JP2002041360A - Image processor and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conveniently output confidential data while ensuring security. SOLUTION: This image processor 100 is provided with an image reading part 101 and an external I/F 102 to input image data, a security code generating part 135 to generate security codes to be used in the case of accessing the image data, a memory 132 in which a program to add the security codes to the image data is stored and a CPU 131 to permit access to the image data to which the security code to coincide with the security code inputted by an information input/output and display part 105 is added among pieces of the image data to which the security codes are added and to permit no access to the image data to which noncoincident security code is added when the security code is inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method having a security function for accessing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or the like, or an image processing apparatus having these functions, image data is recorded in accordance with the increase in functions and functions. A recording unit is provided. By providing a recording unit, a high-performance image processing apparatus having an electronic sort function and the like has been developed and provided. As an example of an advanced function, in the case of copying 10 copies of 10 originals, scanning (reading) every 10 originals is performed, and the read image data is temporarily stored in a storage unit. A function of sorting and outputting ten copies of the number of copies is provided.

[0003] By temporarily storing image data in the storage unit, 10 read operations of 10 sheets x 10 = 100 read operations are reduced to 10 read operations, thereby ensuring a high-speed output (printing) operation as a whole. Will be done.

[0004] Further, by securing the image data in the storage section, the effect of improving the convenience of the image processing can be obtained. For example, even when A4 paper is placed and stored in the feed tray of the image processing apparatus in the vertical direction, and the original to be read is A4 size in the horizontal direction, by rotating the read digital data by 90 °, the desired digital data can be obtained. Output (print) is obtained.

[0005] In addition, an image processing apparatus has been developed in which an image processing apparatus has a function that can be used like a file server or a filing system by storing image data in a recording unit. In particular, when a recording unit is provided, data that is repeatedly used can be stored in the recording unit of the image processing apparatus and reused. As described above, the conventional image processing apparatus is easy to use for many users.

[0006]

However, the prior art has the following problems. That is, when the image processing apparatus is sophisticated, the convenience is enhanced, so that it is inevitably used by many users. At this time, in an image processing apparatus having a function of storing data input to the image processing apparatus (scanned data or data transferred from a personal computer), confidential data and general data are both stored. If you can handle that data,
There has been a problem that the confidentiality of data may be reduced.

As a prior art for solving such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-129049 discloses a technique for preventing unauthorized use by incorporating a fingerprint reader in a copy function button. Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-212602 discloses a technique in which information for identifying an individual is recorded and used for tracking illegal copying or transmission. .

In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-143907 discloses a file system and a recording medium on which a program used in the system is recorded. A technique is disclosed in which date and time information is set so that a secret command and an encryption command are not seen by others when a command is issued.

However, these techniques relating to security of an image relate to a method for specifying one individual. In other words, access to data is permitted in association with personal information such as a fingerprint and a user ID / password. Therefore, when another person wants to output the same image, the person who holds the confidential data is requested to output the image, or the person himself / herself outputs the user's ID or password, and the other person operates the image. I had to.

In other words, the conventional technique requires special equipment and places a heavy burden on those who possess confidential data, so that confidential data cannot be output easily while ensuring security. there were.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to output confidential data easily while ensuring security.

[0013]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: an image data input unit configured to input image data; and a security unit used when accessing the image data. Security code generation means for generating a code, security code addition means for adding the security code generated by the security code generation means to the image data input by the image data input means, and security code input for inputting the security code Means for permitting access to image data to which a security code that matches the security code input by the security code input means, of the image data to which the security code has been added by the security code addition means. do not do And accessibility control means Curie tee code is controlled so as not to allow access to the added image data is obtained by including a.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, access permission / inhibition can be controlled by the security code added to the image data.

[0015] The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a security code notifying unit for notifying the security code added by the security code adding unit.

That is, the invention according to claim 2 allows a user to recognize a security code which is a clue for accessing image data.

Further, the image processing apparatus according to claim 3 is
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the security code input by the security code input means is used to search for image data added with a security code matching the security code. It is provided.

That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily search for image data to which a security code is added.

Further, the image processing apparatus according to claim 4 is
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the security code generation unit generates a security code including information on a date and time when the image data is input by the image data input unit, and the image data search unit determines the security code. The image data is searched based on the date and time information included in the code.

That is, the invention according to claim 4 enables a user who handles a large amount of image data such as a confidential document to easily organize the data in chronological order.

Further, the image processing apparatus according to claim 5 is
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether the security code generated by the security code generation unit is added to the image data input by the image data input unit is set. It has security code addition setting means.

That is, the invention according to claim 5 can increase the degree of freedom of the user's judgment on whether to set security.

Further, the image processing apparatus according to claim 6 is
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, among the image data input by the image data input unit, an image data to which a security code is added and an image to which no security code is added. The image processing apparatus includes: a retention period setting unit that sets separate data retention periods for data; and an image data deletion unit that deletes image data that has passed the data retention period set by the retention period setting unit. .

That is, the invention according to claim 6 can shorten the retention period of the image data to which the security code has been added, thereby enhancing the security.

The image processing method according to claim 7 is
An image data inputting step of inputting image data, a security code generating step of generating a security code used when accessing the image data, and inputting the security code generated in the security code generating step in the image data inputting step A security code adding step of adding the security code to the input image data, a security code inputting step of inputting a security code, and a security code inputting step of the image data to which the security code is added in the security code adding step. A control that permits access to image data to which a security code that matches the security code has been added and does not permit access to image data to which a security code that does not match is added. Seth acceptance control process are those containing.

That is, according to the invention of claim 7, it is possible to control whether or not access is possible by the security code added to the image data.

The image processing method according to claim 8 is
8. The image processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a security code notifying step of notifying the security code added in the security code adding step.

That is, the invention according to claim 8 allows a user to recognize a security code which is a clue for accessing image data.

The image processing method according to claim 9 is
9. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein an image data search step of searching for image data to which a security code matching the security code is added using the security code input in the security code input step. Included.

That is, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, image data to which a security code is added can be easily searched.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method of the seventh, eighth or ninth aspect, the security code generated in the security code generation step is input in the image data input step. And a security code addition setting step of setting whether or not to add the image data to the received image data.

That is, the invention according to claim 10 can increase the user's flexibility in determining whether to set security.

An image processing method according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the image processing method according to any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, wherein the security code is included in the image data input in the image data input step. A retention period setting step of setting separate data retention periods for the image data to which the security code is added and an image data to which the data retention period set in the retention period setting step has passed. Image data deleting step of deleting data.

That is, according to the present invention, the security period can be enhanced by shortening the retention period of the image data to which the security code is added.

[0035]

[Embodiment 1]

(Block Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus) FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image processing apparatus 100 includes an image reading unit 101 that reads a document as image data (copy image) that is digital data, and an external personal computer (P
C), an external interface (I / F) 102 for inputting image data (printer image) such as a document file converted to be printable and output, and image data read by the image reading unit 101 or an external I / F 102 A processing unit 103 that performs various processes such as adding a security code described below to the image data input by
An image forming unit 104 that forms image data processed by the processing unit 103 on recording paper and outputs the image data; and an information input / output / display unit 105 that performs input and display of a security code and performs display and operation of the image processing apparatus 100. And

The processing unit 103 is a CP that controls the entire apparatus such as input of image data and data processing such as image processing.
U131, a memory 132 including a RAM used as a work area for work of the CPU 131 and a ROM storing a boot program, a processing program, and the like; a timer 133 for managing a time included in a header of input image data; The storage unit 134 includes a storage unit 134 that stores data, a security code generation unit 135 that generates a security code, and an image data search unit 136 that searches the storage unit 134 for predetermined image data. Also 13
Reference numeral 7 denotes a system bus connecting these units.

As the image reading unit 101, for example, a scanner can be used. This scanner is a CCD (C
Even in the case of a large coupled device type, a contact image sensor (CIS)
r) Any type may be used. RGB with this sensor
The image data is output as a signal or black-and-white binary or black-and-white multi-level signal, and is converted to be output by the image forming unit 104 as necessary.

The external I / F 102 is, for example, a modem, R
S-232C, USB, IEEE1394 and the like. Further, a LAN interface may be used. By using a general-purpose I / F, it is possible to easily establish a connection with a PC or a peripheral device.

As the time keeping unit 133, for example, an internal clock attached to the motherboard of the processing unit 103 can be used.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a clock that separately outputs time-related data. The storage unit 134 may be, for example, a hard disk or a flash memory, but is not limited thereto, and may be any as long as the contents of the image data stored and held in the storage unit 134 are not erased even when the main power is off.

The image forming unit 104 may employ, for example, an image forming unit of a laser printer or an image forming unit of ink jet. In addition, a sublimation type image forming unit may be used, and further, a thermal type image forming unit may be used. However, when speed is important, it is preferable to use the image forming unit of the laser printer.

As the information input / output / display unit 105, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel can be used. By using a touch panel, a setting instruction as to whether or not to add a security code to image data is possible, and a security code is input, and the image data with the corresponding security code stored in the storage unit 134 is added. Can be output. Also, by using liquid crystal,
When the user gives an instruction to add a security code, the security code actually added to each image data can be displayed. Information input / output / display unit 105
In addition, the operating status of the image processing apparatus 100 and maintenance information can be displayed.

Although the security code is notified through the information input / output / display unit 105 in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. And a security code corresponding to the thumbnail may be output from the image forming unit 104.

(Functional Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus) FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image processing device 100 functionally includes the image data input unit 20
1, a security code generation unit 202, a security code addition unit 203, a security code addition setting unit 204, a security code notification unit 205, a security code input unit 206, and an image data search unit 20
7, the access permission control unit 208, and the image forming unit 209
And Note that the image forming unit 209 is the same as the image forming unit 104 shown in FIG. 1, but is referred to as the image forming unit 209 here for convenience.

(Functional Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus: Contents of Image Data Input Unit) First, contents of the image data input unit 201 will be described. The image data input unit 201 inputs image data. Here, the image data is not limited to image data in a narrow sense such as a bitmap format, but includes all data that the image processing apparatus 100 can appropriately process and output in the processing unit 103 or the image forming unit 104. Therefore, the print data for the recording paper is also included in the image data. Audio data is an example of data that does not correspond to image data. Image data input unit 201
Is, for example, the image reading unit 101 shown in FIG.
The function can be realized by the / F102.

(Functional Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus: Security Code Generation Unit / Security Code Addition Unit 203) Next, the security code generation unit 202 and the security code addition unit 203 will be described. The security code generation unit 202 is the same as the security code 135 shown in FIG. 1, but is referred to as a security code generation unit 202 here for convenience. The security code generation unit 202 generates a security code used when accessing image data.

The generated security code is added to the image data by the security code adding unit 203. The security code is added, for example, as a header to the head of the image data. This header is
This is information that serves as a clue when accessing image data by search or the like, and the security code is added to the image data in a form embedded in the header. The image data to which the security code is added is stored in the storage unit 134 under the control of the CPU 131.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a header including a security code. At the beginning of the header,
A flag (flagS) is provided as a mark as to whether or not a security code has been added to the image data. The image processing apparatus 100 determines whether a security code is added to the image data by referring to the flagS. A security code is added to the header following flagS. The security code itself is, for example, a character string such as "31b @ x2Q" or a binary code corresponding to this character string. At the end of the security code, date and time information, which is the date and time when the image data was input, is added, along with a user ID and the like.

The function of security code adding section 203 can be realized by a program stored in ROM in CPU 131 and memory 132 shown in FIG. 1, for example. Also, the security code generation unit 2
02 can employ a random number generator, for example.
Note that the CPU 131 employs a security code that has confirmed that the random number issued by the random number generator is not a previously issued random number.

(Contents of Security Code Addition Setting Unit)
Next, the contents of the security code addition setting unit 204 will be described. Security code addition setting unit 204
Sets whether to add the security code generated by the security code generation unit 202 to the image data input by the image data input unit 201. The image processing apparatus 100 also inputs and outputs normal image data that does not require security. Therefore,
A security code need only be added to image data for which confidentiality needs to be considered by the user.

The security code addition setting section 204
For example, the function can be realized by the information input / output / display unit 105 and the CPU 131 shown in FIG.
When image data is input from the external I / F 102 when the image processing apparatus 100 is connected to a PC via a LAN, for example, the PC may set whether or not to add a security code. . Thereby, the user does not have to go to the installation location of the image processing apparatus 100 each time, and the convenience is improved.

(Contents of Security Code Notification Unit) Next, the contents of the security code notification unit 205 will be described. The security code notifying unit 205 notifies the user of the security code added to the image data by the security code adding unit 203. The user makes a note of the notified security code, and notifies the code to others who should share the image data.

Here, the significance of the security code will be described. In a general-purpose OS (for example, UNIX (registered trademark)) used for a computer, an access restriction is provided for a file (data) according to attributes such as a user and a group. Specifically, a setting is provided such that access to confidential data created by a certain user is permitted to members of the same group, but access is not permitted to members of another group. It can be said that this system has improved convenience while maintaining confidentiality among those who exclusively use the computer.

However, like image data to which a security code is added, it is not always used only within a certain group, and whether or not the data can be passed at the discretion of the creator (user) is determined. If the image data is judged to be managed by attributes such as a group and the ID and password of the creator, data transfer and output (printing) will be inconvenient. Therefore, when the security code as described above (that is, a code without a concept such as a group) determines whether or not access to the image data is possible,
The convenience of the image processing apparatus 100 is improved.

Therefore, the creator (user) may notify the security code notified by the security code notifying unit 205 to another person who needs the data as the access restriction release means for the image data. The function of the security code notification unit 205 can be realized by, for example, the information input / output / display unit 105 shown in FIG.

(Contents of Security Code Input Unit / Image Data Search Unit) Next, the security code input unit 206
The image data search unit 207 will be described. In addition,
Although the image data search unit 207 is the same as the image data search unit 136 in FIG. 1, it will be referred to as the image data search unit 207 here for convenience of explanation.

The security code input unit 206 inputs a security code, and the image data search unit 207
Based on the security code input by the security code input unit 206, it is searched whether or not the image data to which the corresponding security code is added is stored in the storage unit 134. When searching the image data in the storage unit 134, the image data search unit 136 first turns on the flagS of the head of the image data header.
Check if it is.

The fact that flagS is ON means that a security code has been added. Therefore, the image data search unit 136 determines whether or not this security code matches the security code being searched. I do. If they match, the image data can be accessed by the access control unit 208 described below. The security code input unit 206 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Information input / output / display unit 105 and CPU 131 shown in FIG.
Can realize the function.

(Access permission control section / image forming section 104)
The access permission / rejection control unit 208 releases the access restriction of the image data having the security code that matches the security code input from the security code input unit 206 and sends the image data to the image forming unit 104. The image forming unit 104 outputs (prints) the transmitted image data on a recording sheet. This makes it possible to print the required image data (confidential data) only by inputting the security code given by the creator. The access permission control unit 208 is, for example, the CPU 13
1 makes it possible to realize that function.

(Flow of Image Input When Security Code is Set) The operation or processing flow of the image processing apparatus 100 described above includes the flow of image data input when a security code is set and the output of an image to which a security code is added. This will be described with reference to a flowchart.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of image input when setting a security code. The user determines whether to set security for the image data, that is, whether to add a security code to the image data (step S401). When security is set (Step S401: Yes), the security flag flagS to be embedded in the header is turned on (Step S402). Turning on flagS specifically means an instruction to add a security code to image data using the information input / output / display unit 105 shown in FIG. The image data for which security is set is, specifically, confidential image data and image data that is expected to be output by a plurality of persons later, as described above. .

When the security flag flagS is turned on in step S402, a security code is generated by the security code generation unit 135 (step S403). In the processing unit 103, the clock unit 1
The time at the time of inputting the image data or the time at which the security code was generated is acquired from 33 (step S404).
Note that this time information is referred to as date and time information. The generated security code and the obtained time are stored in a RAM area in the memory 132.

The processing unit 103 includes a ROM in the memory 132
The flag S turned on in step S402 according to the program stored in advance in step S402, step S40
Security code generated in step 3 and step S4
A header is created using the date and time information acquired in step S04 (step S405).

Next, the image reading unit 101 or the external I
/ F102 to read image data (step S
406). A header is added to the read image data, and the read image data is stored in the storage unit 134 (step S407). By storing the image data in the storage unit 134, the image data can be retrieved later.

On the other hand, if no security is set in step S401 (step S401: No), f
The flag S is turned off (step S412), and the image data without the security code in the header is stored in the storage unit 134 via steps S404 to S407.

Next, when security is set (step S408: YES), the security code added to the stored image data is displayed through the information input / output / display unit 105 (step S409). The display of the security code ends (step S410). Then, the RAM of the memory 132
The security code stored in the area is deleted (step S411). By erasing the security code, security is further enhanced.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of outputting image data to which a security code has been added. The user inputs a security code through the information input / output / display unit 105 (step S451). The image data search unit 136 searches the image data stored in the storage unit 134 using the input security code as a clue (step S452). In the search, it is checked whether or not the first flagS of the header of the image data is ON.
It is determined whether the security code immediately after the information of gS matches the input security code (step S453).

If the security codes match (step S453: YES), access to the image data is permitted, so the image data is transmitted to the image forming unit 104 as it is, and the image is printed out from the image forming unit 104 (step S454). ). On the other hand, when there is no image data that matches the input security code (step S45)
3: No), a warning display or caution display indicating that there is no matching data (step S455).

As described above, unlike the image processing apparatus of the first embodiment in which the access restriction is released by inputting a user ID and a password, the access restriction is released by inputting a certain security code. You. This allows another user to easily output the image when the user wants to output the image flexibly according to the situation while maintaining security.

[Second Embodiment] An image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment includes timekeeping information in a security code for ensuring confidentiality of image data. By including timekeeping information directly in the security code, it is possible to more efficiently search for image data. Note that, in the present embodiment, the same portions as those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, a different point from the first embodiment is that a timing information insertion unit 210 is functionally added. The timing information insertion unit 210 outputs the input time of the image data or the security code generation time to the security code generation unit 202.

FIG. 7 shows a security code adding unit 203.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a header including a security code added in FIG. As is clear from the figure, the security code includes timekeeping information. In the security code generation unit 202, the timing information may be placed at any position of the security code. However, when the image data search unit 207 searches for image data from the beginning of the header, the time information is placed immediately after flagS. Is preferred. This is because the user who deals with many confidential documents can easily arrange the chronological order by considering the timekeeping information in the search of the image data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of inputting image data when setting a security code according to the second embodiment. The user determines whether to set security for the image data (step S501).
When setting security (Step S501: YES), the security flag fla to be embedded in the header
gS is turned ON (step S502).

When the security flag flagS is turned on in step S502, the processing unit 103 obtains the time when the image data was input or the time when the security code was generated from the clock unit 133 (step S50).
3). Next, the security code generation unit 135 generates a security code including the timing information (step S504).

The processing unit 103 has a ROM
In accordance with the program stored in advance in step S502, flagS turned on in step S502, step S50
A header is created using the security code including the timing information generated in step 3 (step S505).

Next, the image reading unit 101 or the external I
/ F102 to read image data (step S
506). A header is added to the read image data, and the read image data is stored in the storage unit 134 (step S507). By storing the image data in the storage unit 134, the image data can be retrieved later.

On the other hand, when security is not set in step S501 (step S501: No), f
The flag S is turned off (step S512), and the image data without the security code in the header is stored in the storage unit 134 through steps S504 to S507.

If the security is set (Yes at Step S508), the security code added to the stored image data is displayed through the information input / output / display unit 105 (Step S509). The display of the security code ends (step S510). Then, the RAM of the memory 132
The security code stored in the area is deleted (step S511). By erasing the security code, security is further enhanced.

As described above, in the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment, unlike the security in which the access restriction is released by inputting the user ID and the password, the access restriction is released by inputting a certain security code. You. At this time, since the timing information is also included,
For a user who handles many confidential documents, it is possible to obtain an image processing apparatus that can easily arrange the time series.

[Third Embodiment] In a third embodiment, an image processing apparatus will be described which makes a difference between data retention periods of image data to which a security code is added and image data to which no security code is added. Note that portions common to the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The figure is for explaining the main functional parts when describing the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, and it goes without saying that the functional parts shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 6 are also provided. . The storage unit 211 in the figure is the same as the storage unit 134 in FIG. 1, but is referred to as the storage unit 211 here for convenience.

(Contents of Holding Period Setting Unit and Image Data Deleting Unit) The contents of the holding period setting unit 212 and the image data deleting unit 213 will be described. The storage period setting unit 212 stores the image data to which the security code is added and the image data to which the security code is not added, in the storage unit 211.
Have different retention periods (deletion schedules). When the storage unit 211 is incorporated in the image processing apparatus 100, a new image cannot be stored in a limited capacity unless the stored image data is deleted according to a certain rule.

The image processing apparatus 100 solves the above problem by setting a storage period. That is, a fixed storage period is set by the storage period setting unit 212, and the image data deletion unit 213 sequentially deletes images after the period. An example of the holding period is one week for image data to which a security code is added and one month for image data to which no security code is added. The reason why the retention period of the image data to which the security code is added is shortened is that the possibility of some kind of unauthorized access from the outside can be reduced.

In addition, regarding image data to which a security code is added, the image forming unit 104
May be set to one week from the date of output from the MFP, and to one month from the date of the most recent output from the image forming unit 104 for image data to which the security code is not added. Since frequently used image data is likely to be output again, it is possible to extend the holding period of the most recently used (output) image data to enhance convenience.

In addition, even during the deletion schedule period,
When the capacity of the storage unit 211 becomes full, there is a method of sequentially deleting the image data with the oldest timekeeping information. There is also a method of deleting the storage unit 211 with a margin so as not to be full. The retention period setting unit 212 and the image data deletion unit 213 are, for example, the CPU 131 shown in FIG.
The function can be realized by a program or the like in the ROM stored in the memory 132.

(Flow of Holding Period Setting) FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow in which the holding period setting unit 212 sets the holding period of the image data. Retention period setting unit 212
Inputs a deletion schedule of image data (document) for which security is to be set to, for example, one week (step S).
601). Subsequently, a deletion schedule of normal image data (document) for which security is not set is input as, for example, one month (step S602). For convenience of description, image data with a security code set is referred to as security setting image data, and image data without a security code is referred to as non-security setting image data.

(Flow of Deletion of Image Data) FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of deletion of image data by the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment. Image processing device 10
If it is 0, it is determined whether or not the capacity of the storage unit 134 is full (step S651). If it is not full, that is, if there is still a storable area (step S651: negative), it is determined whether the search for all image data has been completed (step S652). If the search of all the image data has not been completed (step S652: No), the next image data is inspected to determine whether or not security is set (step S653).

If security has been set (step S653: YES), it is determined whether or not the period set by the holding period setting unit 212 for the image data to which the security code has been added has exceeded (step S65).
4). If the period has expired, the image data is deleted (step S655). If the period has not been exceeded (step S654: No), the storage of the image data is maintained,
It returns to step S652.

On the other hand, if security is not set in step S653 (step S653: No),
It is determined whether the retention period setting unit 212 has exceeded the period set for the image data to which the security code has not been added (step S656). If the period has elapsed (Yes at Step S656), the image data is deleted (Step S657). If the period has not elapsed (step S656: No), the image data is kept held, and the process returns to step S652.

Note that the image processing apparatus 100 determines in step S
If it is determined in step 651 that the capacity of the storage unit 134 is full (step S651: affirmative), the non-security setting image data having old date and time information is deleted. At this time, data may be sequentially deleted until a certain free space is secured.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment sets the data holding period while distinguishing between the image data to which the security code is added and the image data without the security code. By shortening the retention period, confidentiality can be more reliably maintained.

[0091]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention (claim 1), the security used when the image data input means inputs the image data and the security code generation means accesses the image data. A security code adding unit for adding a security code generated by the security code generation unit to the image data input by the image data input unit; the security code input unit inputting the security code; The control means permits access to the image data to which the security code matching the security code input by the security code input means is added, out of the image data to which the security code is added by the security code adding means. Not seki Since access to image data to which the security code has been added is controlled not to be permitted, access permission / inhibition can be controlled by the security code added to the image data, thereby securing confidential data while ensuring security. It is possible to output easily.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 2)
In the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, since the security code notifying unit notifies the security code added by the security code adding unit,
The user can recognize the security code that is a key to access to the image data, thereby making it possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 3)
Is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The image data search means uses the security code input by the security code input means to search for image data to which a security code matching the security code has been added, so that the image data to which the security code has been added can be easily obtained. This makes it possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 4)
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the security code generation unit generates a security code including information on a date and time when the image data is input by the image data input unit, and the image data search unit includes Since image data is searched based on the information on the date and time included in the security code, a user who handles a large amount of image data such as a confidential document can easily organize the data in chronological order, thereby improving security. It is possible to easily output confidential data while securing the data.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 5)
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the security code addition setting unit converts the security code generated by the security code generation unit into image data input by the image data input unit. Since whether or not to add is set, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom for the user to determine whether or not to set security, and thereby it is possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 6)
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding period setting unit includes an image data to which a security code is added among the image data input by the image data input unit; A separate data retention period is set for each of the image data to which the code is not added, and the image data deletion unit deletes the image data that has passed the data storage period set by the retention period setting unit. Security can be enhanced by shortening the retention period of the added image data, thereby making it possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

The image processing method of the present invention (claim 7)
In the image data input step, image data is input, in the security code generation step, a security code used when accessing the image data is generated, and in the security code addition step, the security code generated in the security code generation step is used. The security code is added to the image data input in the image data input step, a security code is input in the security code input step, and the security code is added in the access code control step in the security code addition step. Permits access to image data with a security code that matches the security code entered in the code input step, and accesses image data with a security code that does not match. And controls to not allow, it is possible to control the accessibility by the security code added to the image data, which makes it possible to easily output the confidential data while ensuring security.

Also, the image processing method of the present invention (claim 8)
In the image processing method according to the seventh aspect, in the security code notifying step, the security code added in the security code adding step is notified, so that the user recognizes the security code which is a clue for accessing the image data. This makes it possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

Further, the image processing method of the present invention (claim 9)
Is the image processing method according to claim 7 or 8,
In the image data search step, the security code input in the security code input step is used to search for image data to which a security code that matches the security code is added. It is possible to search and thereby easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

The image processing method of the present invention (claim 1)
The image processing method according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein in the security code addition setting step, the security code generated in the security code generation step is added to the image data input in the image data input step. Since it is set whether or not to perform security, it is possible to increase the user's degree of freedom in determining whether or not to set security. As a result, it is possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

The image processing method of the present invention (claim 1)
1) The image processing method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein in the holding period setting step, of the image data input in the image data input step, image data to which a security code is added. In the image data to which the security code is not added, a separate data retention period is set, and in the image data deletion step, the image data that has passed the data retention period set in the retention period setting step is deleted. The security period can be enhanced by shortening the retention period of the image data to which the code has been added, thereby making it possible to easily output confidential data while ensuring security.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a header including a security code.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of image input when setting a security code.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of outputting image data to which a security code is added.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a header including a security code added by a security code adding unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of inputting image data when a security code is set according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow in which a retention period setting unit sets a retention period of image data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of deleting image data in the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 image processing apparatus 101 image reading section 102 external interface (I / F) 103 processing section 104 image forming section 105 information input / output / display section 131 CPU 132 memory 133 clock section 134 storage section 135 security code generation section 136 image data search section Reference Signs List 201 Image data input unit 202 Security code generation unit 203 Security code addition unit 204 Security code addition setting unit 205 Security code notification unit 206 Security code input unit 207 Image data search unit 208 Access availability control unit 209 Image formation unit 210 Clock information insertion unit 211 storage unit 212 retention period setting unit 213 image data deletion unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/387 B41J 29/00 Z F-term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 CL08 CL10 5B017 AA06 BA05 BA08 CA07 5B050 AA10 BA10 CA07 FA03 FA19 GA08 5B075 KK45 KK54 KK63 ND06 ND23 ND26 ND34 PP30 PQ02 PQ03 UU05 UU40 5C076 AA14

Claims (11)

[Claims] An image data input unit for inputting image data; a security code generation unit for generating a security code used when accessing the image data; and a security code generated by the security code generation unit. Security code adding means for adding to the image data input by the data input means; security code inputting means for inputting a security code; and inputting the security code among the image data added with the security code by the security code adding means Means to allow access to image data with a security code that matches the security code input by the means, and not to allow access to image data with a security code that does not match. The image processing apparatus being characterized in that anda accessibility control means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising security code notifying means for notifying a security code added by said security code adding means. 3. An image data retrieving means for retrieving image data to which a security code coinciding with the security code is added using a security code input by the security code input means. Item 3. The image processing device according to item 1 or 2. 4. The security code generation unit generates a security code including information on the date and time when the image data is input by the image data input unit, and the image data search unit generates the security code including the date and time included in the security code. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image data is searched based on the information. 5. A security code addition setting means for setting whether to add a security code generated by the security code generation means to image data input by the image data input means. The image processing device according to claim 1. 6. An image data to which a security code has been added and an image data to which no security code has been added among image data input by the image data input means, and a data holding period for setting a separate data holding period. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a period setting unit; and an image data deleting unit configured to delete image data having passed a data storage period set by the holding period setting unit. The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. An image data input step of inputting image data; a security code generation step of generating a security code used when accessing the image data; and a security code generated in the security code generation step. A security code adding step of adding to the image data input in the data input step; a security code inputting step of inputting a security code; Permits access to image data with a security code that matches the security code input in the process, and does not permit access to image data with a security code that does not match Image processing method characterized by including the accessibility control step of controlled so, the. 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, further comprising a security code notifying step of notifying the security code added in the security code adding step. 9. An image data search step of searching for image data to which a security code matching the security code is added using the security code input in the security code input step. Item 7. The image processing method according to Item 7 or 8. 10. A security code addition setting step for setting whether to add the security code generated in the security code generation step to the image data input in the image data input step. The image processing method according to claim 7, 8, or 9. 11. A holding unit for setting separate data holding periods for image data to which a security code is added and image data to which a security code is not added among image data input in the image data input step. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, further comprising: a period setting step; and an image data deleting step of deleting image data that has passed the data storage period set in the holding period setting step. The image processing method described in the above.