JP2003174531A - Device and system for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of easily managing copying of literary works using an external databases, and its system. <P>SOLUTION: In copying literary works, a user 20 inputs literary work specification information such as an ISBN (International Standard Book Number), etc., with the image forming device 22, and transmits the literary work specification information to the external databases 16 and 18 of copyright management associations 10 and 12 through the Internet, etc., to perform retrieval in the external databases 16 and 18. Retrieved results in the external databases 16 and 18 are transmitted to the image forming device 22 through a server of the user 20. The image forming device 22 confirms that the literary work that the user is about to copy is managed in either of the external databases 16 and 18, and separately or periodically notifies the copyright management associations 10 and 12 that copying is carried out and the number of copied sheets as actual use result data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and system capable of managing a right to copy a copyrighted work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently,
Regarding copyright management, a consignment contract is made between the copyright owner and the management organization, and a license agreement is concluded between the management organization and users of companies, libraries, universities, etc. There is. The same applies to the right to reproduce printed matter, and a copying license agreement is made between the management organization and the user. Although there are various forms of copying license agreement, it is general to research the usage amount of a user for a certain period and make an annual contract based on the survey.

However, since it is inaccurate to grasp the usage amount based on such an estimation, it is desirable that the user actually records all the copies of the publication and pays the usage fee. On the other hand, when adopting such a performance system, there is a problem that labor is required to take all records of copying.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide an image forming apparatus for copying a literary work with a function for recording a copy. As an image forming apparatus of this type, there is an invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-110645. This is because the reading unit reads the original image, the identifying unit identifies the barcode from the read original image, and the code data is obtained from the identified barcode. The code data is sent from the image forming apparatus to the management apparatus via the communication line and is stored in the hard disk as a copy record. Then, in accordance with an instruction from the keyboard, the copy usage data stored in the hard disk and the unit price and the charging coefficient of the work usage fee recorded in the hard disk are used to calculate the copyright usage fee.

In this conventional example, it is premised that a bar code is added to each original image, and the original image is specified by reading the barcode. However, in reality, since the original image is not provided with the bar code, it cannot be applied to the existing huge works.

As another conventional example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-16
There is an invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 5112. In this conventional example, a bar code scanner is used to read the bar code pattern on the spine of the book document to identify the work. The barcode pattern read by the barcode scanner is processed by a microcomputer provided in the image forming apparatus so that the usage fee can be collected.

However, in this conventional example, since it is configured to determine whether or not a copy of a copyrighted work is permitted in the image forming apparatus, if there are many copyrighted works to be managed, the image forming apparatus will be operated. It requires a huge database inside. Moreover, since this database is not related to the aforementioned management organization, the management organization must change the database in the image forming apparatus whenever a new copyrighted material becomes a management target or is changed. There was a problem.

In any of the conventional examples, it is not related to the external database operated by the management organization, the copied result is recorded only in the management apparatus or the image forming apparatus, and the consistency with the database of the management organization is considered. It was not done.

The present invention solves the problems of the above conventional example,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a system thereof that can easily manage the copying of a literary work in association with an external database.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, a feature of the present invention resides in that an image forming apparatus having a reading unit for reading an original specifies a work to be read by the reading unit. An inputting means for inputting the copyrighted material specifying information, and a transmitting means for transmitting the copyrighted material specifying information input by the inputting means to an external database;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives a search result regarding a literary work from the external database. Therefore, since the copyrighted material identification information input by the input means is transmitted by the transmission means to an external database operated by, for example, a management organization, the search results searched in this external database are received by the reception means. It can be linked with a database, and copy of copyrighted material can be easily managed.

As the input means, a bar code may be read in the same manner as the above-mentioned conventional example, but in consideration of the case where the bar code is not added, ISBN (In
international Standard Book
The number may be input by the operator. This ISBN can identify publications around the world. However, since ISBN has a large number of digits, it is easy to make an input error. Therefore, the code entered in the external database can be transmitted by the transmitting means, and the external database can be searched for whether or not the code is correctly registered. This result is received by the image forming apparatus by the receiving means and can be confirmed by the operator. Therefore, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus is provided with a display unit that displays the search result received by the receiving unit. Further, it is preferable that a confirmation instruction means for instructing confirmation of the search result received by the reception means is provided so that the copying operation can be started after waiting for the confirmation instruction of the operator.

Further, it is preferable to provide a judging means for judging whether or not the work is a book manuscript. Since many copyrighted works have book originals, it is possible to reduce the operation of the operator by automatically determining whether or not the book originals are book originals. As the determination means, it is possible to make a determination based on the document image read by the reading means. For example, it can be determined by the shadow formed on the original image. It is also possible to make the determination based on the state of the platen cover provided in the reading means. Since the book document is thick, a gap is created between the platen cover and the platen glass when the platen cover is closed, and the presence of the gap may be detected. Alternatively, the determination may be made based on both the original image and the platen cover.

Further, the image forming apparatus can be provided with a billing information generating means for generating billing information. The billing information is preferably calculated by counting the number of sheets actually copied, and can be excluded from the count value if the sheet is not copied normally, such as when a jam occurs. .

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of the copyright management system. There are a plurality of copyright management organizations according to countries and objects, for example, a first copyright management organization 10,
There is a second copyright management organization 12. The first copyright management organization 10 and the second copyright management organization 12 conclude consignment contracts with different copyright holders 14, respectively, and
Information such as BN, title, author, publisher, etc. is registered in the first external database 16 and the second external database 18 provided in the first copyright management organization 10 and the second copyright management organization 12. . When registering, the copyright holder 14
It is possible to perform electronically by connecting the server owned by and the external databases 16 and 18 via the Internet or the like. On the other hand, if the copyright management organizations 10 and 12 copy the copyrighted work by the users to be described later, use it according to the amount copied to the copyright holder 14 based on the consignment contract. The fee is paid. This usage fee can be paid electronically via a bank transfer, etc.
Transfer notification to 4 can be sent by e-mail or the like.

The user 20 is a copyright management organization 10,12.
Is a license agreement. Each user 20 has a server, and one or a plurality of image forming apparatuses 22 are connected to this server. The image forming apparatus 22 is
The work to be used is specified based on ISBN, etc., and this work identification information is transmitted to the external databases 16 and 18 of the copyright management organization 10 and 12 via the Internet and the search is performed in the external database 16 and 18. Be seen. Search results in the external databases 16 and 18 are user 2
It is sent to the image forming apparatus 22 via the server of 0. In this image forming apparatus 22, it is confirmed that the copyrighted work to be copied to one of the external databases 16 and 18 is managed, a copying operation is performed, and the number of copies is used as copyright management data for copyright management. Notify the groups 10 and 12 individually or periodically. The charge data is the image forming apparatus 22 or the external database 1 based on the usage record data.
6, 18 or user 20 server. The usage fee calculated in this way is regularly notified from the copyright management organization 10, 12 to the user 20, and the usage fee is paid from the user 20 to the copyright management organization 10, 12 based on this notification. Be seen. The usage fee can be paid electronically via a bank transfer or the like, and the copyright management organizations 10 and 12 can be notified of the transfer by electronic mail or the like.

An example of the image forming apparatus 22 is shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 22 includes a reading unit 24, an image processing unit 26, and a printing unit 28. Reading unit 24
Is scanned as an original placed on the platen glass 30 or an original sent from an automatic original feeding device (not shown), and is read as an RGB signal by the image sensor 32 including, for example, a CCD. The image processing unit 26 converts the read RGB signal into a YMCK signal. Print section 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes an exposure device 34 that emits a laser signal based on the YMCK signal, and a photoconductor 3 that is exposed by the exposure device 34.
6, a developing device 38 for developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor 36, the photoconductor 36 developed by the developing device 38
A transfer device 40 for transferring the toner image on the sheet and a fixing device 42 for fixing the toner image on the sheet are provided. The developing device 38 has four YMCK developing devices 44, and forms a color toner image by switching the rotating developing devices 44. 4 sheets of paper are supplied from the paper supply tray 46.
The rotating transfer device 40 grips the toner image of YMCK every one rotation, the fixing device 42 fixes the toner image, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 48. The reading unit 24 includes a platen cover 50 facing the platen glass 30.
Is provided so as to be openable and closable so that not only sheet-shaped originals but also book originals can be copied. In addition, the reading unit 24,
A bar code reader 52 for reading a bar code is provided. Although the image forming apparatus 22 is configured as a copier in which the reading unit 24 and the printing unit 28 are integrated in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reading unit 24 and the printing unit 28 are not limited thereto. The scanner 28 and the printer may be configured separately from 28, and they may be connected by a communication means such as a LAN.

The details of the reading unit 24 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A platen cover 50 is openably and closably supported near the platen glass 30 via a hinge 54. The hinge 54 is rotatably supported by the hinge support portion 56, and the other end portion of the hinge support portion 56 is vertically movably inserted into the cylinder 58. A hinge sensor 60 is provided on the cylinder 58. The hinge sensor 60 is turned on regardless of whether the platen cover 50 is opened or closed in the case of a sheet original, and the platen cover 5 in the case of a book original, because the hinge support portion 56 is lowered.
When 0 is open, the hinge support 56 is lowered, so it is turned on. When the platen cover 50 is closed, as shown in FIG. 4, the hinge support 56 is raised, so it is turned off. Become. Also, the platen cover 50
An opening / closing sensor 64 composed of a magnetic sensor is provided in the vicinity of the platen glass 30 so as to face the magnetic plate 62 provided in the platen glass 30. The opening / closing sensor 64 is turned on when the platen cover 50 is closed in the case of a sheet original, It turns off when the platen cover 50 is opened, and turns off when a book document is open regardless of whether the platen cover 50 is open or closed.
It is designed to be

FIG. 5 shows an example of a control circuit of the image forming apparatus 22, which includes an image storage memory 66, a user interface 68, a CPU 70, a system memory 72, a bar code reader interface 74, a shadow detection circuit 76, and a shadow detection circuit 76.
Reading unit interface 78, printing unit interface 80, communication interface 82, and input / output circuit 8
4 is connected to the bus. The image storage memory 66 temporarily stores the document image input from the above-described reading unit via the reading unit interface 78. The user interface 68 is, for example, as shown in FIGS.
Numeric keypad 86, start button 88, yes button 9
0, a know button 92, a display unit 94 including a liquid crystal, and the like are provided to input an instruction from the operator and display information to the operator. CPU7
0 controls each circuit according to the program written in the system memory 72. The barcode reader interface 74 inputs the code read by the barcode reader described above. Shadow detection circuit 76
Detects whether or not the document image read by the reading unit has a shadow. The reading unit interface 78 is the C mentioned above.
A document image from a CD is input. The print unit interface 80 controls the above-described print unit according to the instruction of the CPU. The communication interface 80 is for communicating with the above-mentioned external database via the Internet or the like. Further, the input / output circuit 84 is adapted to receive ON / OFF signals from the above-mentioned open / close sensor and hinge sensor.

In the reading section, the fact that the original is placed on the platen glass is read by an original sensor or the like, or the start button is pressed to perform prescanning, and the density distribution of the original image is detected. In FIG.
The detection principle of the shadow detection circuit 76 is shown. An effective reading width is set for a document image, and a determination area is set at the center of the effective reading width with a fixed distance a from both ends of the effective reading width. If there is an area where the density of the input original image is equal to or less than the threshold value in this determination area, it is determined that there is a shadow.

FIG. 7 shows an example of control operation of the image forming apparatus. First, in step S10,
It is determined whether it is a book document. This determination is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the process is divided into four cases. When the open / close sensor is ON (the platen cover is closed), it is determined that the document is a sheet document without referring to the outputs of the hinge sensor and the shadow detection circuit. Open / close sensor is OFF
In the case of (the platen cover is opened) and the hinge sensor is ON (the platen cover is not floating), the platen cover is opened when the shadow is not detected by the shadow detection circuit. Since it is in the state and not a book document, it is determined to be a sheet document. If the open / close sensor is OFF and the hinge sensor is OFF (the platen cover is floating), when the shadow is detected by the shadow detection circuit, the state shown in FIG. . If the open / close sensor is OFF and the hinge sensor is OFF (the platen cover is floating),
Since the state is as shown in (1), it is determined that the document is a book original without referring to the output from the shadow detection circuit. In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not it is a book document based on both the state of the platen cover and the state of the document image. However, as another embodiment, the state of the platen cover or the document image is determined. It is also possible to make a determination based on either one of the states.

If it is determined in step S10 that the document is not a book document, the process proceeds to step S12, and the document is copied and completed without executing a normal copying operation, that is, an operation such as access to an external database. To do. A sheet original is unlikely to be subject to copyright, and the operator's input operation can be simplified. However, if it is subject to copyright, it is possible to execute the same process as the book document described below.

If it is determined in step S10 that the document is a book document, the process proceeds to step S14, and the user is informed to input the copyrighted-material identifying information. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the display unit 94 displays a message such as "Read the bar code or enter the code." Based on this message, the operator inputs a bar code using a bar code reader, or uses the ten-key pad to input information such as ISBN number or title, and information that can identify a copyrighted work such as a publisher. In the next step S16, an external database is accessed,
The work specific information input in step S14 is transmitted to the external database through the communication interface described above. Further, while the process of step S16 is being executed, as shown in FIG. 11, a message such as "currently in search ..." is displayed on the display unit 94.

As shown in FIG. 8, the processing in step S16 includes searching a plurality of external databases. That is, in step S162, the first external database is accessed, and if the work input in S10 exists in the first external database, step S1.
At 64, a search result indicating existence is received from the first database. On the other hand, if it does not exist in the first database, the flow advances to step S166 to access the second external database and confirm whether or not it exists in the second external database. If it exists in the second external database, step S168 follows and the search result is received.

When the process of step S16 is completed, the process proceeds to step S18, the search result is notified, and it is determined whether or not the confirmation is made. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the display unit 94 displays, for example, “A book to be copied is XXXXXXXXXXXX.
Is it? Message is displayed and the Yes button 9
Ask the operator to press 0 or the know button 92.
At this time, the display unit 9 includes the usage fee per copy.
4 can be displayed. If it is determined that the operator has pressed the yes button 90, step S
20, the normal copying operation is executed, and the next step S
At 22, the copy result is recorded, and the process ends. The actual copying is performed by counting the number of sheets actually copied by the printing unit with a counter. When the actual copying is not performed due to a jam or the like in the printing unit, the number of uncopied sheets is subtracted from the counter. Then, this copy result is notified to the first copyright management organization or the second copyright management organization that manages the copy right of the copied work. The copy record may be notified each time copying is performed, but the copy record may be stored in the memory of the image forming apparatus or the server and notified periodically. The usage fee can be calculated in the image forming apparatus by providing a billing table in the image forming apparatus, but it is also possible to send only the copying result to the external database and the copyright management organization side can calculate it. it can.

In the above embodiment, a plurality of copyright management organizations are searched for a copyrighted work, but a plurality of copyright management organizations may manage one copyrighted work. For this reason, the image forming apparatus is provided with a selection means for selecting a copyright management organization, and when a plurality of copyright management organizations manage one work, the copyright management is automatically performed from the high and low usage fees. You may be allowed to select a group.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the image forming apparatus is linked with the external database, it is possible to easily manage the copying of the literary work.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a copyright management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a reading unit of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a platen cover is opened and a book document is placed on a platen glass.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the reading unit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the platen cover is closed. .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram of a shadow detection circuit in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information search routine in the control operation example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a chart showing the logic of the document type in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a first state of a user interface in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a second state of the user interface in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a third state of the user interface in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 First Copyright Management Organization 12 Second Copyright Management Organization 14 Copyright holder 16 First external database 18 Second external database 20 users 22 Image forming apparatus 24 Reader 26 Image Processor 28 Print department 30 platen glass 50 platen cover 54 Hinge 60 hinge sensor 64 Open / close sensor 68 User Interface 88 Start button 90 Know button 92 Yes button 94 Display

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Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a reading unit for reading an original, and an input unit for inputting literary work identifying information for identifying a literary work read by the reading unit,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a sending means for sending the work specific information input by the input means to an external database; and a receiving means for receiving a search result regarding a work from the external database. 2. A display unit for displaying the search result received by the receiving unit.
The image forming apparatus described. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a confirmation instructing unit for instructing confirmation of the search result received by the receiving unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the copyrighted work is a book document. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit makes a determination based on a document image read by the reading unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit makes a determination based on a state of a platen cover provided in the reading unit. 7. The determination means determines based on a state of a document image read by the reading means and a state of a platen cover provided in the reading means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a billing information generating unit that generates billing information. 9. The printing means includes a printing means for printing a document read by the reading means, and the billing information generating means normally finishes printing by the printing means based on the search result received by the receiving means. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the billing information is generated when it is performed. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the billing information generated by the billing information generating unit to the external database. 11. An image forming system, comprising: the image forming apparatus according to claim 1; and an external database connected to the image forming apparatus via a communication unit.