JP2008060881A - Image transmitter, image forming apparatus, program and computer readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transmitter capable of automatically transmitting an input original to a specified destination without imposing restriction on the original, without using special ink when the original is printed and without using a special reader, thereby eliminating the labor and time of a user, and to provide an image forming apparatus which embeds destination data in image data, and a computer program. <P>SOLUTION: When the original is set and a reading instruction is given (SP11, SP12), the original is read to extract embedded data (SP13, SP14), the embedded data are analyzed to generate the destination data (SP15, SP16). Data about the original are transmitted based on the destination data (SP17, SP18). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium. For example, an image transmission apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program that transmit read data to a predetermined transmission destination in a FAX or a scanner And a computer-readable recording medium.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-218125 (Patent Document 1), a document image is input, and the content of a processing instruction is described in a predetermined place or tag for the input document image. It describes that destination data is extracted from information, recognized by a character recognition technique, and data is automatically distributed to the destination of the recognized recognition result.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-12625 (Patent Document 2) inputs image data to which specific data is added in advance, extracts specific data from the input image data, and analyzes the extracted data. An image transmission apparatus that generates destination data indicating a transmission destination of image data and transmits the image data according to the generated destination data is described. In Patent Document 2, specific data is embedded in a document using special ink or printing material.
JP 2002-218125 A (summary, FIG. 1) JP 2005-12625 A (summary, FIG. 1)

  In the method described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to describe destination data for automatic distribution on a predetermined location or a tag. However, if the destination data is described in a predetermined location, it is necessary to secure a predetermined area, which increases the layout limitation. When sticking a sticky note, The possibility of paper jams is also considered.

  In the method described in Patent Document 2, inconveniences in the method described in Patent Document 1 are improved. However, it is necessary to add specific data to the vacant space, and it is necessary to add data not related to the original document, or to use special ink or printing material. For this reason, an extra cost is required for the original, and a special one is required.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to automatically specify an input document without limiting the printing of the document, using special ink when printing the document, or using a special reading device. An image transmitting apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a program, and a computer-readable recording medium that can be transmitted to the destination and save the user's trouble.

  The present invention recognizes a destination from data related to the destination read by the reading means and reading means for reading the data related to the destination from the document in which the data related to the destination is embedded using the digital watermark. Recognizing means, and transmitting means for transmitting the document data to the destination recognized by the recognizing means.

  Preferably, the data related to the destination includes any one of a destination address, a FAX number, and a mail address.

  Further, data indicating the transmission date / time is embedded in the document using a digital watermark, and the recognizing unit recognizes the transmission date / time from the data indicating the transmission date / time, and the transmitting unit stores the document data at the recognized transmission date / time. Send.

  Furthermore, data including any of the resolution at the time of transmission, the file format, the compression rate, and the file name is embedded in the original document using a digital watermark, and the recognition means determines the resolution at the time of transmission from the data indicated by the digital watermark, Recognizing one of the file format, compression rate, and file name, the transmission means sets the resolution, file format, compression rate, and file name at the time of transmission based on the recognized data.

  An image forming apparatus having an input unit for inputting data related to a destination and an image embedding unit for embedding data related to the destination input from the input unit in any area of the paper with a digital watermark .

  Another aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus, wherein input means for inputting image data of a document and destination data indicating a destination of the image data, and input to the image data input from the input means Image forming means for embedding the destination data using a digital watermark.

  Preferably, the image forming unit embeds the destination data in any one of the destination address, FAX number, and mail address.

  Preferably, the image forming unit embeds data indicating a transmission date and time in the image data using a digital watermark.

  Preferably, any one of resolution, file format, compression rate, and file name at the time of transmission of image data is embedded in the image data using a digital watermark.

  Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program that causes a computer connected to a printing unit to function as the image forming apparatus.

  Preferably, the program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium.

  According to the present invention, data related to a destination is read from a document in which data related to the destination is embedded using a digital watermark, the destination is recognized from the data related to the read destination, and the document is transferred to the recognized destination. Data can be transmitted. As a result, the document data is automatically sent to the specified destination without limiting the area for printing the document on the document, using special ink when printing the document, or using a special reader. This can save the user's trouble.

  In addition, by embedding destination data indicating the destination in the input image data with a digital watermark in any area of the document, an image for automatically transmitting the input document to the designated destination can be formed. .

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital multifunction machine 1 as an example of an image transmission apparatus or an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a digital multifunction peripheral 10 includes a control unit 11, a DRAM 12, an operation unit 13, an image reading unit 15 that operates as a reading unit, and an image forming unit that operates as an image embedding unit and an image forming unit. 16, a hard disk (HDD) 17, a FAX communication unit 18, and a network IF (interface) unit 19.

  The control unit 11 controls the entire digital multi-function peripheral 10 and operates as a recognition unit that recognizes destination data related to a destination from image data read from an original by the image reading unit 15. Then, the control unit 11 compresses and writes the image data read from the document to the DRAM 12, reads the image data written to the DRAM 12, decompresses and encodes the image data, and outputs the image data from the image forming unit 16. The operation unit 13 includes a display unit that displays data of the digital multi-function peripheral 10, a read key that instructs reading by the image reading unit 15, and serves as an interface with the user in the digital multi-function peripheral 10. The image reading unit 15 reads image data including destination data embedded in a document using a digital watermark using a scanner.

  The image forming unit 16 includes a printing apparatus that forms an image from image data read by the image reading unit 15 and embeds destination data input from the operation unit 13 or from the outside using a digital watermark. The hard disk 17 stores image data and the like. The FAX communication unit 18 is connected to a public line 20, and the network IF unit 19 is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) 22 via a network 21.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 10 operates as a copier by forming an image in the image forming section 16 via the DRAM 12 using the document read by the image reading section 15. The digital multifunction machine 10 forms an image in the image forming unit 16 via the DRAM 12 using the image data transmitted from the personal computer 22 connected to the network 21 through the network IF unit 19, thereby serving as a printer. Operate.

  The image reading unit 15 and the personal computer 22 operate as input means for inputting image data or destination data. Further, when inputting destination data from the operation unit 13, the operation unit 13 operates as an input unit.

  Further, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 forms an image in the image forming unit 16 through the DRAM 12 using the image data transmitted from the public line 20 through the FAX communication unit 18, and also by the image reading unit 15. By transmitting the image data to the public line 20 through the FAX communication unit 18 with the read image data of the original as the destination, the facsimile apparatus operates.

  In FIG. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of image data, and thin arrows indicate the flow of control signals or control data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document 30 that is read by the digital multi-function peripheral 1 as an example of an image transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, for example, document image data 31 is formed on a document 30, and destination data indicating a transmission destination is embedded in a region where the image data 31 is formed using a digital watermark. . Since the destination data can be embedded in an area of several centimeters by digital watermark, a plurality of destination data can be embedded in the area where the image data 31 of the document is formed. In this case, even if a part of the document 30 is torn and lost, the destination data is not unknown. In addition, there is an advantage that the embedded data is hard to disappear even when the document 30 is falsified or modified for some reason. The destination data embedding position is determined in advance by predetermined binary data.

  The destination data includes an e-mail address, FAX number, address, transmission network path, and the like. The destination data may be data that is registered in advance in the hard disk 17 and linked to the address table.

  Here, various methods of embedding a digital watermark are considered, but it is not limited to those that cannot be visually recognized by the human eye, but means that even if it is visible, its meaning cannot be read. is doing. The destination data using the digital watermark can be read by the image reading unit 15 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the content is recognized by the control unit 11.

  By embedding destination data indicating a destination as embedded data in such an electronic watermark using such a digital watermark, it is not necessary to secure an area as in the case where characters visible to the human eye are embedded in the original 30. Therefore, the original image data 31 of the original 30 itself is not affected. Further, it is not necessary to print extra data on the document 30 as in embedding with a pattern. Furthermore, no special ink or printing material is required, and no special device is required as the image reading unit 15.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of embedding destination data in the document 30 by operating the digital multifunction peripheral 10 as an image forming apparatus. In step (abbreviated as SP in the drawing) SP1, the control unit 11 determines whether image data of a document is read from a document (not shown) by the image reading unit 15 and stored in the DRAM 12. If it is determined that the document image data is stored in the DRAM 12, it is determined in step SP2 whether or not destination data is input. When reading an original with the image reading unit 15, destination data is input from the operation unit 13, but when inputting image data from the personal computer 22, the destination data is also input from the personal computer 22. When it is determined that the destination data is input, the destination data may be displayed on a display unit included in the operation unit 13 so that the user can confirm the destination data. Thereby, erroneous transmission can be prevented.

  If it is determined that the destination data has been input, embedded data is created from the destination data in step SP3. In step SP4, the image forming unit 16 embeds the embedded data in the image data using the digital watermark. In step SP5, the image data 31 in which the embedded data is embedded is formed on the original 30 shown in FIG. If it is determined in step SP2 that no destination data has been input, the operation is terminated.

  As described above, since the destination data is embedded in the original 30 using the digital watermark, the area for printing the document image data 31 on the original 30 is limited, or the document image data 31 is printed on the original 30. In this case, the destination of the input original 30 can be automatically specified without using special ink or a special reading device.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of transmitting the image data 31. For example, it is assumed that the digital multifunction peripheral 10 is operated as a FAX transmitter, and the image data of the document 30 formed in the description of FIG. 3 is transmitted to the transmission destination. In step SP11, it is determined that the document 30 is set. In step SP12, it is determined whether or not a read command is given from the operation unit 13.

  When the user operates the read key of the operation unit 13 to give a read command, the control unit 11 determines in step SP12 that the read command has been given, and in step SP13, the image reading unit 15 reads from the document 30. The image data 31 in which the destination data is embedded is read.

  In step SP14, embedded data is extracted from the read image data 31, and the embedded data is analyzed in step SP15. In step SP16, destination data is generated from the analyzed embedded data. At this time, the generated destination data may be displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 1 so that the user can confirm the destination so that erroneous transmission can be prevented. In step SP17, the image data 31 of the read document is transmitted from the FAX communication unit 18 to the public line 20 based on the generated destination data. In step SP18, it is determined whether or not the transmission is completed. If the transmission is not completed, the next read data is transmitted.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the image data 31 in which the destination data is embedded is read from the document 30, the destination data is generated by analyzing the embedded data, and the document image data 31 is transmitted to the destination. Therefore, it is possible to save the user's trouble and transmit the image data 31 of the document to a desired destination. In addition, since the destination data is embedded in the image data 31 using a digital watermark, the destination cannot be recognized by just looking with the eyes, and thus personal information can be protected.

  In the above description, the case where the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is operated as a FAX transmitter has been described. However, the digital multi-function peripheral 10 is operated as a scanner and image data is transmitted to one of the personal computers 22. Also good. At this time, the address data of the personal computer 22 may be embedded as embedded data. When recognizing that the destination is the address data of the personal computer 22, the control unit 11 transmits the image data from the network IF unit 19 to the personal computer 22 via the network 21.

  Further, as embedded data, date and time data for designating a transmission date and time may be embedded using electronic watermarks separately from destination data. In this case, it is possible to recognize the transmission date and time when the original 30 is read, and to transmit the image data 31 of the document on the recognized transmission date and time without immediately transmitting.

  Further, in addition to the transmission date and time, option setting data such as resolution, file format, compression rate, and file name at the time of transmission may be embedded, and the option setting data may be read to automatically set options. .

  Further, the present invention can also be applied to a case where an image is transmitted by combining a scanner and a personal computer without using the digital multifunction peripheral 10.

  Further, a printing unit such as a printer may be combined with a personal computer, and the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 may be executed as a program by the personal computer so that the combination functions as an image forming apparatus. In this case, input of image data and destination data in steps SP1 to SP4 and processing in steps SP3 and SP4 are executed by a personal computer, and image formation in step SP5 is performed by a printer.

  This program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as an optical disk.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of an image transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document that is formed or read by a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of an image transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of printing image data and embedding destination data. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement which transmits the image data of a document.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital multifunction device, 11 Control part, 12 DRAM, 13 Operation part, 15 Image reading part, 16 Image formation part, 17 Hard disk, 18 FAX communication part, 19 Network IF part, 20 Public line, 21 Network, 22 Personal computer, 30 Manuscript, image data of 31 documents.

Claims (11)

Reading means for reading the destination data from a document in which the destination data is embedded using a digital watermark;
A recognition unit for recognizing the destination from the destination data read by the reading unit;
An image transmission apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit the document data to a destination recognized by the recognition unit.   The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the destination data includes any one of a destination address, a FAX number, and a mail address. Furthermore, data indicating the transmission date and time is embedded in the document using a digital watermark,
The recognizing means recognizes the transmission date and time from the data indicating the transmission date and time;
The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the document data at the recognized transmission date and time. Furthermore, data including any of resolution, file format, compression rate, and file name at the time of transmission is embedded in the original document using a digital watermark,
The recognizing unit recognizes any one of the resolution, file format, compression rate, and file name at the time of transmission from the data indicated by the digital watermark,
The image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit sets a resolution, a file format, a compression rate, and a file name at the time of transmission based on the recognized data. Input means for inputting destination data;
5. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming apparatus including an image embedding unit configured to embed the destination data input from the input unit in the original document with a digital watermark. Input means for inputting image data of a document and destination data indicating a destination of the image data;
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means for embedding the input destination data in the image data input from the input means using a digital watermark.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming unit embeds one of a destination address, a FAX number, and a mail address as the destination data in the image data.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming unit embeds data indicating a transmission date and time in the image data using a digital watermark.   9. The image forming unit according to claim 6, wherein the image forming unit embeds any one of a resolution, a file format, a compression rate, and a file name at the time of transmission of the image data in the image data using a digital watermark. Image forming apparatus.   The program for functioning the computer connected to the printing means as an image forming apparatus in any one of Claims 6-9.   A computer-readable recording medium storing the program according to claim 10.

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