JP2007220023A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of ensuring the security of image data to be recorded in an external memory. <P>SOLUTION: When the image data is written in the removably mounted external memory part 10, an image forming apparatus 1 writes the image data in an unusable state, and writes peculiar data of a memory part 8. Then, when the external memory part 10 is mounted, the image data written in the external memory part 10 is made to be usable by defining that the unique data of the memory part 8 is written in the external memory part 10 as a usage condition. Accordingly, the security is appropriately ensured concerning the image data which is written in the external memory part 10 to be mounted on another image processor, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that ensures the security of image data recorded in an external memory.

  Since image processing apparatuses such as printers, facsimile machines, complex machines, copying machines, scanners, and computers handle various types of image data, how to establish the security of the image data recently. Has become an important issue.

  In particular, in recent years, image processing apparatuses have stored captured image data in a memory so that they can be retrieved when necessary. To ensure the security of image data stored in such a memory Has become an important issue.

  Conventionally, when image data in a memory is extracted, it is generally requested to input a password and permit the extraction of image data only when an appropriate password is input. .

  However, in the case of password security, there is a problem that security cannot be ensured due to password leakage.

  The applicant previously proposed an image forming apparatus that erases image data temporarily stored in the image storage means to convert the image data to output and prevent leakage of the image data. (See Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-167394 A

  However, in the above prior art, it is possible to prevent image data leakage by erasing the image data in the image storage means for temporary storage in the image forming apparatus. Image data is being stored (recorded), and the security of image data when such image data is recorded in an external memory is not taken into consideration and needs to be improved. It was. That is, in recent years, image processing apparatuses have been provided with a standard interface that can be connected to an external memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory as a storage device. When the external memory is connected and image data is written, the prior art cannot secure the security of the image data and needs to be improved.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus that appropriately secures security of image data written to a removable external memory.

  An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus in which predetermined image processing is performed on the image data, and an external memory capable of writing and reading image data is detachably mounted. When the image data is written to the external memory, the image data is written in an unusable state, and the security data in the security data storage means is written to achieve the object. is doing.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, when the external memory is attached, the image processing apparatus uses that the security data of the security data storage unit is written in the external memory. As a condition, the image data written in the external memory may be usable.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 3, the image processing apparatus writes the usable number of times of the image data together with the image data to the external memory, and the number of times of use of the image data from the external memory is It may be limited to the available number of times written.

  Further, for example, when the image processing apparatus writes a plurality of pieces of image data in the external memory, the image processing apparatus stores different security data in the security data storage unit for each of the plurality of pieces of image data. When the external memory is written and a plurality of image data is written in the external memory, the security data in the security data storage means is written for each of the plurality of image data. It is possible to use each image data on the condition that it is used.

  In addition, for example, as described in claim 5, the image processing apparatus includes a predetermined internal memory, and when the image data and the security data are written to the external memory, the image processing apparatus stores the image data in the external memory. Security management information for managing writing of image data and writing of the security data may be written in the internal memory.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 6, the image processing apparatus includes a predetermined notification unit, and the security data of the attached external memory does not match or does not exist with the security data of the security storage unit In this case, the notification means may output a notification that the image data cannot be used.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when writing image data to the external memory that is detachably mounted, the image data is written in an unusable state and predetermined security data in the security data storage means is written. Thus, it is possible to appropriately secure the security of the image data written in the external memory that can be mounted on other devices and the like, and it is possible to improve the usability while improving the security of the image data.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. .

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus (image processing apparatus) 1 includes an image processing unit 2, a scanner 3, an operation display unit 4, an engine unit 5, and the like, and an external memory unit 10 is detachably mounted. A memory interface unit is provided, and main components are connected by a bus 6.

  The image processing unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 7 and a memory unit (security data storage means, internal memory) 8. The memory unit 8 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access). Memory) and the like, and a basic program as the image forming apparatus 1, a security processing program to be described later, and various data necessary for executing these various programs, in particular, unique data (security data) used in the security processing Is remembered. Various data can be used as the unique data that is the security data as long as the security of the image data can be appropriately secured. For example, as the data unique to the image forming apparatus 1, the model number of the image forming apparatus 1, A number obtained by adding an additional number or an additional symbol to a serial number or the like so as to correspond to a plurality of image data, a number obtained by adding an additional number to a number obtained by combining these model numbers, serial numbers, or the like can be used.

  As the scanner 3, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like is used. The scanner 3 scans a document and reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution.

  The operation display unit 4 includes various keys necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1, and includes lamps such as a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) and an LED (Light Emitting Diode). Various operations necessary for various operations of the image forming apparatus such as reading processing, image forming processing, and copying processing using the apparatus 1 and various operations in security processing as described later are performed, and the display (notification means) The contents of the command input from the operation keys and various information notified from the image forming apparatus 1 to the operator, in particular, various information notified to the operator in the security processing described later are displayed.

  The engine unit 5 uses, for example, an electrophotographic printing engine, and is a component necessary for recording and outputting an image on recording paper by an electrophotographic method using a laser, for example, a photoconductor, an optical writing unit. , A developing unit, a charging unit, a cleaning unit, and the like. The engine unit 5 operates the optical writing unit based on the print data received from the image processing unit 2 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, and supplies the toner to the photosensitive member by the developing unit for development. Thus, a toner image is formed. The engine unit 5 feeds a recording sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit, transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member to the recording sheet, and fixes the recording sheet on which the toner image is transferred to the fixing unit. The image is formed by fixing the toner image on the recording paper by heating and pressurizing in the fixing unit.

  The image processing unit 2 operates under the control of the CPU 7, performs various image processing such as image scaling processing and rotation processing, for example, necessary image processing on the image data read by the scanner 3, and performs the engine unit 5. In addition, the image data read by the scanner 3 is subjected to necessary image processing and output to the external memory unit 10, and further, the image data in the external memory unit 10 is subjected to necessary image processing and passed to the engine unit 5. Various image processing necessary for security processing to be described later, particularly image processing to an unusable state by encryption processing of image data to be written in the external memory unit 10 by a predetermined encryption method, The image processing of the unusable image data such as the decryption processing of the encrypted image data in the external memory unit 10 is performed to the usable state.

  As the external memory unit 10, any appropriate memory can be used as long as it is detachable and can write and read image data. For example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an SD card, a miniSD card, and an xD picture card Memory stick (MS), compact flash (CF: registered trademark), multimedia card (MMC), DVD media, and the like can be used.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment writes image data in the removable external memory unit 10, and in writing the image data, data unique to the image forming apparatus 1 stored in advance in the memory unit 8 (inherent Data) is written to the external memory unit 8 as the unique security data, and when the image data is read from the external memory unit 8, the image data is read only when the unique security data matches the unique data of the reading apparatus. In other cases, the data is written in a data format in which the content is unknown even if the read depth touch panel read. In the following description, it is assumed that the image data is unusable by encrypting it with a predetermined encryption method.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 has a document set on the scanner 3, the external memory unit 10 is mounted on the external memory interface unit (step S <b> 101), and the operation display unit 4 to the external memory unit 10. When there is a scan instruction that accompanies the storage of read image data, the CPU 7 controls the scanner 3 to scan the document (step S102). The CPU 7 causes the image processing unit 2 to perform necessary image processing on the read data read by the scanner 3 to generate scan data that is image data in an unusable data state. In the image processing in the image processing unit 2, the CPU 7 encrypts the read image data by a predetermined encryption method to generate scan data. This encryption method may be an original encryption method or an existing encryption method.

  The CPU 7 generates scan data from the read data and reads unique data from the memory unit 8 (step S104).

  When the CPU 7 generates scan data from all the read data, the CPU 7 associates the scan data with the unique data that is the security data (step S105), and the scan data associated with the unique data is stored in the external memory unit 10 together with the unique data. The security processing at the time of writing and writing is terminated (step S106).

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the image file data as the encrypted scan data, the unique data, and the readable number are written in the external memory unit 10.

  Further, the CPU 7 writes the image file data, the unique data, and the readable number of times to the external memory unit 10 and writes the security management information as shown in FIG. The CPU 7 writes the security management information to the memory unit 8 every time the image file data, the unique data, and the readable number of times are written to the external memory unit 10.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the security management information includes the file name of the image data file written to the external memory unit 10, unique data, file creation date and time, type of the external memory unit 10 to be written (USB memory, etc.), security The type, the number of times of reading, and the like. In FIG. 4, as security types, security based on unique data, security based on the number of readings (for example, 4 times), and security based on the scanning date and time limit (for example, 3 months: 3month) are individually set for each file. However, the type of security is not limited to one type, and a plurality of types, for example, unique data and the number of readings may be set.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 writes a plurality of image data in the external memory unit 10, the unique data in the memory unit 8 is written in the external memory unit 10 for each of the plurality of image data.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the external memory unit 10 is attached to the external memory interface unit and the image forming apparatus 1 is instructed to print out data from the external memory unit 10 (step S <b> 201), the CPU 7. However, all the unique data (stored data in the external memory) associated with all the image file data in the external memory unit 10 is read from the external memory unit 10 and the unique data is read from the memory unit 8 and the same. If there is, that is, whether all the unique data in the external memory unit 10 is included in the unique data in the memory unit 8 (step S202). Displays a message indicating that the file is protected, such as "There is a file that has been saved", and ends the process. That (step S203).

  When the two unique data match in step S202, the CPU 7 accepts a print execution request (step S204), reads out the unique data of the image data file designated for printing from the memory unit 8 (step S205), and external memory. It is checked whether it matches the unique data of the image data file designated for printing in the section 10 (step S206).

  If the two unique data do not match in step S206, the CPU 7 displays a message on the display of the operation display unit 4 indicating that the image file data is protected, such as “Security is applied”. The process ends without performing the printing process (step S207).

  When the two unique data match in step S206, the CPU 7 reads the image file data designated for printing from the external memory unit 10 and decrypts the image file data encrypted by the image processing unit 2. In other words, the image data is made available and other necessary image processing is performed and transferred to the engine unit 5 to be printed out by the engine unit 5 and the process is terminated (step S208).

  As described above, when the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment writes image data to the external memory unit 10 that is detachably mounted, the image forming apparatus 1 writes the image data in an unusable state by encrypting the image data. The unique data of section 8 is written as security data.

  Therefore, it is possible to appropriately secure the security of the image data written in the external memory unit 10 that can be attached to another image processing apparatus or a computer, and to improve the usability while improving the security of the image data. it can.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured such that when the external memory unit 10 is mounted, the external memory unit 10 stores the unique data of the memory unit 8 in the external memory unit 10 in a usage condition. The written image data can be used.

  Therefore, the security of the image data written in the external memory unit 10 can be ensured appropriately, and the image data can be used effectively.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment writes the usable number of the image data together with the image data to the external memory unit 10, and the number of usable times of the image data from the external memory 10 is written. It is limited to.

  Therefore, the use of the image data written in the external memory unit 10 can be appropriately restricted according to the use state and purpose of the image data, and the security of the image data can be more appropriately ensured.

  In addition, when writing a plurality of image data in the external memory unit 10, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment writes different unique data in the memory unit 8 to the external memory unit 10 for each of the plurality of image data. When the unit 10 is mounted and a plurality of image data is written in the external memory unit 10, the use condition is that the unique data in the memory unit 8 is written for each of the plurality of image data. Each image data can be used.

  Therefore, when a plurality of pieces of image data are written in the external memory unit 10, the security of each image data can be ensured individually, and the security of the image data can be more appropriately ensured.

  Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment writes image data and unique data to the external memory unit 10, security management is performed to manage writing of image data and unique data to the external memory unit 10. Information is written in the memory unit 8.

  Therefore, the image data written in the external memory unit 10 can be more appropriately managed, and the usability of the image data can be further improved while ensuring security.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment, when the unique data of the attached external memory unit 10 does not match or does not exist with the unique data of the external memory unit 10, the image corresponding to “security is applied” or the like. The fact that the data is not available is displayed on the display of the operation display unit 4 and a notification is output.

  Therefore, although the image data is stored in the external memory unit 10, the reason why the data cannot be used can be made known to the operator, the use in the appropriate image forming apparatus 1 can be promoted, and the use of the image data is ensured while ensuring security. Can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that records data in a removable external memory while ensuring security.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. 3 is a flowchart showing security processing at the time of writing image data to an external memory unit by the image forming apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the image file data and security data which are written in the external memory part by the security processing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of security management information written in a memory unit of the image processing apparatus in the security processing of FIG. 2. 2 is a flowchart showing security processing when printing image data in an external memory unit by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image processing part 3 Scanner 4 Operation display part 5 Engine part 6 Bus 7 CPU
8 Memory part 10 External memory part

Claims (6)

  An image processing apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on image data and is detachably mounted with an external memory capable of writing and reading image data, and includes security data storage means for storing predetermined security data, An image processing apparatus, wherein when writing image data to a memory, the image data is written in an unusable state, and security data in the security data storage means is written.   When the external memory is mounted, the image processing apparatus uses the image data written in the external memory on the condition that the security data stored in the security data storage unit is written in the external memory. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus can be used.   The image processing device writes the usable number of times of the image data together with the image data to the external memory, and limits the number of times of use of the image data from the external memory to the written usable number of times. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   When writing a plurality of image data to the external memory, the image processing apparatus writes different security data of the security data storage means to the external memory for each of the plurality of image data, and the external memory is attached to the external memory. When a plurality of image data is written in the external memory, the use of each image data is used on the condition that the security data in the security data storage means is written for each of the plurality of image data. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image processing apparatus is capable of performing the following.   The image processing apparatus includes a predetermined internal memory, and when writing the image data and the security data to the external memory, manages the writing of the image data and the writing of the security data to the external memory. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein security management information is written in the internal memory. The image processing apparatus includes a predetermined notification unit, and the image data cannot be used when the security data in the attached external memory does not match or exists with the security data in the security storage unit. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a notification is output from the notification means.

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