JP2000165575A - Image generator, image generating method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image generator that has a copy protection function. SOLUTION: In the image generator, an image processing circuit 111 processes an image signal from an image sensor 108, and a copy inhibition/permission mark detection circuit 112 detects the presence of additional information (copy inhibition information). When it is found that no additional information is recorded on an original 101 as a result of detection, a CPU 113 transmits a signal denoting copy inhibition to a printer section 115, which inhibits copying.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus, an image generating method, and a storage medium, and more particularly to an image generating apparatus having a function of prohibiting illegal copying of a work and copying of a specific document, a specific image, a specific document, and the like. (Copier).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copying machine has been used as an apparatus for copying magazines, documents, manuscripts, and the like. Generally, commercially available copying machines are of a so-called analog type in which a document is illuminated, reflected light from the document is imaged on a photoconductor, and copying of the document is realized by electrophotography.

[0003] This copying machine has an excellent function of easily copying (copying) an image of a familiar document, but, on the other hand, a copyrighted work, photograph, painting, or a creator whose copy is prohibited. Documents created with the intention of the above can be copied.

In recent years, due to advances in the laser beam printer (LBP) technology, a manuscript is read by a CCD image sensor, converted into an electric signal, and then printed out by the LBP, instead of the analog copying machine described above. Such digital copying machines have been developed.

[0005] Such a digital copying machine is capable of taking in an image to a computer and outputting (printing out) an image from a computer.

[0006]

However, a digital copying machine has an excellent function of easily copying a familiar original image like an analog copying machine, but it is protected by copyright. Copyrighted work, photos,
There is a drawback that a picture or a document created by a document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying can be copied.

[0007] In addition, in the case of a digital copying machine, images handled through a computer and a network can be freely sent to a third party, so that a copyrighted work, photograph, picture, or company is protected. There is a possibility that a document or the like whose copying inside is prohibited is intentionally or easily leaked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and has as its object to provide an image generating apparatus, an image generating method, and a storage medium capable of realizing a copy prohibiting function. I do.

[0009]

An image generating apparatus according to the present invention reads an original and generates an image based on image information recorded on the original. The additional information is detected together with the image information. If the additional information is detected, the image is processed based on the additional information. If the additional information is not detected, the additional information is added to the document. Can be recognized as not being recorded.

[0010] In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention, generation of an image is prohibited when the additional information is not detected.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention, the prohibition of image generation is canceled by performing a predetermined operation.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, when the additional information is not detected, additional information is newly added to the document.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, when the additional information is not detected, the number of documents on which the additional information is not recorded is detected.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention, when the additional information is detected, if the additional information is information permitting the generation of the image, the generation of the image is permitted. If the additional information is information prohibiting the generation of an image, the generation of the image is prohibited.

An image generating apparatus according to the present invention reads an original,
An image generating apparatus that generates an image based on image information recorded on an original, an additional information detecting unit that detects additional information recorded on the original, and additional information that stores predetermined additional information in advance Storage means; comparison means for comparing the additional information detected by the additional information detection means with the predetermined additional information stored in the additional information storage means; a result of comparison by the comparison means; Control means for processing an image based on the additional information when the additional information is detected by the detection means, and recognizing that when the additional information is not detected by the additional information detection means. ing.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, the control means inhibits generation of an image when the additional information detecting means does not detect the additional information.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, the control means cancels the prohibition of image generation by performing a predetermined operation.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, there is further provided a document number detecting means for detecting the number of documents when the additional information detecting means does not detect the additional information.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, the image generating apparatus further comprises additional information adding means for adding additional information to the document when the additional information detecting means does not detect the additional information.

In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus according to the present invention, the additional information includes a graphic, a character, a symbol, or a combination thereof.

[0021] In one embodiment of the image generating apparatus of the present invention, the additional information comprises a bar code.

According to the image generation method of the present invention, an original is read,
A method for generating an image based on image information recorded on the original, wherein predetermined additional information recorded on the original is detected together with the image information, and when the additional information is detected, An image is processed based on the additional information, and if the additional information is not detected, it can be recognized that the additional information is not recorded on the document.

In one embodiment of the image generation method of the present invention, generation of an image is prohibited when the additional information is not detected.

In one embodiment of the image generation method of the present invention, the prohibition of image generation is canceled by performing a predetermined operation.

In one embodiment of the image generation method according to the present invention, when the additional information is not detected, additional information is newly added to the document.

In one embodiment of the image generating method according to the present invention, when the additional information is not detected, the number of documents on which the additional information is not recorded is detected.

In one embodiment of the image generation method according to the present invention, when the additional information is detected, if the additional information is information permitting the generation of the image, the generation of the image is permitted. If the additional information is information prohibiting generation of an image, generation of an image is prohibited.

The storage medium of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure of the image generation method.

The storage medium of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image generation apparatus.

[0030]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, when the additional information is not recorded on the original, the user is notified that the original is an original without additional information. This suppresses the user from copying a document without additional information.

[0031]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image generating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. First, each component of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1A, reference numeral 101 denotes a document, 10
2 is a platen glass; 103 is a lamp for illuminating the original;
Reference numerals 04 to 106 denote reflection mirrors, 108 denotes an image sensor for reading a document, and 107 denotes a lens for forming reflected light from the document on a light receiving surface of the image sensor 108.

An amplifier 109 amplifies the output signal of the image sensor 108 to an appropriate signal level.
Reference numeral 110 denotes an A / D converter for converting the original reading signal amplified by the amplifier 109 into a digital signal.

Reference numeral 111 denotes an image processing circuit which converts a digital image signal output from the A / D converter 110 into a digital image signal.
Signal processing such as conversion from luminance to density, gradation correction (density correction), color correction (color conversion), edge enhancement, and filtering is performed.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a copy prohibition / permission mark detection circuit, which receives a document reading signal as an input signal from the image processing circuit 111 and detects whether a copy prohibition / permission mark is included in the document image.

Reference numeral 114 denotes copyright mode setting means.
Documents protected by copyright or documents created by the document creator with the intention of prohibition of copying (copy-protected documents)
For example, when the user performs a setting to perform a copy prohibition operation, the CPU 113 is notified of the setting.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a printer unit for printing the output of the image processing circuit 111, and reference numeral 116 denotes a display unit for displaying the operation of the apparatus.

FIG. 1B shows a specific configuration example of the copy prohibition / permission mark detection circuit 112 shown in FIG. 1A.

In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 120 denotes an image memory for storing all or a part of image data as one-dimensional or two-dimensional information. Reference numeral 121 denotes a circuit which refers to the image data in the image memory 120 and detects and determines whether or not the image data includes an image corresponding to the copy prohibition / permission mark.

The determination as to whether an image corresponding to the copy prohibition / permission mark is included is made by comparing the image data in the image memory 120 with a predetermined copy prohibition / permission mark stored in the additional information storage means in advance. It is done by doing. As a result, if the image data contains an image corresponding to the copy prohibition / permission mark, a detection signal to that effect is output from the copy prohibition / permission mark detection circuit 112 to the CPU 113 shown in FIG. Is done.

As a result, the CPU 113 can obtain the determination result as to whether or not there is a copy prohibition / permission mark in the document image from the copy prohibition / permission mark detection circuit 112. Then, when the copyrighted copy mode is set by the copyrighted mode setting means 114 and a copy prohibition mark exists in the document image, the CPU 113 prohibits the printer unit 115 from performing a printing operation. Only when the copy permission mark exists, the printing operation is performed. When the copyrighted work copy mode is not set by the copyrighted work mode setting means 114, a normal copy operation is performed.

The copy prohibition / permission marks include
One type and a plurality of types of marks such as specific symbols and characters can be considered. The copy prohibition / permission mark may be present at a specific position in the document, or may be present at an arbitrary position in the document image without specifying the position.

Further, in this embodiment, the copyrighted work mode is set by the copyrighted work mode setting means 114.
If neither the copy prohibition mark nor the copy permission mark is detected, the copy operation is temporarily interrupted by a command from the CPU 113 and displayed on the display unit 116 to indicate to the user that the document has no copy prohibition / permission information. Reportedly.

As a result, a warning can be given to the user that the copy of the document may be illegal, and the risk of the user making an illegal copy can be avoided. However, in some cases, the user can confirm the original and determine that it is safe to copy this original. In this case, press the copy key again to return to the copy operation. Is possible.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a document image protected by copyright or a document created by the document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying (copy-prohibited document) In order to prohibit such copying, the copyrighted work mode setting unit 114 selects the copyrighted work copy mode.

If a copy prohibition mark exists in the document image, the copy prohibition / permission mark detection circuit 11
The signal indicating that the copy prohibition mark exists from the CPU 1
13 is transmitted. Then, by issuing a command to prohibit the printing operation from the CPU 113 to the printer unit 115, copying can be prohibited.

If a copy permission mark exists in the document image, a signal indicating that the copy permission mark exists is transmitted from the copy prohibition / permission mark detection circuit 112 to the CPU 113. Then, from the CPU 113 to the printer unit 115
By issuing a command for permitting a printing operation to the user, copying can be performed.

If neither the copy prohibition mark nor the copy permission mark is detected, the copy operation is temporarily suspended, and the user can be warned from the display unit 116 that the document has no copy prohibition / permission information. The risk of piracy can be avoided.

When the copyrighted work copy mode is not selected by the copyrighted work mode setting means 114, it is possible to copy even a document with a copy prohibition mark.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 101 denotes a document, 10
2 is a platen glass; 103 is a lamp for illuminating the original;
04 to 106 are reflection mirrors, 108 is an image sensor for reading a document, and 107 is a light reflected from the document.
08 is a lens for forming an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor.

An amplifier 109 amplifies the output signal of the image sensor 108 to an appropriate signal level.
An A / D converter for converting the original reading signal amplified by the amplifier 109 into a digital signal.

Reference numeral 111 denotes an image processing circuit which converts a digital image signal output from the A / D converter 110 into a digital image signal.
Signal processing such as conversion from luminance to density, gradation correction (density correction), color correction (color conversion), edge enhancement, and filtering is performed.

A bar code detection / decoding circuit 212 receives a document reading signal from the image processing circuit 111,
It detects whether a bar code is included in the document image. When a barcode is detected, the barcode is decoded by a predetermined method, and barcode information is output from the barcode detection / decoding circuit 212 to the CPU 113 only when the barcode is successfully decoded. Is done.

Reference numeral 114 denotes copyright mode setting means.
When a setting is made to perform copy prohibition operation on a document image protected by copyright or a document created by the document creator with a copy prohibition intention (copy prohibition document), the setting is sent to the CPU 113. Inform.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a printer unit for printing the output of the image processing circuit 111, and 213 a counter for counting the number of originals and copies.

FIG. 2B shows an example of the configuration of the barcode detection / decoding circuit 212 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2B, an image memory 220 stores all or a part of the image data as one-dimensional or two-dimensional information. Reference numeral 221 refers to the image data in the image memory 220, detects whether a barcode is included in the image data, and if a barcode is detected, converts the barcode by a predetermined method. This is a circuit that decodes the bar code and outputs bar code information to the CPU 113 when the bar code is successfully decoded.

The determination as to whether or not the bar code contains copy prohibition information is made by comparing the bar code information in the image memory 220 with predetermined bar code information stored in advance in the additional information storage means. Do. As a result, if the bar code contains copy prohibition information, a detection signal to that effect is output from the bar code detection / decoding circuit 212 to the CPU 113 shown in FIG.

Thus, the CPU 113 can obtain the barcode information in the document image from the barcode detection / decoding circuit 212. Then, the copyrighted work mode setting means 11
If the copyrighted copy mode is set in step 4 and the barcode information selected from the original image contains copy prohibition information (for example, copyright information), the CPU 11
No. 3 can prohibit the printing operation by the printer unit 115, and only when the copy permission information exists,
Perform print operation. When the copyrighted work copy mode is not set by the copyrighted work mode setting means 114, a normal copy operation is performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the copyrighted work copy mode is set by the copyrighted work mode setting means 114 and no barcode is detected from the original image, the counter 213 determines that there is no barcode. The number of documents 101 is counted. If the sum of the counter values exceeds a predetermined value, a command to prohibit the copying operation is sent from the CPU 113 to the printer unit.

In this way, if the additional information including the copy prohibition information added to the document 101 is apparent as a bar code, the copy operation is performed by masking this portion. Even so, copy protection can be performed in accordance with this additional information. Therefore, even if the user attempts to copy illegally by covering the barcode, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment can prevent such illegal copying.

Since the counter 213 also has a function of counting the number of copies, the copying operation can be prohibited even when the number of copies from one document exceeds a predetermined number.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a document image protected by copyright or a document created by the document creator with the intention of prohibiting copying (copy-prohibited document) In order to prohibit such copying, the copyrighted work mode setting unit 114 selects the copyrighted work copy mode.

If the bar code information obtained from the document image includes copy prohibition information, a signal to the effect that the copy prohibition information exists is transmitted from the bar code detection / decoding circuit 212 to the CPU 113. . And CP
By issuing a command to prohibit the printing operation from the U 113 to the printer unit 115, copying can be prohibited.

If the barcode information obtained from the original image includes information permitting copying, a signal indicating that the information permitting copying is transmitted from the barcode detection / decoding circuit 212 to the CPU 113. . And CP
By issuing a command for permitting the print operation from the U 113 to the printer unit 115, copying can be performed.

Further, when a bar code is not detected in the document image, the number of documents having no bar code is counted by the counter 213. When the sum of the counter values exceeds a predetermined value, the CPU 113
Sends a command to the printer unit 115 to prohibit the copying operation. Thus, illegal copying of a secret document or the like due to covering the barcode portion can be prevented.

When the copyrighted work copy mode is not selected by the copyrighted work mode setting means 114, the original can be copied even if the original is marked with a copy prohibition mark.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Thirdly, the image generating apparatus according to the third embodiment further includes a circuit for adding additional information to a copy from a document. This corresponds to a case where the operation rate of the apparatus is reduced in the second embodiment described above when the copying of a predetermined number or more is prohibited in the absence of barcode information.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the third embodiment, an additional information adding circuit 214 is added to the image generating apparatus of the second embodiment. The other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

In the third embodiment, copying of an original without barcode information is permitted, and the number of originals and the number of copies are managed. That is, information indicating that there is no barcode information in the document is transmitted to the barcode detection / decoding circuit 21.
2 to the CPU 113, and a predetermined number of copies are made in the printer unit 115 according to a command from the CPU 113.

Then, the additional information adding means 214 is added to each copy of the original having no barcode information.
, Predetermined additional information is added. As a result, even if a document without barcode information is copied for the purpose of fraud, additional information is added to each copy, so that a trace check on the fraudulent copy can be easily performed.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, even if the copy is illegally performed with the barcode covered, the additional information added to the copy by the additional information adding means 214 makes the copy legal. It can be easily determined.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.) or to an apparatus constituted by one device.

Further, in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a device connected to the above-mentioned various devices or a computer in a system is operated so as to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. The present invention also includes programs implemented by supplying the program code of the software described above and operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the program code of the software implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to a computer are provided.
For example, a storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
A magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

Further, when the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system running on the computer. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software or the like, such program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in the memory provided in the function expansion board of the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is specified based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the first embodiment performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0080]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prohibit copying of a document whose copying is prohibited. Therefore,
It is possible to provide an image generating apparatus, an image generating method, and a storage medium that prevent illegal copying and prevent images from being inadvertently leaked.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Document 102 Document platen glass 103 Lamp 104, 105, 106 Reflecting mirror 107 Lens 108 Image sensor 109 Amplifier 110 A / D converter 111 Image processing circuit 112 Copy inhibition / permission mark detection circuit 113 CPU 114 Copyright mode setting means 115 Printer Unit 116 Display unit 120, 220 Image memory 121 Judgment circuit 212 Barcode detection / decoding circuit 213 Counter 214 Additional information adding means 220 Decoding circuit

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. An image generating apparatus for reading a document and generating an image based on image information recorded on the document, detecting predetermined additional information recorded on the document together with the image information, When the additional information is detected, the image processing based on the additional information is performed, and when the additional information is not detected, it can be recognized that the additional information is not recorded in the document. An image generation device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the additional information is not detected, generation of an image is prohibited. 3. The image generation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the prohibition of image generation is released by performing a predetermined operation. 4. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the additional information is not detected, additional information is newly added to the document. 5. The image according to claim 1, wherein, when the additional information is not detected, the number of documents on which the additional information is not recorded is detected. Generator. 6. When the additional information is detected, if the additional information is information that permits generation of an image, generation of an image is permitted, and the additional information is information that prohibits generation of an image. 6. The image generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein generation of an image is prohibited in a certain case. 7. An image generating apparatus for reading an original and generating an image based on image information recorded on the original, comprising: an additional information detecting means for detecting additional information recorded on the original; Additional information storage means for pre-recording information, additional information detected by the additional information detection means,
Comparing means for comparing the additional information with the predetermined additional information stored in the additional information storing means; and, if the additional information is detected by the additional information detecting means as a result of the comparison by the comparing means, based on the additional information. And a control unit for performing processing of the image, and recognizing when the additional information is not detected by the additional information detection unit. 8. The image generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit prohibits the generation of an image when the additional information is not detected by the additional information detecting unit. 9. The image generation apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit cancels the prohibition of image generation by performing a predetermined operation. 10. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a document number detecting means for detecting the number of the documents when the additional information is not detected by the additional information detecting means. The image generation device according to any one of the preceding claims. 11. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising additional information adding means for adding additional information to said document when said additional information is not detected by said additional information detecting means. An image generation device according to claim 1. 12. The image generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes a graphic, a character, a symbol, or a combination thereof. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises a barcode. 14. A method of reading a document and generating an image based on image information recorded on the document, detecting predetermined additional information recorded on the document together with the image information, When the additional information is detected, the image processing is performed based on the additional information, and when the additional information is not detected, it is possible to recognize that the additional information is not recorded in the document. Image generation method. 15. When the additional information is not detected,
The image generation method according to claim 14, wherein generation of an image is prohibited. 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the prohibition of image generation is canceled by performing a predetermined operation.
6. The image generation method according to 5. 17. When the additional information is not detected,
17. The image generation method according to claim 14, wherein additional information is newly added to the document. 18. When the additional information is not detected,
18. The image generation method according to claim 14, wherein the number of documents on which the additional information is not recorded is detected. 19. When the additional information is detected, if the additional information is information that permits generation of an image, generation of an image is permitted, and the additional information is information that prohibits generation of an image. The method according to claim 14, wherein generation of an image is prohibited in some cases.
19. The image generation method according to any one of items 18. 20. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure of the image generation method according to claim 14. 21. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image generation apparatus according to claim 7. Description: