed through a data format conversion unit 10 in which conversion such as the JPEG conversion is made. At this time, processing of special set conditions (color conversion or electronic watermark synthesis) enabling output management is intentionally made onto the image data, and then the image data is transmitted. Color conversion enables an appearance of image deterioration from an original image. Also, electronic watermark information is applied as the information for use in controlling use restriction, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention provides image data input through various paths such as an MFP (combining multiple functions such as a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function) having a distribution function and a capture function. , And the output management of image data input via a communication interface can be performed with respect to an image processing apparatus that enables print output and distribution to the outside based on the stored image data It is related with the said image processing apparatus provided with the means to do.

In recent years, multi-function machines equipped with a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, etc., in addition to a copy function, are becoming common in copiers, and with this, the introduction of network technology that supports these functions has progressed. ing. Networking enables image data acquired and stored between image devices including a copying machine to be transmitted and received, and is realized as a distribution function and a capture function.
In the case of a copying machine, there are various types of originals that are input using the copy function. When a copy is output, image processing under different processing conditions is performed on the image data in accordance with the difference between the originals. For example, what is a document to be copied is selected from an operation unit provided in the copying machine, and processing suitable for copy output is performed in an operation mode according to the selection.
In addition, when transmitting image data stored in these image devices to a client PC (Personal Computer) or the like via a network, the data is stored in a general-purpose file format so that the data can be easily used at the transmission destination. To be transmitted. Also, at the time of this transmission, if the destination PC is specified, for example, if it is for a general document, it is processed for OCR (Optical Character Reader). A method of performing processing is also employed.

By the way, recent color copying machines have been able to perform copying so precisely that a copy created by a color copying machine and an actual original cannot be easily distinguished due to improvements in image processing technology and image forming technology. For this reason, an apparatus that discriminates special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities and prohibits illegal copying in the case of special manuscripts and an image processing apparatus having a function of discriminating special manuscripts have been developed.
As a conventional example of an image processing apparatus having such a special document discrimination function, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited. The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 discriminates a special document by a pattern matching method, and stores the discrimination result as related attribute data separately from image data. Based on the stored attribute data, the copying of the copy-prohibited document is prohibited, or the image is processed so that the copied document can be easily distinguished from the document, and the outflow of the copy can be restricted.
The following Patent Documents 2 and 3 show an example in which a multi-function device is provided with a function corresponding to a special document or a copy-prohibited document similar to Patent Document 1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 performs special document discrimination on an image input from a scanner provided therein and an image received from an external device. Based on the determination result, the printer is stopped or the γ correction value of the printer is changed to prevent normal output and prevent forgery. Patent Document 3 discriminates banknotes or securities, and stores the obtained discrimination data as image attribute data together with image information. This attribute data is sent together with the image information via the network, and can be used when printing out at the transmission destination.

In addition, there are a large number of copy-prohibited manuscripts that are prohibited from being copied in general documents other than banknotes, securities, etc. from the viewpoint of importance of document contents, confidentiality, or copyright protection. In this case, a secret seal or a copy-prohibited mark is used to distinguish it from a manuscript that can be copied. However, in addition to the color that is difficult to identify with human eyes, the machine number, serial number, There has also been proposed a method of adding information such as a user ID to a copy as a tracking pattern at the time of printer image formation. In this method, a certain inconspicuous color (for example, yellow) is used to write on the entire surface at the time of printer image formation with a certain dot size. Patent document 4 can be mentioned as a prior art example by such a system. Patent Document 4 adds information that enables tracking of the origin of a copy to a copy as an example of application to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.
Further, as a conventional example showing an image input / output system having a function of prohibiting illegal copying, the following Patent Document 5 can be cited. Patent Document 5 discriminates the degree of similarity with a specific image (banknote, securities, etc.), performs image processing (color conversion processing or parameter change) according to the discrimination result, and copies based on the processed image data Output, send image data to the outside, or store image data.
JP-A-2-83571 JP-A-6-70159 JP 2001-223828 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-87297 JP 2003-32489 A

However, the mechanism adopted in the method of adding a copy prohibition mark in Patent Document 1 is often performed when outputting to paper or the like as described above, and is stored in a recording (accumulating) device. The copy prohibition process is not performed on the existing image data. Therefore, when trying to read this out as image data on a network or the like, it may be read out. There is also a need to intentionally read out as image data. In this way, it is possible to read an image from another printer connected to the network, and to output paper using the read data. In this case, since copy prohibition management is not performed on the transferred image, the image output on paper cannot be distinguished from the original document, which causes a problem.
Further, since Patent Document 2 does not consider storing and re-outputting images, it is necessary to determine a special document every time print output is performed, which hinders efficient processing.
Moreover, in patent document 3, although the discrimination | determination data of a banknote are added as one of the attribute data of image information, and the external transmission destination can also be utilized, management with respect to the image data received from the outside is not performed.
Further, the method of Patent Document 4 for adding tracking pattern information and copy prohibition marks to a copy is performed as part of image forming processing in an apparatus in which the scanner device and the image forming apparatus are integrated. When the image data from the scanner device is stored as RGB image image data in the storage device in the device and the stored image data is collected by a PC or the like, a tracking pattern is added because it does not go through the image forming device Not. In addition, when the accumulated image data is output to paper using another image forming apparatus via the network, the apparatus of the image forming apparatus can be specified, but the apparatus information of the scanner apparatus to which the image data is input is not included. For this reason, it is impossible to trace what route is output.
The image input / output system having the function of prohibiting illegal copying described in Patent Document 5 adds color conversion processing and parameter change to image data itself at the time of copy output, transmission of image data to the outside, or storage of image data. Thus, a function for prohibiting unauthorized copying is realized. Therefore, although the above-described problems that occur in Patent Documents 1 to 4 do not occur, only the conditions for realizing a limited function of prohibiting unauthorized copying are considered. In other words, as a result of using this function, only an image subjected to color conversion processing or the like is obtained, and other than that, it is not considered at all to take a method of saving original image data. Accordingly, there are a variety of image data whose output should be managed, such as banknotes, securities, and documents that require copyright protection, and it is impossible to cope with the management method suitable for each.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art in the image processing apparatus. The present invention accumulates images input through various paths, prints out based on the accumulated images, Alternatively, in an image processing apparatus (for example, an MFP color copier) that performs output processing such as distribution output to a communication-connected external device, the image is limited to an image input by an image input unit (scanner or the like) provided in the apparatus. Management of output for special image data such as banknotes, securities, and documents that require copyright protection for images input from an external device via a communication interface (for example, restrictions on the use of image data) Prevention, prevention of leakage of image data, management of received information, etc., and there are a variety of special image data whose output should be managed and used in various ways. Even if, to make it possible to take the management mode in response to each of the challenges.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, image storage means for storing input image data together with its bibliographic information, data format conversion means for converting the stored image data according to variable setting conditions, and conversion by the data format conversion means An image processing unit having a communication interface that enables transmission of received image data to an external device and reception of image data from the external device, and recognizes the image data as data requiring output management And bibliographic information management means for causing the image recognition means to recognize the image data received via the communication interface and managing the obtained recognition result as the bibliographic information; and outputting the image data stored in the image storage means Sometimes, the image data can be output to the data format conversion means according to the recognition result indicated in the bibliographic information. By the image processing apparatus includes setting means for setting conversion conditions to, attempt to resolve the problem.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image recognition unit recognizes the image data received via the communication interface, and manages the obtained recognition result in association with the received information. The reception information management means is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the data format conversion unit sets a condition for embedding watermark information in the image data as a conversion condition for enabling output management. It is a feature that makes it possible.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, information for limiting the use of image data is included in the watermark information.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, when image data is used for image output, an output to which management information stored in the management information storage means is added is performed. The information is included in the watermark information.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the data format conversion unit is configured to convert a color condition as a conversion condition capable of managing output for output image data including color information. It is a feature that makes it possible to set data of one color of information to a maximum or minimum value.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the image recognition means is a means for recognizing a plurality of image types, and the setting means is obtained as a recognition result. It is a means for setting different conversion conditions in the data format conversion means according to the image type.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising means for forming an image based on the accumulated image data.

(1) When the image data received via the communication interface is stored in the storage unit, the image data is recognized as special image data (image data requiring output management). When the stored image data is transmitted to an external device by storing and managing the recognition result together with the image data as bibliographic information of the image, the output is intentionally managed based on the bibliographic information. Image data (special image data) that should be managed for output such as banknotes, securities, and documents that require copyright protection, etc. It is possible to manage output such as limiting or preventing the use of image data and preventing leakage of image data. In addition, since the recognition result of the image data of the special document is managed in association with the received information, it is possible to provide information necessary for managing the special image.
(2) Further, according to the inventions of claims 3 to 6, by embedding watermark information in the image data, it is possible to achieve the intended purpose without causing any problems in browsing (claims 3 to 3). 5) Further, by modulating the color of the image to be managed so that the difference from the original image can be recognized by the color, the user can be alerted (claim 6).
(3) According to the invention of claim 7, even if there are various special image data whose output is to be managed, the setting in the data format conversion is changed according to the type of document, for example, the embedded watermark information Changing and prohibiting browsing or browsing is good, but by prohibiting printing, it becomes possible to take a management form corresponding to each particularity.
(4) According to the invention of claim 8, image data output in an image processing apparatus capable of performing print output by itself using input image data, such as a copying machine (including an MFP) or a facsimile machine. In addition, the effects (1) to (3) are realized, and the performance of the apparatus can be improved.

In the following, as an embodiment related to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, a digital color copying machine (MFP machine) equipped with multiple functions such as a copy function, a facsimile (FAX) function, a printer function, and a distribution function of stored image data. An example of implementation is shown below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image data processing system according to the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.
First, with reference to FIG. 1, each function installed in a color MFP is schematically described.
The copy function includes a reading unit 1 that reads color image data from a document, a scanner correction unit 2 that performs image processing on the image data read by the reading unit 1, and color / monochrome multi-value data output from the scanner correction unit 2 The color / monochrome multi-value data fixed length compressor 3 and the HDD (Hard Disc Drive) 5 for storing the compressed data are used as elements used for input of the document image. In a configuration that can handle only monochrome, the reading unit 1 reads an image with a monochrome signal, and the multi-value data fixed length compressor 3 also supports monochrome. Further, in order to manage the image data read by the reading unit 1 (details will be described later), an image recognition device 16 that recognizes image data to be managed such as banknotes, securities, and documents that require copyright protection is provided. Prepare.
The printer controller 4 operates as a controller that controls the operation of the entire composite function, including a copy function such as reading a document, storing read image data, and printing output using the stored image data. Accordingly, a memory 11 for storing data necessary for the operation is under control, and this is used as a memory for storing work memory, control data, various management information (detailed later), and the like. An operation unit 17 is connected to the printer controller 4 to perform input operations such as function selection and operation condition setting by the user.

As an element used for the FAX function, in this embodiment, a FAX controller 13 having a binary variable length lossless compression data decompressor connected to the PSTN to transmit and receive a FAX signal and return the compressed received FAX data to the original data. Have When the FAX image is monochrome, the binary variable length lossless compression data decompressor is monochrome compatible.
In the printer function, the printer controller 4 performs processing of a drawing (printing) command transmitted. The drawing command is sent from the external PC 19 via a NIC (network interface controller) 14 for performing communication with the external PC 19 as an external device connected to the network. In the present embodiment, the drawing command input by software installed in the printer controller 4 is processed. The printer controller 4 performs raster image processing (RIP) according to the received drawing command, performs compression only for data after RIP, and stores the compressed image data in the HDD 5.
As an element used for the distribution function of the accumulated input image data, a data format conversion device 10 is provided. The data format conversion device 10 is a general-purpose device capable of processing data generated when using the above-described functions of copy, fax, and printer and stored in the HDD 5 with an external device (external PC 19 in this example) as a transmission destination. Data is converted into a data format or data for managing image data to be transmitted (details will be described later).
In addition, when print output (image forming processing) is performed using image data generated using the above functions, in this example, data stored in the HDD 5 is used. For this purpose, in order to restore the stored compressed data to the original data, a decompressor corresponding to the image data type is used. In the case of the copy function, a multi-value data fixed length expander 6 for expanding multi-valued color / monochrome data is provided. In the case of each function of FAX and printer, the printer controller 4 is provided with each for monochrome and color. A variable length lossless compression data decompressor is provided. Further, as a means for performing print output processing, it has a printer correction unit 7 for correcting the expanded data, an engine unit including a GAVD (writing unit) 8 and an image forming unit 9. The engine unit is controlled by the engine controller 12.

It is an object of the present invention to perform output management for image data received from an external device when special image data (image data that requires output management) is included. Therefore, the processing flow when the MFP machine (FIG. 1) of this embodiment receives image data from an external machine and prints out or forwards the received image data will be described in more detail.
The processing flow until the image data received from the external device is stored in a storage device such as the HDD 5 (refer to the data flow indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1) is as follows.
First, a drawing command (PDL command) sent from a PC (host computer) 19 as an external device through the NIC 14 is interpreted by the CPU of the printer controller 4, performs raster image processing (RIP), and performs an RGB 8-bit image. After the data is created, it is stored in the band memory. At this time, bibliographic information such as characters, graphics, and images in the object indicated by the drawing command is also stored in the page memory.
The RGB 8-bit image data stored in the band memory is compressed by a fixed-length compressor and stored in a storage device such as the HDD 5. This is because the data size developed as image data is large.
The RGB compressed data stored in the storage device such as the HDD 5 and the bibliographic information stored in the page memory are sent to the decompressor 6 of the engine unit via the general-purpose bus 15 and decompressed.
The RGB 8-bit image data restored by the decompressor 6 is converted from RGB signals to CMYK signals by the color correction processing of the printer correction processing unit 7 in accordance with the bibliographic information, and further, printer γ correction processing and halftone adjustment according to the printer device characteristics. Processing is performed. The print output data converted and processed in this way is output to a transfer sheet through a writing unit (GAVD) 8 and an image forming unit 9.

Also, the processing flow (refer to the data flow indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 4) when image data stored in a storage device such as the HDD 5 is transferred and output to the PC via the NIC 14 is as follows.
First, the image data stored in the HDD 5 is temporarily developed in the semiconductor memory 11, and then sent to the data format conversion device 10 through the general-purpose bus 15. At that time, the bibliographic information is also sent to the data format converter 10 together with the image data to be transmitted.
The configuration and operation of the data format conversion apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 showing an example of the internal configuration of the apparatus. First, since the image data stored in the HDD 5 is in a compressed state through the input path from the previous reading unit 1, it is decompressed and restored by the block fixed length decompressor 106. After that, when the data format conversion correction unit 107 performs image correction and the PC 19 wants to receive the image format, for example, in the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format, as shown in FIG. To convert to JPEG format. Then, it is delivered to the PC 19 via the network through the NIC 14. In the present embodiment, conversion to the JPEG format is performed, but the image format conversion is a general-purpose format other than this, for example, a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format or a BMP (bitmap) format. It may be converted into another format desired by the user.
The configuration and operation of the data format conversion correction unit 107 of the data format conversion apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 showing an example of the internal configuration of the data format conversion correction unit 107. When the image data obtained by decompressing the image data stored in the HDD 5 is input to the data format conversion correction unit 107, the color space conversion processing unit 107a sets the color space set in the distribution request to the PC 19 side. Converted. For example, when the color space of the image data stored in the MFP is CMYK and the image data whose setting is RGB color space is distributed in the TIFF format, the color space conversion processing unit 107a converts the CMYK space to the RGB space. Is converted to Further, even if the color space of the image data stored in the MFP machine and the color space of the format are the same, for example, both are RGB spaces, the color space conversion processing unit performs color correction suitable for the device characteristics on the PC 19 side. You may make it carry out by 107a.

After the color space conversion process, the resolution is converted by the resolution conversion processing unit 107b. For example, when the PC 19 side requests the data to be distributed at a resolution of 200 dpi and the image data stored in the device is stored at 600 dpi, the resolution conversion processing unit 107b converts the original image to a resolution of 1/3. Convert.
Next, filter processing is performed by the spatial filter processing unit 107c. The spatial filter processing unit 107c can perform, for example, a smoothing process that smoothes image data, an edge enhancement process that performs a process according to an image frequency, such as an edge of an image. The smoothing process is performed in order to suppress moire in the image data, and the edge emphasis process is performed in order to correct the deterioration of the frequency characteristics that occurs during reading by the reading unit 1.
After the processing by the spatial filter processing unit 107c, the density γ of the image data is adjusted by the γ correction processing unit 107d. For example, if the density is for characters, the γ correction processing unit 107d adjusts the density so that the γ characteristic is raised to the high density side.
After the density is adjusted by the γ correction processing unit 107d, the halftone processing unit 107e performs format conversion suitable for the image format obtained as an output from the distribution request side. For example, when converting to a TIFF format such as FAX data, the halftone processing unit 107e performs binarization processing or error diffusion processing.
Each image correction parameter in the data format conversion correction unit 107 is determined according to the bibliographic information of the image data. This bibliographic information may be set from the panel of the operation unit 17, but in the case of a distribution request from the external PC 19, it depends on the setting on the PC 19 side. For example, on the PC 19 side, mode setting is performed in accordance with each request, such as when it is normally received as image data, for the purpose of OCR recognition, or when it is simply stored as a backup. The image format can be set in various formats such as JPEG, TIFF, binary TIFF, and BMP. The setting of each image correction parameter in the data format conversion correction unit 107 is performed in accordance with the suitability of each parameter in accordance with the setting content instructed in the distribution request.

Next, an embodiment related to image data output management provided in the above-described MFP will be described.
The image data subject to output management is special image data such as banknotes, securities, and documents that require copyright protection. In order to perform output management, it is necessary to specify target image data. For this purpose, the image recognition device 16 performs processing for recognizing special image data.
As described above, in the MFP machine shown in FIG. 1, images input through various input paths including images read from a scanner and received from an external machine are stored in the HDD 5. Therefore, when this input image data is output thereafter, the image data stored in the HDD 5 is used.
Therefore, in this embodiment, special image data recognition processing necessary for output management of image data is performed on the input image before being stored in the HDD 5, and the recognition result is one of the bibliographic information. Are stored in the HDD 5 and managed together. Here, the input image includes an image received from an external device in addition to the scanned image, and this is a feature of the present embodiment.
In this manner, output management of all image data to be output can be performed by using a recognition result added as bibliographic information to the image data. That is, output management of image data is possible even for image data transferred to an external device.

Hereinafter, output management for image data received from an external device via a network will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a processing flow of image data at the time of accumulation indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a processing flow of image data at the time of distribution indicated by a dashed line in FIG. In the following description, these processing flows are referred to. Note that FIG. 4 is the same as the block configuration shown in FIG.
When the MFP machine stores image data received from the external PC 19 as an external machine in the HDD 5, the image recognition apparatus 16 performs image recognition on the image in advance and recognizes special images such as banknotes and securities. This process characterizes this embodiment.
In the processing flow at this time, the drawing command received from the host PC 19 is interpreted by the CPU of the printer controller 4 as shown by the broken line in FIG. The image data created by this processing is stored in the band memory, and special image data is recognized by passing through the image recognition device 16 in the process.
When outputting to transfer paper as processing for a print output request, or when image data is transmitted to an external device via the NIC 14 after being stored in the HDD 5, output management using the recognition result by the image recognition device 16 is performed. .
That is, when the image data to be processed is recognized as special image data, the image data is changed to data that can be managed by the data format conversion device 10, and the image data is not reused to perform fraud. Like that. For example, the data is intentionally converted and processed regardless of the user's intention so that the data can be distinguished from the original image. In addition, fraudulent acts can be prevented by a method of enabling the print output to be stopped or prohibiting copying.

Incidentally, in the case of processing for a print output request (drawing command), output processing of image data to be passed to the engine unit and storage processing in the HDD 5 are performed simultaneously. At this time, the bibliographic information of the image data indicated in the print output request is also stored and stored in the HDD 5 together with the stored image data.
As described above, for this image data, special image data is recognized through the image recognition device 16 in the process of processing a drawing command into image data. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the recognition result determined by the image recognition device 16 is also added to a part of the bibliographic information, and similarly stored in the HDD 5 and stored, and used for output management of the stored image data. That is, after storing in the HDD 5, the stored image data is special image data in the bibliographic information stored together with the image data when there is a distribution request as electronic data or a print output request. The data format conversion device 10 performs conversion / processing (described in detail later) for preventing illegal acts using the image data.
The processing flow at this time is, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the image data read from the HDD 5 is distributed via the NIC 14 to an external machine such as the external PC 19 or the administrator PC 18 that has requested distribution of the image data. The
In this processing flow, first, the image data stored in the HDD 5 is temporarily developed in the semiconductor memory 11, and then sent to the data format conversion device 10 through the general-purpose bus 15. At that time, the bibliographic information and the recognition result of the special image data by the image recognition device 16 are also sent to the data format conversion device 10 together with the image data to be transmitted.
The data format conversion apparatus 10 converts and processes the image data to be transferred into image data that meets the request of the delivery destination (refer to the description of [0016] and [0017] above regarding the processing steps at the time of transfer output). If the bibliographic information indicates the recognition result of the special image data, the data format conversion device 10 converts and processes the image data to enable output management, and then performs external processing via the NIC 14. Distribute to PC19 etc.
Further, in the sense of restricting the use of the image data recognized as the special image data, a method that allows the target image data to be completely deleted may be used. Data erasure can be realized by a configuration in which the data format conversion apparatus 10 performs the processing, or data is erased when image data is stored in the HDD 5.

Further, when image data received from the external PC 19 via the network is recognized as special image data, it may be necessary to clarify the source of this image data to be output managed.
For this purpose, management is performed by adding reception information of image data recognized as special image data to one piece of management information related to image data input / output to / from the MFP. The reception information includes reception date / time, transmission source device information, user information, and the like. In order to add the device information and user information of the transmission source to the reception information, these data are input to an external device such as the PC 19 that issues a print output request (drawing command) and added to the print output request. The system needs to be configured.
The reception information management unit that manages the reception information of the special image data acquires the reception information of the image data and receives the reception information when the image data received by the image recognition device 16 is recognized as the special image data. Save and manage in association with image data. The received information may be managed by the printer controller 4 as one piece of management information for the entire device, or the received information may be stored together in the HDD 5 as bibliographic information for image data and managed. It is also good.
As described above, since the reception information (reception date and time, device information of the transmission source, etc.) of the special image data is stored and managed, the administrator can know the source of the image data from this reception information. Become. In particular, when model information, board information, and the like are managed as device information of the transmission source, it is possible to grasp which external device has requested print output of special image data. Therefore, for example, in the case of special image data whose output is prohibited, it is possible to control in advance that illegal output is performed by tracing the data source based on the received information.

Next, processing performed by the data format conversion apparatus 10 for image data recognized as special image data will be described in detail.
When the image data requested to be output is special image data, the data format conversion device 10 can intentionally convert and process the data regardless of the user's intention, and can manage the output of the special image data. Change to the data you want.
The first method in the present embodiment is by intentionally changing the conversion / processing conditions set in the processing unit (see FIG. 3) provided in the data format conversion correction unit 107 of the data format conversion apparatus 10. is there.
For example, when an RGB image is to be generated in the color space conversion processing unit 107a, only the R image is intentionally saturated entirely or not, and the image data is stored at the maximum value of the R image. Set to overwrite. Also, when a CMYK image is to be generated, the setting is made so that the C version is intentionally placed on the entire surface. With such a setting, it is recognized that the copy has been made, but color conversion is performed so that it can be distinguished from the original image at first glance.
As another example, the spatial filter processing unit 107c performs a very strong smoothing process on the entire surface.
Such processing can identify what the original (original image) was as image data, but even if the image data is used for subsequent reuse, image degradation is clearly seen compared to the original. Is intended. By doing in this way, it is possible to alert a user or the like, and it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts due to reuse.

The second method by the data format conversion apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is a method for embedding management information by digital watermark synthesis.
FIG. 5 shows an internal configuration of a data format conversion apparatus that enables digital watermark synthesis.
The configuration and operation of the data format conversion apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 5. After the compressed image data stored in the HDD 5 is decompressed by the block fixed length decompressor 106, the image processing unit is processed under the processing conditions set according to the request. Conversion and correction are performed at 107 ′, and further, after conversion into the JPEG file format by the JPEG format conversion unit 108, finally, the management information is embedded by the digital watermark synthesis unit 109.
The embedding of the management information is performed with the intention of the management side, and in the present embodiment, it is performed on the special image data indicated in the bibliographic information. Note that the digital watermark synthesizing unit 109 itself is a known technique, and this example can be implemented by applying a known digital watermark technique.
The information embedded by the digital watermark is not a method of adding visual information to the image data as in the first method. In this embodiment, management information can be embedded by digital watermark synthesis, and output management as exemplified below can be performed depending on the contents of the management information.

In the first example, information to be embedded with a digital watermark is used restriction information.
When used restriction information, it functions as control data for performing a use restriction operation. That is, when displaying target image data on a display or the like, the image is displayed as usual. On the other hand, when trying to print this image, the use of the image data that is not visible on the display or the copy itself is prohibited, thereby limiting the use of the image and enabling the intended image data output management.
The second example uses a digital watermark composition method in order to provide an authentication function.
This method is premised on the existence of a known technique that permits only display on the condition that specific browsing software is used when browsing and displaying images. In this example, by embedding information for authenticating the use of this specific browsing software as watermark information, the image can be referred to and browsed when authentication is established. Also, by displaying an image, even if the user can refer to and browse the image, the browsing software can perform only the display and protect the file so that it cannot be altered or printed.
The third example uses a digital watermark composition method in order to provide an authentication function.
Embedding information for tracking an image with a digital watermark is also an effective means for managing output of image data. Information that enables image tracking includes bibliographic information and received information stored as management information.
In this way, when image data recognized as special image data by the image recognition device 16 is distributed to the outside, it is possible to manage the output of the desired image data by performing intentional image processing using the digital watermark synthesis method. And

The third method for intentionally converting / processing special image data by the data format conversion apparatus 10 changes the conversion / processing applied depending on the attribute of the special image data to be managed, It is intended to be able to take a management form according to speciality.
For this reason, in the present embodiment, the type of special image data to be managed is discriminated, and the setting is made so that the conversion / processing to be applied can be changed according to the discrimination result. Therefore, the image recognition device 16 has a function of determining the type of target special image data. Also in the data format conversion apparatus 10, the setting of data conversion / correction parameters is variable, and several types of digital watermark synthesis data to be embedded are prepared. The conversion / processing applied in the data format conversion device 10 is changed according to the determination result of the image recognition device 16.

For example, when special image data having different attributes such as banknotes and company secret documents are stored in the HDD 5, when these are to be distributed, different conversion and conversion are performed according to the recognized attributes. Processing is performed.
When the recognition result is a banknote, the data format conversion correction unit 107 (FIG. 3) of the data format conversion apparatus 10 prevents the image from being reproduced even if the image data stored in the HDD 5 is output (distributed). In the setting of the conversion parameter of the color space conversion processing unit 107a in (see), the image data is made pure white, or special color modulation is applied as described above to perform image processing as output image data. The image processing unit 107 ′ in the data format conversion apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 5 has the same configuration as the data format conversion correction processing unit 107 in the data format conversion apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
When the recognition result is a confidential document of a company, an image that can be read out when trying to be read out to the outside through the network, but cannot be displayed when the data is printed, for example, “secret” Image processing for embedding digital watermark information in image data is performed in the digital watermark composition unit 109 (see FIG. 5) of the data format conversion apparatus 10 so that the mark is printed together.
Further, for example, the degree of use restriction given as another attribute of the special image data, that is, the difference in restriction levels such as “output prohibition”, “printing prohibition”, and “secret” mark assignment, is previously associated with the image data. It is also possible to implement the method by controlling the conversion / processing in the data format conversion apparatus 10 so as to change the contents of the image processing in accordance with a predetermined restriction level at the time of output. As a specific example, when a watermark such as duplication prohibition recognized by the image recognition device 16 is separately registered, various forms can be dealt with such as switching between document types such as banknotes and securities and their processing means. Can be implemented.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of an image data processing system related to a digital color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of the internal configuration of the data format conversion device in FIG. 1 is shown. An example of the internal configuration of the data format conversion correction unit in FIG. 2 is shown. The processing flow of the image data at the time of delivery in the image data processing system similar to FIG. 1 is shown. . The other example of the internal structure of the data format converter in FIG. 1 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 .... Reading unit, 4 .... Printer controller,
5..HDD, 9..Print image forming unit,
10. Data format conversion device,
14. ・ NIC (Network Interface Controller),
16. Image recognition device, 19. External PC,
107 .. Data format conversion correction unit,
109 .. Digital watermark composition unit.

Claims (8)

  Image storage means for storing input image data together with its bibliographic information, data format conversion means for converting the stored image data in accordance with variable setting conditions, and an external device for image data converted by the data format conversion means An image processing unit having a communication interface that enables transmission of image data and reception of image data from an external device, the image recognition unit recognizing the image data as data requiring output management, and the communication interface The image recognition unit recognizes the received image data, and the bibliographic information management unit that manages the obtained recognition result as the bibliographic information; and when the image data stored in the image storage unit is output, According to the recognition result shown in the bibliographic information, the data format conversion means has conversion conditions that enable image output management. The image processing apparatus characterized by comprising a setting means constant to.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising reception information management means for causing the image recognition means to recognize image data received via the communication interface and managing the obtained recognition result in association with the reception information. An image processing apparatus characterized by that.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data format conversion unit is a unit that can set a condition for embedding watermark information in image data as a conversion condition for enabling output management. A featured image processing apparatus.   4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein information for limiting use of image data is included in the watermark information.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein when the image data is used for image output, information for performing output with management information stored in the management information storage means added to the watermark information. An image processing apparatus characterized by being included.   3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data format conversion unit uses a maximum of one color data of color information as a conversion condition capable of managing output for output image data including color information. Alternatively, an image processing apparatus characterized in that the means can be set to a minimum value.   7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recognition unit is a unit that recognizes a plurality of image types, and the setting unit is configured according to an image type obtained as a recognition result. An image processing apparatus which is a means for setting different conversion conditions in a data format conversion means.   8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for forming an image based on the accumulated image data.

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