JP2001218007A - Picture processor, picture processing method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a picture is printed so that it cannot be recognized when it is judged to be a specified picture. SOLUTION: A discrimination means discriminating whether the inputted picture is the specified one or not and a conversion means converting the picture into a different picture whose content can be recognized when the picture is the specified one as the result of discrimination are included for solving the subject.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a recording apparatus, and a recording method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as color image input / output devices such as copiers, scanners, and printers have been improved in image quality, crimes have been made to illegally use them to forge bills, stamps, securities, and the like. . To prevent such fraudulent forgery,
A special mark that is difficult to distinguish is attached to bills, stamps, securities, and the like in advance, and the mark is detected by the image input / output device, so that "printing of bills, stamps, securities, etc. is prohibited. There has been proposed a system that takes measures to prevent forgery assuming that the information is image information.

[0003] This is an image for which printing is prohibited, such as a bill, by judging whether or not a specific pattern such as a particular pattern of a bill is included in an input image in a real space area. This is the system that makes the determination.

[0004] On the other hand, there is a digital watermark for adding information in a manner as described below so that it is invisible to humans. First, image information is transformed into a frequency domain by a method such as Fourier transform. Next, additional information is added to a specific frequency that is difficult to visually discriminate. Human visual characteristics are often added to the high frequency range because the sensitivity is lower in the higher frequency range. Next, the data to which the signal has been added is returned to the real space area again.
As a result, image information in which a digital watermark that is difficult to visually recognize is embedded is completed. In detecting such a digital watermark, image information is converted into a frequency domain, and a digital watermark embedded from data of a specific frequency component is detected.

Further, there is disclosed a technique for embedding information relating to a copyright or a restriction on the use of an image in a print image as such digital watermark information.

[0006] In these bills and the like determination, if a mark or a specific image is detected and it is determined that the image is an image for which printing is prohibited, measures are taken such as stopping printing or painting black.

[0007]

However, there are cases where marks or specific patterns cannot be read due to blurring or distortion of the original image data, even though the images are actually printing prohibited, such as banknotes. Misrecognition can be prevented by lowering the threshold for determining that the image is a “print prohibited image”, but if you do so, an image with a similar pattern is conversely “a print prohibited image”. ", The printing is stopped, or the contents are blacked out and the contents cannot be confirmed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem. Even when a specific mark or image pattern is detected at the time of printing an image, it is possible to print an image different from the original data. The actual output is completely different from the bill, etc., to prevent unauthorized use even if the determination of `` the image is prohibited printing '' is correct. However, the image processing apparatus, the recording apparatus, and the recording method, which are completely different from the original image, are characterized in that at least the contents can be confirmed and the printed matter is not wasted at all. provide.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a determining means for determining whether an input image is a specific image, and a determination result. A conversion unit that can confirm the content and converts the image into a different image.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of an image processing system to which the present invention can be applied.

In FIG. 1, a host 101 is a CPU 102
, Memory 103, external storage 104, input unit 105
And an interface 106 with the printer 110. The CPU 102 executes a program stored in the memory 103 to realize detection, determination, color processing, quantization processing, and the like of a mark that specifies a print-inhibited image such as an electronic watermark. This program is stored in the external storage 104 or supplied from an external device. The pattern to be detected is stored in the external storage device in advance. This pattern may be an invisible digital watermark that embeds information at a specific frequency of an image or a visible digital watermark that embeds information with a color (for example, a yellow dot) that is invisible to human eyes. The pattern is not limited to the electronic watermark, and may be another pattern. Host 101 is interface 10
6, and sends the quantized image data to the printer 110 to perform print recording. The printer has an inexpensive unit price, and it is difficult to realize the banknote determination function by hardware, so that it is preferable to employ a software determination function. It is a recording device of a conventionally known system such as a thermal transfer system. Note that processing such as color processing and quantization may be performed by the printer main body.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of image processing by software executed by a program (printer driver) installed in a host, for example, and the periphery thereof.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes an application in the host, and a portion surrounded by a dotted line denotes a printer driver. Image information rasterized from the application 201 in accordance with the user's print command is stored in the image memory 202 in the printer driver. Rasterization may be performed in an application or in a printer driver. The image stored in the image memory 202 is detected by the mark detection unit 203 as to whether or not there is a specific mark or image pattern registered in advance, and the image to be printed by the determination unit 204 is a print-prohibited image. Is determined. The result determined by the determination means 204 is sent to the control means 205, and the control means 205
Control 6 The image conversion performed by the image conversion unit 206 is, for example, monochrome conversion of a color image. The color processing unit 207 and the quantization unit 208 perform color processing and quantization of the image data by a conventionally known method, and convert the image data into data that can be printed by the printer 110.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of mark detection for specifying a print-inhibited image such as a digital watermark and image conversion in this embodiment.

First, in step S302, the image data sent from the application is input. Next, in step S303, a predetermined specific mark or image pattern is detected. In step S304, it is determined whether the original image data is “an image whose printing is prohibited” or “is not an image whose printing is prohibited”. The detection method and the determination method may be a pattern matching method in a real space or a frequency space. If it is determined that the image is an image for which printing is prohibited, the process advances to step S305 to perform monochrome conversion, which is a conversion that allows the content of the original image to be confirmed.
The monochrome image is subjected to color processing (step S306) and quantization (step S307) so that the image can be printed by the printer, and is output to the printer. If it is determined that the image is not an image for which printing is not prohibited, the process directly proceeds to the color processing step S306, and the image is printed as usual by the printer.

An example of the monochrome conversion process in step S305 will be described.

For monochrome conversion, the luminance of a pixel is calculated from the RGB value of each pixel, and converted into new RGB data according to the luminance. The luminance Y of the image is given by, for example, the following equation: Y = 0.30R + 0.59G + 0.11B. Thereby, the value R'G'B 'of the monochrome pixel is given by R' = G '= B' = Y.

Of course, the processing for monochrome conversion is not limited to the above example.

In step S302, all images may be spooled first, or the original image may be divided into several blocks and sequentially input and processed. In order to increase the throughput of the printer, it is better to perform the processing sequentially from the beginning of the image and print from the part where the processing is completed, rather than spooling all the images in advance. In this case, monochrome conversion is performed from the block in which the mark or pattern is detected.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which an image conversion process is performed in the printer driver after it is determined that the image is a print-inhibited image. In the second embodiment, an example in which image conversion processing is performed by the printer body will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a process according to the second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, an image memory 402 that receives an image transmitted from the application 201,
The apparatus includes a mark detection unit 403, a determination unit 404, a control unit 405, a color processing unit 406, and a quantization unit 407. Further, a reception buffer 408, an image conversion unit 409, and a printing unit 41 are provided inside the printer.
0 is provided. The original image data is subjected to color processing and quantization by a normal method regardless of the determination result, and transferred to the printer 110. The control unit 405 transfers a print-inhibited image signal to the printer 110 if the image to be printed is “a print-inhibited image” based on the determination result of the determination unit 404. The printer receives the quantized image data in the reception buffer 408 and prints the image by a normal means without converting the image until receiving the print prohibition image signal. After receiving the print-inhibited image signal in the reception buffer 408, the image developed in the reception buffer is converted to monochrome by the image conversion unit 409, and the monochrome data is printed.

The monochrome processing inside the printer can be achieved by, for example, replacing cyan, magenta, and yellow data with black. In addition, simply replacing the ink will increase the amount of ink used, causing an increase in the amount of ink used, crushing of the image due to overflow of the ink, and the likeness of the recording paper due to the fact that the recording medium such as paper absorbs a large amount of water. When such an adverse effect occurs, data may be thinned out in advance using a mask or the like provided in the printer.

The method of converting the image data into a monochrome image in the printer is not limited to the above example.

(Third Embodiment) In the first and second embodiments, the original image data and the original image data are prepared in case of making an erroneous determination in determining whether the image is a print prohibited image. The appearance is completely different, and the content is checked so that it can be confirmed. In order to satisfy such a condition, an example in which a means of “monochrome conversion” is adopted has been described. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which only the edges of an image are extracted and printed.

The processing apparatus in this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation in the present embodiment. As in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned mark is present in the image sent from the application (step S504). If the mark is detected and it is determined that the image is an image for which printing is prohibited, the process proceeds to the edge extraction step S505. In the edge extraction step S505, the image is converted into an image in which only edges are extracted from the original image. After that, normal color processing and quantization are performed, sent to a printer, and printed.

Edge extraction is performed by a filtering process. FIG. 6 is an example of a filter. In this method, edge extraction is performed by emphasizing only the luminance of a pixel at a location where the luminance of the image greatly changes. A luminance difference in the local area is obtained by a product-sum operation of the image data and the weighting coefficient filter in the local area, and the luminance difference is compared with a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not the target pixel is an edge.

The edge extraction processing is not limited to the above example. The shape of the filter may be changed, or edges may be extracted not by luminance but by color difference.

(Fourth Embodiment) A mark or a specific pattern is detected in an image to be printed, and image conversion processing is performed based on the certainty of determining that the image is an image for which printing is prohibited. May be changed. As a result, when it is determined that the image is an image for which printing is prohibited,
By stopping the processing, illegal use can be more reliably prevented.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation in this embodiment.

As in the first to third embodiments, a specific mark or a specific pattern is detected in an image to be printed in a mark detection step S603. Step S604
Then, the determination level is set to three levels according to the type and frequency of the detected mark or pattern, the accuracy of the determination processing, and the like.
That is, if the input image is “an image that is definitely prohibited from printing such as banknotes”, “judgment level: A”; If it is in the middle, and "it is not certain, but it is suspected that the image is a printing prohibition such as a banknote", it is determined as "judgment level: B".

If "judgment level: C", step S60
Proceeding to 7, the image is output to the printer through the normal color processing and quantization procedure without being changed from the original image. "Judgment level:
If "A", it proceeds to step S606, issues a warning, and ends printing. If “determination level: B”, the process proceeds to step S605, where some image conversion is added to the original image,
Output to printer. The image conversion adopted in step S605 can confirm the contents such as monochrome conversion, edge extraction, etc., but cannot use the output material illegally.
This is the process of changing the appearance. The process of step S606 may be a process of painting out black (a process in which the content cannot be confirmed), instead of stopping printing.

As described above, the first embodiment described above
According to Nos. 4 to 4, when a specific mark or pattern is detected in an image to be printed and it is determined that the image is an image for which printing is prohibited, the conversion is performed so that the original image can be confirmed. And image conversion such as edge extraction. As a result, even if the judgment is correct and the printed image is a bill or the like, the appearance of the bill is completely different from that of an actual bill, and illegal use can be prevented. Conversely, if the image is similar to an image that is not actually a banknote and the determination is incorrect, at least printing can be performed and the content can be confirmed. As a result, the threshold for determination can be made strict to some extent so that forgery can be reliably prevented, and the output of a well-meaning user who has tried to print a similar image is not wasted at all.

(Another embodiment of the present invention) A program for operating the configuration of the above-described embodiment so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment is stored in a storage medium, and the program stored in the storage medium is coded. A processing method of reading the present embodiment and executing the present embodiment on a client computer and a server computer is also included in the category of the above-described embodiment, and a storage medium storing the above-described program is also included in the above-described embodiment.

As such a storage medium, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, and ROM can be used.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the one in which the processing is executed solely by the program stored in the above-mentioned storage medium. The one that performs the operation is also included in the category of the above-described embodiment.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the image is determined to be a specific image, the content of the image can be confirmed and the image is converted into a different image. In addition to this, even if an error occurs in the determination, the content can be confirmed, and an image with low accuracy in the determination can be recognized. As a result, it can be used as a reference when correcting the determination algorithm and changing the setting of the determination threshold value to one with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of an image processing system applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing device, a recording device, and peripheral components according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus, a recording apparatus, and peripheral components according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a filter for extracting edges according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C061 AQ04 AQ05 AR01 CL10 5B057 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CA19 CB01 CB02 CB06 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CC02 CG07 CH18 DA06 DA17 DB02 DB06 DB09 DC16 5C076 AA14 AA26 BA06 5C079 LA13 LA13 PA03

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A discriminating means for discriminating whether an input image is a specific image, and a converting means for confirming the contents of the image if it is a specific image and converting the image into a different image if the image is a specific image An image processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information is performed by detecting a digital watermark. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination processing is performed by software processing using a program. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the program is included in a printer driver. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converted image is printed by an ink jet method. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the digital watermark includes an invisible digital watermark or a visible digital watermark. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion is color / monochrome conversion or edge extraction. 8. If the discrimination result is the first level, the conversion by the conversion means is performed. If the discrimination result is the second level, the conversion is performed so that the contents of the image cannot be confirmed or the image is converted. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein output is stopped. 9. An image processing method comprising: determining whether an input image is a specific image; and, if the determination result indicates that the image is a specific image, converting the image into a different image whose contents can be confirmed and different. Method. 10. The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the specific information is performed by detecting a digital watermark. 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the determination processing is performed by software processing using a program.
Item. 12. The image processing method according to claim 11, wherein the program is included in a printer driver. 13. The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein said converted image is printed by an ink jet method. 14. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the digital watermark includes an invisible digital watermark or a visible digital watermark. 15. The conversion includes a color / monochrome conversion,
10. The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein edge extraction is performed. 16. If the determination result is the first level, the conversion is performed. If the determination result is the second level, the conversion is performed so that the contents of the image cannot be confirmed or the output according to the image is stopped. 10. The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein: 17. A storage medium storing a code for performing the image processing according to claim 9. Description: