JP2003032487A - Image forming method and apparatus, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming method and apparatus, and a storage medium that can set an optional copy inhibit area on an image, generate image information with a prescribed pattern added thereto on the copy inhibit area to be set, display an image including the copy inhibit area and easily confirm the area. SOLUTION: The image forming method includes a step S3 of entering a user identification ID, a step S4 of entering designation information to designate the copy inhibit area on an image, and a step S5 of setting the copy inhibit area to the image in cross-reference with the entered identification ID and displaying the set copy inhibit area in an identification enabled way. Then image data resulting from composing the copy inhibit mark with the copy inhibit area are generated and outputted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method and apparatus and a storage medium for preventing illegal copying of image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent counterfeiting of banknotes, securities, etc. by copying, image data of the copy-prohibited objects are stored in advance in a copying machine, and image data of the originals placed on a platen is stored. It is determined by pattern matching whether or not the original is a copy prohibited item. If the copy is prohibited, copying of the original image is prohibited.

On the other hand, as digital copying machines and printers have become higher in image quality and higher in function in recent years, not only conventional banknotes and securities but also photographs taken by professional photographers and copyrighted works such as books Unauthorized copying is a problem. Similarly, in an office or the like, in order to prevent copying of a confidential document or the like, copying of such a document is prohibited, or only output in a state where a part of the original image is hidden is permitted. Measures need to be taken.

In recent years, a reading device (scanner) of a copying machine
As the image data without printing the original image scanned with
There is an increasing demand for a copying machine having a composite function which is stored on an image server in a copying machine having a hard disk or the like and is capable of transmitting / receiving image data to / from a computer connected to a network. In such a copying machine, there is an increasing demand for a technology that prohibits copying of image data even for image data stored in an image server, or permits copying only when a part of the image data is hidden. .

However, in the forgery prevention technique based on the above pattern matching, it is necessary to register the copy prohibited image as image data in the copying machine in advance, and the copy prevention process is efficiently applied to a wide variety of documents. It was difficult to do. Therefore, for a general document generated in the office, a plurality of invisible density marks are provided on the document at the time of image formation for creating the original document. Thus, when an attempt is made to copy the document, if such a mark is detected in the read document, it is determined that the document is a copy prohibited document and the copy is prohibited.
Alternatively, copy protection processing has been developed, such as hiding and outputting a designated part of a document. In such a method, since the printed mark is invisible, the change of the original image due to the copy protection mark is reduced. Further, since the copy prohibition mark is provided on the entire surface of the image, there is an advantage that the copy prohibited document can be easily determined even if the image is copied with a part of the image hidden.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional method of giving a copy prohibition mark, the copy prohibition mark is not visible or is encrypted, and therefore the user who gives the mark has the mark. However, I could not directly confirm the appearance when the copy prohibition mark actually appeared. In addition, it was not possible to confirm whether or not the place desired to be hidden can be hidden by the copy prohibition mark.

Further, the area where the copy prohibition mark appears is set uniquely to the copying machine. For example, even when it is desired to conceal only the numerical portion of the book document, the user can arbitrarily embed the mark at a desired position. I couldn't.

Further, when the image data is stored in the image server, it is possible to judge whether or not the read image is a copy-prohibited image, and if the image is a copy-prohibited image, it is possible to prohibit the storage in the image server. However, since copy-prohibited images cannot be stored in the image server, a copy-prohibited mark is added to the read image to be stored in the image server, or an image with the copy-prohibited mark added from the image server. As for extracting data,
No consideration was given.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an image forming method and apparatus capable of setting an arbitrary area on an image and creating image information in which a predetermined pattern is added to the set area. The purpose is to provide a storage medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming method and apparatus and a storage medium which can easily confirm a set area on an image.

It is another object of the present invention to set an image copy prohibition area, add a predetermined pattern to the copy prohibition area, and output the image to prevent illegal copying of the image. And to provide a device and a storage medium.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, storage means for storing image information and user identification I
Input means for inputting D, setting means for setting a copy prohibited area on the image represented by the image information stored in the storage means in association with the identification ID input by the input means, Preview display means for displaying the image so that the area set by the setting means can be identified,
It is characterized by having.

To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an image data generation unit that reads an original image by the image reading unit to generate image data, an image storage unit that stores the image data generated by the image data generation unit, and an image stored in the image storage unit. Area setting means for setting a copy prohibition area for data together with a user identification ID, pattern instruction means for instructing a pattern to be added to the copy prohibition area, a pattern instructed by the pattern instruction means, and the image data. Is separately stored, and a preview display unit for combining and displaying the image data and the pattern is displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, an input step of inputting a user's identification ID, a setting step of setting a copy prohibited area on an image represented by image information in association with the identification ID input in the input step, and the setting step. A preview display step of displaying the image so that the area set in step 1 can be identified.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming method of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, an image data generating step of reading an original image in the image reading step to generate image data, an image storing step of storing the image data generated in the image data generating step, and an image stored in the image storing step. An area setting step of setting a copy prohibited area together with a user identification ID for data, a pattern instruction step of instructing a pattern to be given to the copy prohibited area, a pattern instructed in the pattern instruction step, and the image data. Are stored separately, and a preview display step of displaying the image data and the pattern by combining them is performed.

[0016]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the printer unit 1P is roughly classified into image forming units (four stations Pa, Pb, P).
c and Pd are arranged in parallel, and their respective configurations are the same), a paper feeding unit, an intermediate transfer unit Te, a fixing unit 40, and a control unit 50.

Further, each unit will be described in detail.

The image forming section 10 has the following structure. Photosensitive drums 11a, 1 as image carriers
Each of 1b, 11c, and 11d is rotatably supported by the center and is rotationally driven in the arrow direction. Photosensitive drums 11a-1
The primary chargers 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d and the optical system 13 are arranged in the direction of rotation so as to face the respective outer peripheral surfaces of
a, 13b, 13c, 13d, developing devices 14a, 14b,
14c and 14d are arranged respectively. Each of the primary chargers 12a to 12d gives a uniform amount of charge to the surface of the corresponding photosensitive drum 11a to 11d.
Next, light beams such as laser beams, which are modulated by the optical systems 13a to 13d according to the recording image signal, are respectively applied to the corresponding photosensitive drums 11a to 11d.
An electrostatic latent image is formed there by exposing to. Further, the electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developing devices 14a to 14d that respectively store four color developers (toners) of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black.
On the downstream side of the image transfer areas Ta, Tb, Tc, Td for transferring the visualized visible image to the intermediate transfer member, the cleaning devices 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d do not transfer the image to the sheet, respectively. Photosensitive drum 11a
The toner remaining on each of the to 11d is scraped off to clean the drum surface.

By the process described above, image formation with each toner is sequentially performed.

The paper feeding unit includes cassettes 21a and 21b for storing the sheets P and a manual feed tray 27, pickup rollers 22a, 22b and 26 for feeding the sheets P one by one in the cassette or from the manual feed tray, and each pickup roller. Sheet feed roller pair 2 for conveying the sheet P sent from the sheet to the registration rollers
3 and the paper feed guide 24, and registration rollers 25a and 25b for sending the sheet P to the secondary transfer area Te at the image forming timing of the image forming unit.

Next, the intermediate transfer unit will be described in detail.

The intermediate transfer belt 31 (as its material, for example, PET [polyethylene terephthalate] or PVdF)
[Polyvinylidene fluoride] or the like is used as a driving roller 32 that transmits driving force to the intermediate transfer belt 31, a driven roller 33 that applies an appropriate tension to the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the urging of a spring (not shown), and a belt. It is wound between the secondary transfer roller 34 and the secondary transfer roller 34 which faces the secondary transfer area Te. Of these, a primary transfer plane is formed between the driving roller 32 and the driven roller 33. The drive roller 32 has a surface of a metal roller coated with rubber (urethane or chloroprene) having a thickness of several mm to prevent slippage with the belt 31. The drive roller 32 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown).

In each of the primary transfer areas Ta to Td where the photosensitive drums 11a to 11d and the intermediate transfer belt 31 face each other, the primary transfer blade 35 is provided on the back of the intermediate transfer belt 31.
Each of a to 35d is arranged. Driven roller 3
A secondary transfer roller 34 is disposed so as to face the sheet 3, and a nip with the intermediate transfer belt 31 forms a secondary transfer area Te. The secondary transfer roller 34 is pressed against the intermediate transfer body with an appropriate pressure. In addition, the intermediate transfer belt 31
A cleaning device 77 for cleaning the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer belt 31 is arranged downstream of the primary transfer area Ta, and the cleaning device 77 includes a cleaner blade (material such as polyurethane rubber is used). Further, a waste toner box for storing the waste toner is provided.

The fixing unit 40 has a fixing roller 41a having a heat source such as a halogen heater therein, a pressure roller 41b (which may also have a heat source), and the roller pair 41a, A guide 43 for guiding the sheet P to the nip portion 41b, an inner paper discharge roller 44, an outer paper discharge roller 45, etc. for further guiding the sheet P discharged from the roller pair 41a, 41b to the outside of the apparatus. It is provided.

The control unit 50 includes a control board for controlling the operation of the mechanism in each unit, a motor drive board, and the like.

Further, a document reader unit 2P is provided above the printer unit 1P. The platen glass 201 is a table on which a document is placed, and the scanner 202 includes a document illumination lamp (not shown) and a scanning mirror 20.
Includes 4. The scanner 20 is driven by a motor (not shown).
2 is reciprocally scanned in a predetermined direction. The reflected light of the document passes through the lens 207 through the scanning mirrors 204 to 206 and is imaged on the CCD sensor 208.

Next, the operation of this copying machine will be described.

When the start signal of the image forming operation is issued,
First, by rotating the pickup roller 22a, the sheets P are delivered one by one from the cassette 21a. Then, the sheet P is guided between the sheet feed guides 24 by the pair of sheet feed rollers 23 and conveyed to the registration rollers 25a and 25b. At that time, the rotations of the registration rollers 25a and 25b are stopped, and the leading edge of the sheet P hits the nip portion. After that, the registration rollers 25a and 25b start rotating at the timing when the image forming unit starts forming an image. The timing of this rotation timing is set so that the sheet P and the toner image primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 from the image forming unit coincide with each other in the secondary transfer area Te.

On the other hand, in the image forming portion, when the image forming operation start signal is issued, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11d, which is the most upstream in the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 31, by the above-described process, The primary transfer area T is charged by the primary transfer charger 35d to which a high voltage is applied.
At d, the image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31. In this way, the toner image primarily transferred is the next primary transfer area Tc.
Be transported to. There, the image formation is performed with a delay between the image forming units by the time when the toner image is conveyed,
The next toner image is transferred by aligning the resist on the previous image. The same steps are repeated below, and finally the toner images of four colors are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 31.

After that, when the sheet P enters the secondary transfer area Te and comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 31, a high voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 34 in synchronization with the passage timing of the sheet P. Then, the four color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 31 by the above-described process are transferred to the surface of the sheet P. After that, the sheet P is accurately guided by the conveyance guide 43 to the nip portion of the fixing rollers 41a and 41b. And the heat of the fixing roller pair 41a, 41b,
The toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet P by the pressure of the nip. After that, the inner and outer paper discharge rollers 44 and 45 convey the printed sheet P to the outside of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a reader CPU 100 for controlling the reader unit 2P of the copying machine according to the present embodiment and its interface.

In the figure, a reader CPU 100 is a CPU for controlling the reader unit 2P, and is a ROM 101.
Control program and data table stored in R,
The control program is executed by using the stack area for executing the program, the control variable storage area, etc. assigned to the AM 102. A drive device 103 such as a document reading motor is controlled by the CPU 100. 1
A video interface 04 transmits the image data of the read document to the image server unit. Again 1
Reference numeral 05 denotes a communication interface that controls communication with the image server CPU 300 described later. An operation unit 107 includes a display panel 108 such as a liquid crystal display and a keyboard 109. The display panel 108 is
It has a touch panel function that allows you to specify the coordinate position with your finger or pen.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the printer CPU for controlling the printer unit 1P of the copying machine according to the present embodiment and its interface.

The printer CPU 200 is a CPU for controlling the printer unit 1P, and includes a program and data table stored in the ROM 201 and a RAM 2.
The control program is executed using the stack area assigned to No. 02 for program execution and the control variable storage area. A drive device 203 represents a device used for printing, and is controlled by the CPU 200. 204 is a video interface,
Receives images from the image server unit. Again 20
A communication interface 5 controls communication with the image server CPU 300, which will be described later.

FIG. 4 is an image server CPU for controlling the image server unit of the copying machine according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the interface thereof.

The image server CPU 300 is a CPU for controlling the controller unit, and has a program and data table stored in the ROM 301 and a RAM 3.
The control program is executed using the stack area assigned to No. 02 for program execution and the control variable storage area. Network interface 303
Is an interface unit for performing data communication with a host computer (not shown) connected to the network,
It is equipped with a local area network (hereinafter, LAN), a serial I / F, a SCSI I / F, a Centro I / F for data input of a printer, and the like. Copy prohibition document determination unit 304 and copy prohibition mark generation unit 305
Is a portion related to copy prevention processing described in detail later. The copy inhibition document determination unit 304 determines whether the document image includes a copy inhibition mark, and the copy inhibition mark generation unit 305 This is a unit that generates a copy prohibition mark.

The image memory 306 is for storing image data and is a dedicated memory for performing various image processing such as enlargement / reduction, rotation, and image composition, and the CPU 3
00, a copy inhibition document determination unit 304, a copy inhibition mark generation unit 305, and a video interface 307, which will be described later, and image data read by the reader unit 2P, image data transmitted from a host computer connected to a network, The copy prohibition mark image generated by the copy prohibition mark generation unit 305 is accumulated or image processing is performed. The video interface 307 is for outputting an image output to the printer unit 1P, and the printer unit 1P
Video interface 204 (FIG. 3).

The hard disk drive 309 is a large-capacity image storage unit and can store a plurality of image data. This hard disk drive 309 and CPU
300 is connected via the external storage device interface 308, and if necessary, the hard disk drive 30
9 to read the image data from the image memory 306,
Image data from a host computer connected to the network via the network interface 303 is received and stored in the hard disk 309, and the CPU 300 manages these processes. 310
Is a communication interface for controlling communication with the reader CPU 100. 311 is the printer CPU 2
00 is a communication interface for controlling communication with the communication terminal 00.

Next, copy prevention processing in the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

5 to 7 are views showing examples of screens displayed on the display panel 108 in the operation unit 107 of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, this operation unit 10
7, a keyboard 109 for input, a copy start key, and the like are provided. Also, this display panel 10
Reference numeral 8 is also a touch panel type input device, and the user can give a desired instruction to this copying machine by touching the screen of the display panel.

When a document is placed on the platen glass 201 of the reader unit 2P and the copy start key of the operation unit 107 is pressed, the copy operation is started. This time,
When the copy prevention processing mode is set in advance for the copying machine, the screen 1000 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display panel 108.

Input box 1 on this screen 1000
Areas 001 and 1002 are areas for requesting the input of a password used in the copy protection processing applied to the original image. In the copying machine according to the present embodiment, it is possible to add a level to the copy protection processing, and in this embodiment, two levels of copy protection can be provided: "level 1" and "level 2". The password input in the input box 1001 corresponds to “level 1”, and the input box 1
The password entered in 002 corresponds to "level 2". Each password is entered using the keyboard 109 of the operation unit 107 and can be entered within 8 characters. If the copy protection level need only be one level, it is sufficient to enter only one of the passwords in the input boxes 1001 and 1002. After inputting the password to the input boxes 1001 and / or 1002 in this way, "OK"
When the “button” 1003 is pressed, the entered password is set, and when the “cancel button” 1004 is pressed, the copy prevention processing mode is canceled.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example displayed on the display panel 108 of the operation unit 107 after the OK button 1003 of FIG. 5 is pressed.

Using this screen 1100, the rectangular area on the original image to be protected by the copy protection processing can be designated.
Area 1101 shows the X coordinate of the upper left corner of the rectangular area, area 1102 the Y coordinate of the upper left corner of the rectangular area, area 1103 the width of this rectangular area, and area 1104 the height of the rectangular area. Are input in millimeters from the keyboard 109. Area 110
Reference numeral 8 is an area for inputting the processing pattern ID of the rectangular area, the details of which will be described later. Preview button 110
Reference numeral 5 is a button for giving a preview display instruction described later. When the OK button 1106 is pressed here, the designated rectangular area is set for the copying machine.
When the “Cancel button” 1107 is pressed, all the setting data of the rectangular area is cleared and the screen 1000 of FIG. 5 is displayed again. In addition, in the screen 1000 of FIG.
Screen 110 when two passwords are set
0 is displayed again, and the rectangular area corresponding to the "level 2" password can be set. The designation of the rectangular area in the present embodiment is not limited to this, and the rectangular area may be set using a two-dimensional coordinate input device such as a digitizer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example displayed on the display panel 108 when the preview button 1105 in FIG. 6 is pressed.

The original image 1201 shows an actual original image read by the reader unit 2P, and this original image is displayed on the display panel 108 in a reduced size so that it can be visually recognized by the user. The rectangular area designated using the screen of FIG. 6 is indicated by a broken line in FIG. Here, the rectangular area 1202 corresponds to “level 1”, and the rectangular area 1203 corresponds to “level 2”. If the display panel 108 can display a plurality of colors, the color of the rectangular area may be changed for each level.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the generated copy prohibition mark.

For the copy prohibition mark image, an image obtained by encrypting the copy prevention area data and converting it into a bar code is combined with the original image. Copy protection area data is displayed on screen 1000 (Fig. 5).
Also, based on the password and area designation data set on the screen 1100 (FIG. 6), one copy of the password is followed by the copy protection areas corresponding to the password, "area 1", "area 2", ... , "Area n" are defined. Here, for example, the data of a plurality of areas corresponding to the copy protection level "level 1" are arranged corresponding to one password. The data of each area is the ID of the copy protection processing pattern of that area, the Y coordinate (Top) of the upper left corner of the area, the X coordinate of the upper left corner (Left), the width (Width), and the height (Height) in that order. It is lined up. Here, the copy protection processing pattern ID indicates a processing method for performing the copy protection processing, and corresponds to a plurality of image processing indexes tabulated as shown in FIG.

The processing pattern corresponding to this table and the pattern ID is stored in the ROM 301 and the hard disk drive 309 in the image server.

In the example of FIG. 9, each value (0 to 0) of the pattern ID is
Corresponding to 4), the method of assigning a pattern to the designated area is defined.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing copy prevention processing in the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

First, in step S1, the reader unit 2P
The original image is read by, the read image data is converted into a digital signal, and the image data memory (RAM
102, or the image memory 306). Next, in step S3, the screen 10 is displayed using the screen of FIG.
Set the password from 00. And "OK button"
When 1003 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S4, a rectangular area for defining the copy prohibited area is set and the copy prohibited mark is edited using the screen 1100 shown in FIG. 6, and then the “preview button” 1105 is clicked. By pressing the button, a preview display as shown in the screen 1200 of FIG. 7 is performed. Here, if the user is not satisfied with the preview display (when the "cancel button" 1203 is pressed), the process returns to step S4 again to perform the above-described processing.

On the other hand, in step S6, if the user is satisfied with the preview display (when the "OK button" 1202 is pressed), the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, a copy prohibition mark is generated according to the pattern ID, and then the process proceeds to step S8, the original image data and the copy prohibition mark image are combined, and output to the printer unit 1P for copying.

Therefore, the above-described processing makes it possible to display a preview of the copy-prevented image, and the user can check the copy-prohibited area and the copy-prevented pattern by superimposing them on the actual original image by looking at the preview screen. In addition, since the user can arbitrarily set the area in which the copy prohibition mark is embedded, more advanced copy prevention processing can be performed.

[Other Embodiments] As another embodiment, a preview in the case of storing image data subjected to copy protection processing in an image server will be described.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a preview display process when the image data subjected to the copy protection process is stored in the image server.

The image server is connected to the network as described with reference to FIG. 4, and can perform various communications with the host computer and other network clients connected to the network. Here, in order to store an image in the image server from the host computer, first, in step S11, the image data is read into the image server via the network. Here, the screen 1000 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display of the image server.
The dialog as shown by is displayed, and the user sets a copy protection password to be applied to the image data using this screen (step S12). Here, "OK button" 100
When 3 is pressed, the dialog of the screen 1100 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display, and the copy prohibition mark is edited using this screen (step S13).
When the "preview button" 1105 is pressed here,
A preview of the copy prohibition mark can be displayed, for example, the screen 1200 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display. If the user is not satisfied with the pattern and position of the copy prohibition mark, the process returns to step S13, and if satisfied (pressing the "OK button" 1202), the next step S13.
Proceed to 16. After the copy prohibition mark is generated in step S16, the image data and the copy prohibition mark are not combined here, but are made into one file as related data (step S17) and stored in the hard disk 309 of the image server (step S17). S18).

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to display a preview of a copy-prevented image, which has been impossible in the past, and the user sees the preview-displayed screen and sees the copy-prohibited area and position. , Copy protection pattern,
You can check it by overlaying it on the actual document image.

Further, since the user can arbitrarily set the area in which the copy prohibition mark is embedded, more advanced copy prevention processing can be performed.

Further, the identification I such as password and user ID
The process can be branched depending on whether the copy prohibited image is combined by D. That is, when printing the image data, the user is requested to input the user identification ID, and when the input identification ID matches the ID registered corresponding to the copy prohibited area, the original document image It is controlled to print the image to which the copy prohibition mark is added. If the input user IDs do not match, the image may not be printed, or only the image excluding the copy prohibition area may be printed.

The identification ID is not limited to the above-mentioned password or user ID, but may be identification information of the network address of the computer, for example.

Even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (for example, copying machine, facsimile device, etc.) ) May be applied.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) recording a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer of the system or apparatus ( Alternatively, it can be achieved by the CPU or MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer is executed based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing,
The case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the copy prevention mark for determining whether the read image is a copy prevention image, the copy prevention mark is used as a copy prevention mark. An ID and an area in which a copy protection mark is embedded are added, and the original document image data is combined and printed.

A means for setting the image data of the copy protection mark and the coordinates of the area where the copy protection mark is embedded is provided.

Further, when a so-called preview display, which is displayed on the display panel attached to the copying machine, is performed, the copy prevention mark is combined with the original document image data and displayed.

Further, when the read image data is stored in the image server by performing only the copy protection process without printing, the copy protection mark and the image data are not combined,
It is stored in the storage area in the image server as a separable data set.

Therefore, the user can confirm and edit the position of the copy prohibition area and the copy prevention pattern by looking at the previewed screen, and it is possible to perform the copy prevention process with higher degree of freedom. Become.

Further, since the copy prevention mark image and the read original image data are separable data when stored in the image server, they can be edited many times without reading the original image again.

Further, the identification I such as the password and the user ID
Since it is possible to determine whether or not the copy prohibition mark is combined by D, it is possible to group users who can access the original image.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set an arbitrary area on an image and create image information in which a predetermined pattern is added to the set area.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming method and apparatus and a storage medium capable of easily confirming an area set on an image.

Further, according to the present invention, an illegal copy of the image can be prevented by setting a copy prohibition area of the image, adding a predetermined pattern to the copy prohibition area, and outputting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a CPU that controls the reader unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment and its interface.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a CPU that controls the printer unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment and its interface.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a CPU that controls an image server unit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment and an interface thereof.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display displayed on the display panel of the operation unit of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing an example of a password input screen corresponding to each copy prohibited area.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example displayed on a display panel in the operation unit of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing an input screen example for setting each copy inhibition area.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example displayed on the display panel in the operation unit of the copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a preview display screen example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of an area corresponding to a password.

FIG. 9 is a copy prohibition pattern ID set in each area.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing method thereof.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing copy prevention processing in the copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a preview display process in the case of storing the image data subjected to the copy protection process in the image server.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 3/12 H04N 1/387 5C076 12/14 320 1/40 Z 5C077 H04N 1/387 G03G 21/00 554 (72) Inventor Mitsuhiko Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takashi Fujimori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Invention Mr. Huang Matsunaga 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Hideyuki Ikegami 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Hidenori Sunada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AQ06 AR01 HJ06 HJ07 HN04 HN15 HQ17 2C087 AA03 AA09 AB01 AB05 AC08 BA03 BA14 BB10 CA02 CB20 DA13 DA14 2H134 NA15 NA16 NA18 NA20 NA22 NA32 5B017 AA06 CA16 5B021 AA19 AA26 CC07 LD03 LD15 5C076 AA14 AA16 BA02 BA03 BA04 BA06 CA06 5

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing image information, an input unit for inputting a user's identification ID, and an image input by the input unit on an image represented by the image information stored in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a copy prohibited area in association with an identification ID; and preview display means for displaying the image so that the area set by the setting means can be identified. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction unit for instructing to apply a predetermined pattern to the area. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints image information in which a predetermined pattern is added to the area by the instructing unit. 4. An image reading means for reading an original image is further provided, and the image information is image information representing an original image read by the image reading means. The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 5. An image data generation unit that reads an original image by the image reading unit to generate image data, an image storage unit that stores the image data generated by the image data generation unit, and an image storage unit that stores the image data. Area setting means for setting a copy prohibition area together with the user identification ID for the image data thus obtained, pattern instructing means for instructing a pattern to be added to the copy prohibition area, pattern instructed by the pattern instructing means, and An image forming apparatus comprising: a unit for separately storing image data; and a preview display unit for combining and displaying the image data and the pattern. 6. An input step of inputting a user identification ID, and a setting step of setting a copy inhibition area on an image represented by image information in association with the identification ID input in the input step. A preview display step of displaying the image so that the area set in the setting step can be identified, and an image forming method. 7. The image forming method according to claim 6, further comprising an instruction step of instructing to apply a predetermined pattern to the area. 8. The image forming method according to claim 6, further comprising a printing step of printing image information in which a predetermined pattern is added to the area by the instructing step. 9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising an image reading step of reading a document image, wherein the image information is image information representing a document image read in the image reading step. The image forming method according to item 1. 10. An image data generating step of reading a document image in an image reading step to generate image data, an image storing step of storing the image data generated in the image data generating step, and a storing step of the image storing step. An area setting step of setting a copy prohibition area together with a user identification ID for the image data that has been created, a pattern instruction step of instructing a pattern to be added to the copy prohibition area, and a pattern instructed in the pattern instruction step An image forming method comprising: a step of separately storing image data; and a preview display step of combining and displaying the image data and the pattern. 11. A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for executing the image forming method according to claim 6.