JP2008245149A - Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that warning processing corresponding to the type of an original left on a reading section was not performed conventionally. <P>SOLUTION: An original placed on an original platen of a scanner is read (S1), and the level of importance of the read original is determined (S2). An encrypted code is generated here by encrypting information corresponding to the original for which a high level of importance is determined, and the encrypted code is printed on recording paper (S6). The encrypted code on the recording paper is next read by the scanner, image data corresponding to that encrypted code are read from a memory and on the basis of the image data, the original is printed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that reads an original and forms an image on a recording medium, and a control method thereof.

In recent years, cases where multifunction machines are installed in offices and copy shops are increasing. This multifunction machine is a multi-function processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as MFP) having a copy function (copy), a print function, and a transmission function. When using a copy or transmission function, a document is placed on a document table, a document image is captured by a scanner, and the read image data is printed or transmitted to an external host computer. After executing such a function, the user may forget to place the document placed on the document table. Various proposals have been made for these problems. For example, the scanner scans once before starting the scanning of the document, and checks whether there is a document on the document table. If there is a document, a warning message for removing the document from the document table is displayed on the screen of the operation panel of the MFP, or a warning sound is issued to prompt the user to remove the document from the document table. It has been proposed (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-129771

  However, this conventional technique has the following problems. The warning displayed on the operation panel screen of the above-mentioned MFP or a warning sound such as a buzzer is not a warning for the owner of the original that has left the original, but a warning for the user who uses the MFP next time. . However, it may be an important problem for a user who has left the manuscript. That is, the misplaced manuscript includes a manuscript (for example, a driver's license or a passport) that the owner does not want to lose the manuscript, and a manuscript that may be left misplaced (for example, a test pattern necessary for adjusting the MFP). is there. However, conventionally, processing according to the type of the misplaced document has not been performed.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

  A feature of the present invention is that it is possible to reliably prevent a highly important document from being left behind in the reading unit.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A document reading means for reading a document placed on a document table;
Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image data;
Image storage means for storing image data of a document read by the document reading means;
A document determination unit for determining the level of importance of the document read by the document reading unit;
An encryption forming unit that generates an encryption code obtained by encrypting information corresponding to a document determined to be highly important by the document determination unit, and forms the information on a recording medium by the recording unit;
A recording control unit that reads the encrypted code of the recording medium by the reading unit, reads image data corresponding to the encrypted code from the image storage unit, and records the image data by the recording unit based on the image data;
It is characterized by having.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes the following steps. That is,
A document reading process for reading a document placed on a document table;
An image storage step of storing image data of the original read in the original reading step in a memory;
A document determination step for determining the level of importance of the document read in the document reading step;
An encryption forming step of generating an encryption code obtained by encrypting information corresponding to a document determined to have high importance by the document determination step and forming the encrypted code on a recording medium;
A recording control step of reading the encryption code of the recording medium by the reading step, reading image data corresponding to the encryption code from the memory, and recording based on the image data;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent a highly important document from being left behind in the reading unit.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are essential to the solution means of the present invention. Not exclusively.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of MFP 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 100 can read a document 102 and obtain a printed matter 104 in which an image of the document 102 is copied to a recording sheet as a recording medium. Further, it is possible to obtain a printed matter (encrypted printed matter) 103 obtained by encrypting the original 102 and printing the encrypted result on a recording medium.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of MFP 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 2, the CPU 211 controls each device connected to the system bus 214 based on a control program stored in the program ROM of the ROM 213 or a control program stored in the hard disk (HD) 223. That is, the CPU 211 controls access to these devices and outputs the printing data to the printing unit (recording unit) 203 connected via the printing unit interface 216 and prints it. Further, the image data read by the scanner unit (original reading means) 204 is input via the scanner I / F 217. The program ROM of the ROM 213 may store a control program for the CPU 211 as shown in the flowchart according to the present embodiment. The font ROM of the ROM 213 stores font data used when generating printing data to be output to the printer unit 203. Further, the data ROM of the ROM 213 stores a boot program, information used by an external host computer via the network 200, and the like. The CPU 211 can perform communication processing with the network 200 via the network I / F 215.

  The RAM 212 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 211, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 212 is also used as a storage area (image storage means) for the read image data. The RAM 212 also has an environment data storage area and a nonvolatile memory area (NVRAM) for storing user and administrator authentication information and ID in a nonvolatile manner. It should be noted that the above-described image data stored in the nonvolatile manner may be stored in the HD 223 when the optional HD 223 is provided (image storage means). Access to the hard disk (HD) 223 is controlled by the HDI / F 218. The hard disk 223 is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. When the HD 223 stores a program executed by the CPU 211, the program is read into the RAM 212 and executed at the time of execution.

  The operation panel 201 is provided with switches, LEDs, a display unit, and the like for operation. Further, the mode setting information of the printer unit 203 set from the operation panel 201 may be stored in the NVRAM of the RAM 212 described above. The scanner unit 204 scans and reads a document or the like, and outputs the read image data to the system bus 214 via the scanner I / F unit 217.

  Hereinafter, an example of a document read by MFP 100 according to the present embodiment will be described before describing the present embodiment.

  3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating an example of a document read by the scanner unit 204 of the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 3A shows a case where the manuscript is a license.

  When this document is read and the area is determined, it is separated into character portions 302 and 303 and areas 301 and 304 other than the character portion. Character information in the character portions 302 and 303 is subjected to OCR (character recognition) processing, and the result is compared with a database stored in the data ROM or HD 223. The character strings of “License”, “Name”, “Address”, and “Personality” included in this character part are designated as one condition of a document whose security level (importance) is “1” in this database. On the other hand, the arrangement of the other areas 301 and 304 is compared with the layout stored in the database, and it is determined that the license is one component. Thus, based on the determination result of the character portions 302 and 303 and the determination result of the arrangement of the areas 301 and 304, it is determined that this document is a license. In the case of this license, the security level is set to “1”.

  In the case of FIG. 3B, the original is determined to be an important document based on the character string “Confidential”. In the case of such an important document, the security level is set to “2”.

  FIG. 3C shows a case where the document is a density adjustment pattern. In this case, a matching feature is not detected even if the feature of the document is compared with the feature registered in the database. Therefore, in this case, the document is determined to be a document having a security level “3” that does not include special confidential information.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the time of document reading in MFP 100 according to the first embodiment. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM or HD 223 and is executed under the control of the CPU 211.

  This processing is started when a document is set on the scanner unit 204 of the MFP 100 and the user presses the start button on the operation panel 201 and inputs a document reading instruction. First, in step S1, reading of a document by the scanner unit 204 is started. Next, in step S2, it is determined what kind of original the read original is, that is, the level of importance of the original. Then, according to the determination result of the original, it is determined which one of the security levels as shown in FIGS.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the security level is “1”, the process proceeds to step S6, where the original is printed with an encrypted code, and a UI display and a warning sound are generated on an operation panel 201 described later. Furthermore, a warning by voice may be performed. For example, a manuscript with a security level of “1” (high importance) is a manuscript including personal information as shown in 402, and specifically includes a license, passport, resident's card, family register copy, etc. included.

  On the other hand, if the security level is not “1” in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4 to determine whether the security level is “3”. If it is “3” (low importance), the process proceeds to step S7, and as before, a voice warning is given when the next user uses it. Here, for example, a document having a security level of “3” indicates a printed material that is used for device adjustment of the MFP 100 as indicated by 400, for example. Specifically, it is a chart used for gradation correction, a chart used for correcting registration misalignment, or the like, which does not include personal information or confidential information. The security level of the encrypted printed matter 103 described above is also “3”. In the case of a document with a security level “3”, after the printed matter 104 is output, the next user issues a warning if the document remains on the document table of the scanner unit 204 when using the MFP 100.

  If the security level is not “3” in step S4, that is, if the security level is “2”, the process proceeds to step S5, and a warning is displayed on the screen of the operation panel 201 of the MFP 100. Furthermore, a warning is given by voice. Here, for example, a document with a security level “2” indicates an important document as shown in 401, for example, although it does not include personal information like a document with a security level “1”. Specifically, the document includes a watermark such as “confidential” or “copy prohibited”. In this example, encryption is performed only when the security level is “1”. However, encryption is performed in the same manner when the security level is “2” so as to prevent the document from being forgotten. Also good.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing including reading the encrypted printed matter 103 and printing an image corresponding to the encrypted printed matter 103 in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, including user operations. Before executing this flowchart, the user obtains the encrypted printed matter 103 printed in step S6 of FIG. Further, at this time, it is assumed that a password for decompressing the cipher has been issued.

  Here, in order to print the document 102 with the security level “1” from the encrypted printed material (for example, barcode) 103, first, in step S11, the user sets the printed material 103 on the scanner unit 204 of the MFP 100. At this time, the user always opens the document table cover of the scanner unit 204 and sets the encrypted printed matter 103. For this reason, in order to print the encrypted printed matter 103, it is ensured that the original document 102 that has been placed on the document table before that and whose security level is “1” is left on the document table. Can be prevented.

  In step S12, when the start button on the operation panel 201 is designated, reading of the encrypted printed matter 103 is started. In step S13, the read document information is analyzed by the CPU 211. In step S14, the CPU 211 acquires the image data of the document 102 corresponding to the read encrypted print 103 from the address of the designated storage unit (RAM or HD) obtained by the analysis.

  In step S15, the user is prompted to enter a password to print the acquired image data.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a UI screen on the operation panel 201 for instructing printing of the encrypted printed matter in the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment.

  In the figure, reference numeral 601 denotes a message that prompts the user to input a password to print the encrypted printed matter 103. Further, an “OK” button 602 for instructing the start of printing, and a “Cancel” button 603 for canceling it are displayed. Reference numeral 604 denotes an input area for inputting a password.

  Here, when the user inputs the password issued at the time of encryption in the input area 604 and designates the “OK” button 602, if the password is correct, printing is started. When the password is input again, the “Cancel” button 603 is instructed to perform the operation again.

  When the user inputs an appropriate password in step S15, the process proceeds to step S16, and the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen on the operation panel 201 for instructing printing of the encrypted printed matter in the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment.

  Here, a message 701 indicating that an image corresponding to the encrypted printed matter 103 can be printed only once is displayed. Further, an “OK” button 702 for instructing the start of printing is displayed, and conversely, a “Cancel” button 703 for canceling the printing is displayed.

  If an “OK” button 702 is instructed here, the process proceeds to step S 17, and an image corresponding to the encrypted printed material 103 is printed, and a printed material 104 is obtained.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of warning display in steps S5 and S6 (FIG. 4) in MFP 100 according to the first embodiment. This warning is displayed on the display unit of operation panel 201 of MFP 100.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of warning when it is determined in step S3 or S4 in FIG. 4 that the document has a security level of “1” or “2”. Reference numeral 801 denotes a message for urging the user to take a document from the document table after copying. When the user instructs the print button 802, printing is started and the printed matter 104 is printed. On the other hand, when the cancel button 803 is instructed, the printing of the original is canceled.

<Document judgment>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating document determination processing (step S2 in FIG. 4) in MFP 100 according to the first embodiment.

  First, in step S21, the scanner unit 204 scans and reads a document. In step S22, an area determination process is performed on the read image data of the original. In this area determination process, the document is classified into a character portion of the document and other areas.

  If it is determined that it is a character portion, the process proceeds to step S23, where the image data of the character is decoded and encoded by OCR processing. In step S24, the encoded character data is compared with a database stored in MFP 100.

  On the other hand, the layout of the area determined to be other than the character part in step S22 is analyzed in step S26. In step S 27, the analysis result is compared with the database layout information stored in MFP 100. When the determination process for the character portion and other areas is completed in this way, the security level of the read document is determined in step S25.

  The processing in FIG. 9 will be described by taking the case of the license in FIG. 3A as an example.

  When this license is scanned and determined as an area, it is separated into character portions 302 and 303 and other areas 301 and 304. Character strings 302 and 303 are subjected to OCR processing and compared with the database. In this case, the character strings “License”, “Name”, “Address”, and “Personality” are designated as one condition in the database with a security level of “1”. On the other hand, the layouts of the other areas 301 and 304 are compared with the layout information of the database, and it is determined that the layout is one component of the license. In this way. If the read original is found to be a license, the security level of the read original is set to “1”.

  Similarly, in the case of the important document shown in FIG. 3B, for example, the character string “Confidential” matches the character string whose security level registered in the database is “2”. It is determined to be “2”. In the case of the density adjustment pattern shown in FIG. 3C, since it does not match any data registered in the database, its security level is set to “3”.

<Data encryption>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the process of printing the encrypted printed material executed in step S6 of FIG. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM or HD 223 and is executed under the control of the CPU 211.

  First, in step S31, image data with a security level “1” read by the scanner unit 204 in step S1 of FIG. 4 is acquired. In step S32, a unique number (hereinafter referred to as ID) is issued for the image data, and in step S33, the password is determined. Based on these pieces of information, encryption target data to be encrypted is created in step S34. In step S35, the image data and the data to be encrypted are paired and stored in the RAM 212 or HD 223 of the MFP 100. In step S36, encrypted data is created from the data to be encrypted generated in step S34. The encrypted data indicates, for example, a barcode. In step S37, the printer unit 203 prints the encrypted data. In step S 38, the ID and password generated in steps S 32 and S 33 are displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 201 of the MFP 100.

  As a result, when printing a document whose security level is “1”, the user confirms the ID and password determined according to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 201. Then, in order to actually print a document whose security level is “1”, the encrypted printed matter 103 is set on the document table, and the confirmed ID and password are input. In this way, the document can be printed while preventing the document having the security level “1” from being left behind.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining processing (recording control processing) when the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment obtains a corresponding printed document from the encrypted printed material 103. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM or HD 223 and is executed under the control of the CPU 211. In this process, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is described in the flow of control by the CPU 211 of the MFP 100.

  In step S <b> 41, the encrypted printed material 103 is read on the document table of the scanner unit 204 of the MFP 100. The encrypted data read in this way is analyzed. In step S42, the user is requested to input the password displayed in step S38. In response to this, when the user inputs the password on the screen of operation panel 201 of MFP 100, the process proceeds to step S43, and the password obtained by decrypting the encrypted data in step S41, and the password input in step S42. To determine if they match. Here, not only the password but also the ID may be prompted to determine whether or not they match. If the password (and ID) input in this way match, the process proceeds to step S44, and the image data of the original 102 corresponding to the encrypted data is read. In step S45, the read image data is output to the printer unit 203 and printed. In step S46, the read image data is erased from the RAM 212 or HD 223. It is assumed that the encrypted data includes the address of the RAM 212 or the HD 223 in which the corresponding image data is stored.

  On the other hand, if the ID / password does not match in step S43, the process returns to step S42 again to return to the password input.

  In this way, the corresponding image data can be read from the encrypted printed material and printed.

  According to the first embodiment, it is possible to reliably prevent forgetting to take a document when an important document is copied.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, an important document is once encrypted and printed with an encrypted code, a printed matter of the encrypted code is read, and identification information corresponding to the encrypted data is input for printing. Is done. This prevents the important document from being copied by a third party other than the owner.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of operation panel 201 of MFP 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The configuration of MFP 100 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the user can set the type of warning for each security level based on the display on the display unit of operation panel 201 of MFP 100.

  In the figure, for example, when selecting a misplacement prevention measure for a document whose security level is “1”, an option 1202 is displayed when a pull-down menu 1201 is designated with a mouse cursor or the like. The user can select the most preferable type of warning from these options 1202. Similarly, a desired warning type can be set for the security level “2” and the security level “3”. The warning level thus set is reflected in each of steps S5 to S7 in FIG.

  According to the second embodiment, there is an effect that it is possible to appropriately set the type of warning corresponding to each security level of the document.

[Embodiment 3]
13 and 14 are diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the display unit of operation panel 201 of MFP 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Here, when determining whether the security level is at step S25 in FIG. 9, it is possible to specify which security level is set according to the type of document. The configuration of MFP 100 according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for designating a document type corresponding to each security level in the third embodiment.

  Using this UI screen, the user can select the type of document corresponding to each security level 1. When a pull-down menu 1301 is designated, an option 1302 is displayed. Next, the user selects a desired option from the options 1302. “User setting 1” and “user setting 2” of the options 1302 indicate items that each user can customize the options.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for designating user settings corresponding to each security level in the third embodiment. This screen is displayed by instructing “user setting 1” and “user setting 2” displayed in FIG. Here, “user setting 1” is instructed, and an example of defining a character string included in a document whose security level is “1” is shown.

  In FIG. 14, for example, a character string to be included in a document whose security level is “1” is input to the input area 1401. As a result, when the read original includes the character string, the security level of the original is set to “1”.

  If it is desired to set the security level of the same original as the specific original, the specific original prepared by the user is placed on the original table of the scanner unit 204 of the MFP 100 and the scan button 1402 is instructed. As a result, the original is read and stored as image data for determining the security level of the original. Thus, when a document including an image that matches the image data is read, the security level is set to “1”, for example. When the definition is thus completed, an OK button 1403 is designated. If it is desired to interrupt this setting process, a cancel button 1404 is instructed.

  Thus, according to the third embodiment, the user can set a desired security level for each document. As the setting condition of the security level, it is possible to set not only the character string but also the pattern and composition of the image and the type of image such as a photograph.

[Embodiment 4]
15 and 16 are flowcharts for explaining processing according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is characterized in that there is a restriction on the time from when the encrypted printed material 103 is obtained until the actually corresponding image is printed. This is a case where the security level of the read original is very high when the encrypted print 103 is printed. However, it is conceivable that the user forgets to place the document or forgets the encrypted print 103 even though the image data of the document is temporarily recorded in the MFP 100. In view of this, a method is proposed in which the security level is very high to prevent document misplacement and image data stored in the MFP 100 is automatically deleted. The configuration of MFP 100 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

<Data encryption>
FIG. 15 is a flowchart for describing processing in which MFP 100 according to the fourth embodiment prints an encrypted printed matter. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM or HD 223 and is executed under the control of the CPU 211. Note that steps S51 to S53 and S55 to S59 in FIG. 15 are basically the same as steps S31 to S38 in the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S51, image data is acquired, and in steps S52 and S53, a unique number (hereinafter referred to as ID) and a password are issued. In step S54, the current time and a time limit for printing an image corresponding to the encrypted printed matter 103 are set (expiration date setting). In step S55, the information is collected and data to be encrypted is created. In step S56, the original document image data and the encryption target data are paired and stored in RAM 212 or HD 223 of MFP 100. In step S57, encrypted data is created from the data to be encrypted. The encrypted data is, for example, a barcode. In step S58, the encrypted data is printed. In step S59, the ID and password, and the valid time until printing set in step S54 are displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 201 of the MFP 100.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the display contents displayed in step S59.

  1701 indicates an ID, and 1702 is a password. Reference numeral 1703 denotes a time limit (expiration date) during which the original document can be printed.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the MFP 100 according to the fourth embodiment obtains a printed document corresponding to the original from the encrypted printed material 103. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM or HD 223 and is executed under the control of the CPU 211. This process is obtained by adding a process based on an expiration date to the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. Accordingly, the processes in steps S61 to S63 and S65 to S67 in FIG. 16 are the same as steps S41 to S46 in FIG.

  In step S61, the encrypted printed matter 103 is read by the scanner unit 204 of the MFP 100 and the encrypted data is analyzed. In step S62, passwords input on the screen of operation panel 201 of MFP 100 are compared in step S64. If they match, the process proceeds to step S64.

  In step S64, the current time is compared with the expiration date. As a result of the comparison, if it is within the expiration date, the process proceeds to step S65, and the corresponding image data is read out and printed in step S66. In step S67, the printed image data is erased from the RAM 212 or HD 223.

  On the other hand, if the expiration date is exceeded in step S64, the process proceeds to step S68, and the corresponding image data and encryption target data stored in the RAM 212 or the HD 223 of the MFP 100 are deleted. After erasing the data in this way, the process proceeds to step S69, where a warning about the document being left behind is given by sound or a UI screen on the display unit of the operation panel 201.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, there is a limitation on the time from when the encrypted printed material 103 is obtained until the actually corresponding image is printed, so that a problem caused by the user misplaced an important manuscript can be avoided. Occurrence can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent an unexpected situation such as when the encrypted printed matter is left behind or entered into the hands of a third party.

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a connection form of MFP 100 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Portions common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same symbols.

  MFP 100 according to the fifth embodiment transmits image data read by scanner unit 204 of MFP 100 to server 1801 connected to network 1803. The server 1801 stores the received image data in an internal storage device. And server 1801. An ID and password corresponding to this image data are issued. Then, the issued ID and password are stored as encryption target data in the storage device of the server 1801 together with the corresponding image data. Server 1801 creates encrypted data of ID and password, and transmits print data 1802 of the encrypted data to MFP 100 via network 1803. As a result, the MFP 100 prints the encrypted data by the printer unit 203. Then, the password is displayed on the display unit of MFP 100 operation panel 201.

  Accordingly, the MFP 100 can obtain the encrypted printed matter 103 by executing the same processing as the processing described in the flowchart of FIG.

  When it is desired to obtain image data corresponding to the encrypted print product, the encrypted print product can be read by the scanner unit 204 of the MFP and printed by the MFP in the same manner as in FIG. Alternatively, the scanner 204 of the MFP reads the encrypted printed matter, sends the decompressed data to be encrypted, the ID, and the password to the server 1801, thereby receiving the corresponding image data from the server 1801. You may make it print with MFP.

  In the fifth embodiment described above, the case where there is one MFP has been described. However, for example, the processing of all MFPs connected to the network 1803 may be performed by the server 1801.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set a warning method for leaving an original in accordance with the importance of the original.

  In addition, highly important documents placed on the platen are not printed immediately, but once they are printed as encrypted prints, the encrypted prints are read and printed. Can be prevented.

  Further, since a warning and a printing method can be set according to the relationship between the importance levels of the manuscript considered by the user, it is possible to flexibly deal with various manuscripts.

  Furthermore, after the encrypted document with high importance is printed, the stored image data and various data of the document are erased, so that there is no fear of being reused by others.

  In addition, since there is a limit on the time until an encrypted document with high importance is printed, it is always possible to prevent the document from being left unprinted or printed by a third party. it can.

  In the above embodiment, conditions for determining a document with a high degree of importance are determined, but conversely, some unimportant documents (for example, a test chart) are registered and other than the document. May be determined as an important document.

(Other embodiments)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or may be applied to an apparatus constituted by one device.

  In the present invention, a software program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied directly or remotely to a system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus reads and executes the supplied program. Can also be achieved. In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, the form does not need to be a program.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. That is, the claims of the present invention include the computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention. In this case, the program may be in any form as long as it has a program function, such as an object code, a program executed by an interpreter, or script data supplied to the OS.

  Various recording media for supplying the program can be used. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD- R).

  As another program supply method, the program can be supplied by connecting to a home page on the Internet using a browser of a client computer and downloading the program from the home page to a recording medium such as a hard disk. In this case, the computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function may be downloaded. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the claims of the present invention.

  Further, the program of the present invention may be encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, and distributed to users. In that case, a user who has cleared a predetermined condition is allowed to download key information to be decrypted from a homepage via the Internet, and by using the key information, the encrypted program can be executed on a computer in a format that can be executed. To be installed.

  Further, the present invention can be realized in a form other than the form in which the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the computer executing the read program. For example, based on the instructions of the program, the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments can also be realized by the processing.

  Furthermore, the program read from the recording medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, thereafter, based on the instructions of the program, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. .

1 is an external view of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document read by a scanner unit of the MFP according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing at the time of document reading in the MFP according to the first embodiment. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing for reading an encrypted printed matter in the MFP according to the first embodiment and printing an image corresponding to the encrypted printed matter, including a user operation. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen on the operation panel for instructing printing of an encrypted printed matter in the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen on the operation panel for instructing printing of an encrypted printed matter in the MFP according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of warning display in steps S5 and S6 (FIG. 4) in the MFP according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining document determination processing (step S2 in FIG. 4) in the MFP according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the process which prints the encrypted printed matter performed by step S6 of FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing in a case where the MFP according to the first embodiment obtains a printed material of a corresponding document from an encrypted printed material. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the display part of the operation panel of MFP which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a UI screen for designating a document type corresponding to each security level in the third embodiment. In Embodiment 3, it is a figure which shows the example of a UI screen for designating the user setting applicable to each security level. 15 is a flowchart for explaining processing for printing an encrypted print by the MFP according to the fourth embodiment. 15 is a flowchart for explaining processing in a case where a corresponding printed document is obtained from an encrypted printed material by the MFP according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of display contents displayed in step S59 of the fourth embodiment. It is a figure explaining the connection form of MFP which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention.

Claims (14)

A document reading means for reading a document placed on a document table;
Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image data;
Image storage means for storing image data of a document read by the document reading means;
A document determination unit for determining the level of importance of the document read by the document reading unit;
An encryption forming unit that generates an encryption code obtained by encrypting information corresponding to a document determined to be highly important by the document determination unit, and forms the information on a recording medium by the recording unit;
A recording control unit that reads the encrypted code of the recording medium by the reading unit, reads image data corresponding to the encrypted code from the image storage unit, and records the image data by the recording unit based on the image data;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The document determination unit determines the importance level of the document based on at least one of a registered character string or image and a character string or image included in the document read by the document reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The information corresponding to the document includes at least one of identification information of the image data of the document and a user password, and the recording control unit inputs at least one of the identification information of the image data and the user password. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data corresponding to the encryption code is read out from the image storage unit and recorded by the recording unit when received and matched.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set a relationship between a feature of the document and a level of importance of the document. 5. An expiration date setting means for setting an expiration date of the encryption code formed by the encryption forming means;
5. The recording control unit according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit reads image data corresponding to the encryption code from the image storage unit and records the image data by the recording unit only within an expiration date of the encryption code. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit further deletes the image data from the image storage unit after recording by the recording unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording control unit further erases the image data from the image storage unit after an expiration date of the encryption code has elapsed. A document reading process for reading a document placed on a document table;
An image storage step of storing image data of the original read in the original reading step in a memory;
A document determination step for determining the level of importance of the document read in the document reading step;
An encryption forming step of generating an encryption code obtained by encrypting information corresponding to a document determined to have high importance by the document determination step and forming the encrypted code on a recording medium;
A recording control step of reading the encryption code of the recording medium by the reading step, reading image data corresponding to the encryption code from the memory, and recording based on the image data;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising:   The document determination step determines the level of importance of the document based on at least one of a registered character string or image and a character string or image included in the document read in the document reading step. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 8.   The information corresponding to the document includes at least one of identification information of the image data of the document and a user password, and the recording control step inputs at least one of the identification information of the image data and the user password. 10. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image data corresponding to the encrypted code is read from the memory and recorded when the received and matched codes are received.   11. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a setting step of setting a relationship between a feature of the document and a level of importance of the document. An expiration date setting step of setting an expiration date of the encryption code formed in the encryption formation step;
12. The recording control step according to claim 8, wherein the image data corresponding to the encrypted code is read from the memory and recorded only within an expiration date of the encrypted code. Image forming apparatus control method.   13. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording control step further includes deleting the image data from the memory after recording an image with the image data. .   13. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein in the recording control step, the image data is deleted from the memory after an expiration date of the encryption code has passed.

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