JP2003283798A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attach a particular pattern to an image so as to avoid misrecognition. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus is provided with: an image input means for receiving image data; a discrimination means for discriminating a particular pattern included in received image data; a pattern generating means for generating an additional pattern to be added to the particular pattern depending on discriminated contents by the discrimination means; and an attachment means for attaching the additional pattern produced by the pattern generating means to the particular pattern of the received image data and generating a new particular pattern comprising the particular pattern and the additional pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the addition of a specific pattern to image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A first copy obtained by copying an original with a copying machine is sometimes used as an original to make a second copy. A copy including the first copy and using the copy as an original is called a generation copy. In that case, the image quality of the second copy is degraded compared to the image quality of the first copy. Therefore, some color copying machines are provided with a generation copy mode for improving the image quality of the generation copy. In the generation copy mode, adjustment is performed so as to eliminate the deterioration of the image quality.

In the copying machine described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-298729, for adjustment in the generation copy mode, a specific pattern is recorded in an invisible color on the image of the original document to be printed, and the model and image adjustment are performed. Record the status. When a specific pattern is found in the original document at the time of copying, the contents of the image processing are changed based on the information to prevent deterioration of the image quality of the generation copy.

It has been proposed to add a pattern representing additional information to an image. For example, in a copying machine, it has been proposed to add a tracking pattern to an original image by a method that does not deteriorate the image quality in order to enable tracking when copying a bill or the like. This tracking mark is used to clarify the origin of the copy. Further, in the copying machine described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-200513, when a copy of a document with a recognition pattern added is copied as an original, the recognition pattern existing in the document is erased and the recognition pattern is newly imaged. Added to. This facilitates recognition of the recognition pattern. Further, when the recognition pattern includes a model in which a copy is created, and when a copy is created in a model different from the recognition pattern, a new recognition pattern including the model is added to the previous recognition pattern. Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-196862, additional information (name of user, address, document size, etc.) is calculated from print data (PDL data).
Is extracted and added to the raster data as additional information so as not to deteriorate the original data.

[0005]

When a copy is generated by adding a specific pattern to the image of the original document, it can be displayed that the copy is a generation copy. However, in this case, due to the nature of the copying machine, since the original document is reproduced faithfully,
If the original document contains a specific pattern, the specific pattern will be copied in the next-generation copy. Therefore, there is a possibility that the newly added specific pattern may be erroneously discriminated at the time of copying. Further, it has been proposed to erase a specific pattern, but its processing is difficult. Therefore, when a specific pattern is added by generation copy to generate a copy, it is desirable to add the newly added specific pattern so that it can be easily recognized.

An object of the present invention is to add a specific pattern to an image so that erroneous recognition will not occur.

[0007]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an image input means for inputting image data, a discriminating means for discriminating a specific pattern included in the input image data, and a discriminating means. Depending on the determined content,
Pattern generating means for generating an additional pattern to be added to the specific pattern, and an additional pattern generated by the pattern generating means is added to the specific pattern to generate a new specific pattern including the specific pattern and the additional pattern as input image data. And an addition means for forming the same.

In the above image processing apparatus, the adding means preferably performs alignment so that the relative position does not shift when adding the additional pattern to the existing specific pattern.

In the above image processing apparatus, the pattern generating means generates the additional pattern so that the shape of the specific pattern differs depending on the generation of copying, for example.

In the above image processing apparatus, the adding means adds, for example, a color having a prescribed density to the pixel at the position of the specific pattern.

In the above image processing apparatus, the adding means adds a prescribed color to the pixel at the position of the specific pattern so that the color of the specific pattern becomes uniform.

In the image processing method according to the present invention, image data is input and a specific pattern included in the input image data is determined. Next, an additional pattern to be added to the specific pattern is generated according to the determined determination content, the additional pattern is added to the specific pattern in the input image data, and a new specific pattern including the specific pattern and the additional pattern is added. Form a pattern.

The image processing program executed by the computer according to the present invention is characterized by the steps of inputting image data, determining a specific pattern included in the input image data, and determining content of the determination.
The method includes the steps of generating an additional pattern to be added to the specific pattern, and adding the additional pattern to the specific pattern in the input image data to form a new specific pattern including the specific pattern and the additional pattern. . A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention records the image processing program.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a system) for adding a specific pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system mainly includes a CPU 10 that controls the entire system. CPU
A data bus 10 is connected to a ROM 12 in which programs and the like for controlling the system are stored and a RAM 14 in which data and programs are stored, via a data bus. Further, a display 18 that displays images, characters, etc., and performs various displays for operation, etc., is connected to the CPU 10 via the display control circuit 16. The keyboard 22 and mouse 26 for performing various inputs and instruction operations are respectively
It is connected to the CPU 10 via a keyboard control circuit 20 and a mouse control circuit 24 that control transfer of inputs from the keyboard 22 and the mouse 24. The floppy (registered trademark) disk 30 and the hard disk 34 respectively control the control circuit 28 for controlling the floppy (registered trademark) disk device.
Is connected to the CPU 10 via a control circuit 32 that controls the hard disk device. The printer 38 for printing the image data uses the CP via the printer control circuit 36.
Connected to U10. The scanner 42 for taking in the image data includes the CPU 10 via the scanner control circuit 40.
Connected to.

The system shown in FIG. 1 additionally records, on a recording medium to be printed, a specific pattern formed in a specific color and shape in a color that is difficult to see, and is recorded. The specific pattern is recorded in the peripheral portion, for example. The specific pattern has a meaning and represents, for example, information at the time of printing (manufacturer, model, printing state, etc.). Here, when a specific pattern is recognized from the input image, when the image of the specific pattern is generated on the recording medium, in addition to the previous specific pattern, the pattern is newly overwritten to add information. Each overwritten pattern has its own meaning.
(For example, if the number of bits in the pattern increases,
It means that the second generation, ..., And the copy generation overlap. )

The flow of the main processing in the system of FIG. 1 will be described. The scanner 34 (image reading section) reads a color image original and outputs RGB image data. Next, the CPU 10 receives the RGB data,
The input image data is processed to generate output data to be output to the printer 38. Here, the specific pattern is recognized with respect to the input image data, and in the generation of the output data, the processing depending on the content of the recognized specific pattern is performed. And
The print driver creates print data based on the output data and sends it to the printer 38. The printer 38 forms an image on a recording medium (paper or the like) using toner or the like based on the print data. Since the details of the printing process in the printer 38 are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the specific pattern generation in the image data processing executed by the CPU 10. The program for this processing is stored in the hard disk 34, for example. First, recognition processing of a specific pattern in the input image data is performed (S10). Here, the specific pattern in the image data is detected. In this embodiment, pattern matching is used for detection, but other methods may be used. As an example of the specific pattern, a square yellow dot composed of 3 * 3 pixels is used.
Other shaped patterns may be used. Although yellow, which is hard to see, is used as the color of the specific pattern, other colors may be used. Further, it may be black or the like if it is conspicuous.

Next, as a result of the recognition process, it is determined whether or not the specific pattern is present in the input image (S12). If the specific pattern does not exist in the input image, a first generation copy will be created. Here, the RGB data is C
It is converted into MYK data (S14), and the first specific pattern addition processing is performed (S16). In the first specific pattern addition processing, a specific pattern is added to a specific position of the image.

FIG. 3 shows an example of adding a specific pattern.
For the 3 × 3 pixels including the pixel at the (X, Y) position, the specified Yellow value Δy is added to the original pixel (y ′ = y + Δ
y). Furthermore, this 3 × 3 pixel dot is 1 in the X direction.
It appears in a cycle of 00 pixels.

In the image data processing of FIG. 2, if the specific pattern already exists in the input image (YES in S12)
S), a generation copy will be created. Where RG
The B data is converted into CMYK data (S18), and the second
A specific pattern addition process is performed (S20). In the second specific pattern addition process, as shown in FIG. 4, the position of the existing specific pattern is detected (S200). Next, a pattern to be added to the existing specific pattern is generated (S202), information (dot) of a new additional pattern is added based on the detected position, and a new specific pattern is generated (S2).
04). Thus, for example, if it is detected that the specific pattern represents the Nth copy, the pattern is added to generate the specific pattern representing the (N + 1) th copy. Here, in the pattern addition, the alignment is performed so that the position of the additional dot with respect to the existing specific pattern does not shift. Since the existing pattern is not erased, the image data is less deteriorated. In addition, high speed processing is possible.

An example of the second specific pattern addition processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 illustrates the processing when a specific pattern already exists in the image data.
In the example of FIG. 5, since it is detected that the existing specific pattern (dot) exists in 3 × 3 pixels including the position (X, Y), as shown in FIG. X + 3,
Additional information is added to 3 × 3 pixels including the (Y + 3) position. Here, in the newly added portion (3 × 3 pixels), a prescribed yellow value (Δy) is added to the original pixel value.

In the example described above, only the newly added portion (3 × 3 pixels) of the specific pattern is specified.
The yellow value was added to the original pixel value. However, in order to prevent the color from deteriorating with the generation in the generation copy, a process of making the color of the specific pattern uniform may be added. For example, if the yellow value of the pixel of the pixel of interest is y, and the y value before conversion is less than or equal to the specified yellow value (destY) (if the color is light), then the yellow value after conversion (y ') is Use the specified yellow value (destY). On the other hand, if the yellow value before conversion is larger than the prescribed yellow value (destY) (when the color is dark), nothing is done and the y value before conversion is directly converted to the y value after conversion.
The value (y '). In this case, "uniform" means ye after conversion.
The llow value is greater than or equal to the specified yellow value (destY).

In the above, an example of forming an additional dot with respect to one existing dot has been described. Generally, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a series of patterns of 4 × 4 dots can be used as the specific pattern. A new specific pattern is formed each time a dot is added. The drawings show first to tenth examples. One dot consists of 3 × 3 pixels as in the above example. Dots are added diagonally. In addition, in addition, you may add every 2 dots or every 3 dots. Four
The specific pattern of x4 dots can have 16 meanings. For example, when the number of dots is increased corresponding to the copy generation, the copy generation can be determined by recognizing the number of dots. Here, the generation does not necessarily have to be proportional to the number of dots. For example, the number of dots may be increased up to a certain generation n.

By increasing the total number of dots, it is possible to increase the number of patterns to be selected. For example, in a 6 × 6 dot pattern, the number of combinations is even greater. Figure 8
Shows an example of a pattern of n × m dots. In the case of n × m dots, theoretically a combination of 2 ^{(n + m)} / 4-1 can be considered. (Here, rotation (0 °, 90 °, 180 °, 27
Since the same shape is obtained at 0 °), it is divided by 4, and 1 is subtracted because all dots are off. )

For simplification of the description, in the examples described so far, the pattern is composed of square dots.
However, any shape other than a square (rectangular shape, round shape, etc.) can be used as long as the presence or absence of dots can be distinguished.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a pattern whose area increases. This is also an example of a non-square pattern.
Square dots can be difficult to see when the shape collapses. Therefore, rectangular dots are used. In addition, the area is increased by adding the rectangles one by one in parallel.

FIG. 10 shows a method for detecting a specific pattern in an image. A specific pattern is detected from the image data by scanning using a filter having a sufficient size that covers the specific pattern. In the case of the specific pattern of 4 × 4 dots shown in FIG. 7, it is sufficient to cover 12 × 12 pixels, so a filter having a size of 16 × 16 pixels is used. Figure 1
As an example, 1 indicates a filter corresponding to the first to third specific patterns. (Other filters may be similarly prepared according to the dot positions of the specific pattern.) The filters are scanned in order from the edge of the image, pattern matching is performed, and the pixels in the shaded portion of the filter (see FIG. 11) If 80% of the pixels are the color of the specific pattern and 80% or more of the pixels other than the shaded portion are the colors other than the specific pattern, it is determined that the specific pattern exists in the image.

In the above system, the scanner 38 and the printer 42 are connected to the personal computer including the CPU 10. Although the scanner 42 is used as the image data input device, it may be another input device such as a digital camera. In addition, the printer 3 as an output device
8 is used, but it could be another output device such as a digital copier.

Further, the above-mentioned specific pattern generation processing can be executed also in a color copying machine, a printer or the like. In the color copying machine, the image reading unit reads the image of the original, and then the image processing unit performs processing such as correction, editing, and print data creation. Here, when the print data is created, the existing specific pattern is recognized from the read data, and a new specific pattern is generated and added. The obtained print data is sent to the print engine and printed on paper. In the case of a printer, print data is received from the outside, but when converting print data into raster data, an existing specific pattern is recognized and a new specific pattern is generated.

Further, the above-mentioned specific pattern generation processing is performed by C
It may be included in the printer driver executed by the PU 10. When generating print data, the print driver recognizes an existing specific pattern and generates and adds a new specific pattern.

[0031]

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the additional pattern is added to the existing specific pattern in the input image data to form a new specific pattern including the specific pattern and the additional pattern. There is no need to erase the specific pattern contained in the original. Moreover, since the existing specific pattern is not deleted, the deterioration of the image data is reduced.

Further, when the additional pattern is added to the existing specific pattern, the alignment is performed so that the relative position does not shift, so that the specific pattern can be easily recognized.

Since the additional pattern can be generated so that the shape of the specific pattern differs depending on the generation of copying, the generation can be easily recognized.

For example, if a color having a specified density is added to the pixel at the position of the specific pattern, the specific pattern can be recognized by the color.

Further, since the prescribed color is placed on the pixel at the position of the specific pattern so that the color of the specific pattern becomes uniform, the color of the specific pattern becomes uniform and the occurrence of misjudgment is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device for adding a specific pattern.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for generating a specific pattern in image data processing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of adding a specific pattern.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of second specific pattern addition processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a situation in which a specific pattern already exists in the entire image data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of second specific pattern addition processing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a specific pattern composed of 4 × 4 dots (pixels).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a specific pattern composed of m × n dots.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of another specific pattern.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining detection of a specific pattern in an image.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing filters corresponding to first to third specific patterns.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 CPU, 34 hard disk, 38
Printer, 42 Scanner.

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/40 H04N 1/46 Z 5C079 1/46 G03G 21/00 382 5L096 1/60 H04N 1/40 Z F term ( (Reference) 2C061 AP04 JJ02 JJ14 2H027 FD06 FD08 FD10 5B057 AA11 BA02 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC01 CE08 CE18 CH08 DB02 DB06 DB09 DC33 5C076 AA14 AA26 BA06 5C077 LL16 5680PPB PPCA PPCA PPCA PA02 5L096 AA02 BA18 FA00 JA11

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit for inputting image data, a discriminating unit for discriminating a specific pattern included in the input image data, and a discriminating content discriminated by the discriminating unit for adding to the specific pattern. Pattern generation means for generating an additional pattern, and addition means for adding the additional pattern generated by the pattern generation means to the specific pattern to form a new specific pattern composed of the specific pattern and the additional pattern in the input image data. An image processing apparatus including. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit performs alignment so that relative positions do not shift when adding the additional pattern to the existing specific pattern. . 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern generation unit generates the additional pattern so that the shape of the specific pattern varies depending on the generation of copying. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit adds a color having a specified density to the pixel at the position of the specific pattern. 5. The adding means adds a specified color to a pixel at a position of the specific pattern so that the color of the specific pattern becomes uniform. The image processing device described in.