JP2003326776A - Image input/output system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit access to a document contrary to the intention of a document register by limiting access to a box document for each box document, each document and each kind of job. <P>SOLUTION: The image input/output system comprises a means for inputting image data, a means for storing the image data inputted by the image input means sequentially, a means for reading out the image data stored in the image storing means, a means for managing the image storing means while dividing into a plurality of box areas, a means for storing the image data in an arbitrary box area, a means for specifying arbitrary image data from an arbitrary box area and reading out the image, a means for setting a limit number of times of reading out arbitrary image data for each type of job, a means for counting the number of times of reading out arbitrary image data for each type of job, and a means for making a decision whether arbitrary image data can be read out or not. <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 an image input / output system capable of storing images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image data read from a scanner or image data obtained by developing PDL data sent from a host computer via a network into a bitmap is temporarily stored in a memory such as a hard disk, and the arbitrary data is stored in the memory. A digital copying machine having a function of repeatedly reading out image data of a document and printing it out is known.

Further, by equipping a memory such as a hard disk, the image data is temporarily stored in the user's personal area on the memory in order to copy or print out a document such as a confidential document which should not be seen by others. A box function has been realized that outputs a picture by inputting a user password from the operation panel of the copying machine.

With this box function, even if a user prints out a confidential document from a host computer located away from the digital copying machine, the user must go to the front of the digital copying machine and operate the confidential document. Can be printed on paper without even seeing.

[0005]

However, instead of the above-mentioned personal use, a method of using like a shared folder is also used by not setting a box password. For example, a fixed form document or a specification sheet is used. For a document shared by multiple users, by setting a public box number and putting it in it, the document can be printed in common many times. In this case, the document may be printed out against the intention of the user who registered and stored the document, and it is desired to restrict access to the registered document.

[0006] The present invention provides an image input / output system which improves the functionality by enabling access restriction to a document when the box is used as a shared folder as described above. It is an object.

[0007]

The present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems by providing the following constitutions.

(1) Image input means for inputting image data, image storage means for sequentially storing the image data input by the image input means, image reading means for reading out the image data stored in the image storage means, Box management means for managing the image storage means by dividing it into a plurality of box areas, box storage means for storing image data in arbitrary box areas, and box reading means for reading out images by designating arbitrary image data from the arbitrary box areas. A unit for counting the number of times of reading the arbitrary image data, a unit for setting a limited number of times for reading the arbitrary image data, and a unit for judging whether or not the arbitrary image data can be read. Image input / output system

(2) In the image input / output system according to (1) above, the judging means judges that the reading is possible when the count number is less than or equal to the limit number of times, and only when it is judged that the reading is possible. An image input / output system, which permits reading of arbitrary image data.

(3) Image input means for inputting image data, image storage means for sequentially storing the image data input by the image input means, image reading means for reading out the image data stored in the image storage means, Box management means for managing the image storage means by dividing it into a plurality of box areas, box storage means for storing image data in arbitrary box areas, and box reading means for reading out images by designating arbitrary image data from the arbitrary box areas. A means for setting the read limit number of times of the arbitrary image data for each job type, a means for counting the number of times of reading the arbitrary image data for each job type, a determination for determining whether or not the arbitrary image data can be read An image input / output system having means.

(4) In the image input / output system described in (3) above, there is provided job type determination means for determining a job type when an image is read out by designating arbitrary image data from an arbitrary box area, When the count number for each job type is equal to or less than the limit number for each job type, the determining unit determines that the image is readable, and permits the arbitrary image data to be read only when it is determined that the image is readable. Image input / output system characterized by.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image input / output system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the image input / output system has a copy function,
An image input / output system having a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function and a box function will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image input / output system 100 includes a reader unit 200, a printer unit 300, a control device 110, and an operation unit 150. Reader unit 20
0 is a document feeding unit 250 for feeding a document.
And a scanner unit 210 for reading an image on a document fed from the document feeding unit 250,
The image data read by the scanner unit 210 is input to the control device 110.

The printer unit 300 includes a paper feeding unit 310.
A marking unit 320 and a paper discharge unit 330
Have and. The paper feeding unit 310 is equipped with a plurality of cassettes that respectively accommodate recording sheets of different sizes, and feeds the recording sheets from each cassette. Marking unit 32
Reference numeral 0 is a unit having an image forming process by electrophotography. In the marking unit 320, on the recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit 310 based on the image data input from the PC (host computer) 411, 412 connected to the LAN 400 or the scanner unit 210 via the control device 110. Image formation is performed. The paper discharge unit 330 is the marking unit 3
The recording paper on which the image is formed by 20 is subjected to processing such as sorting and stapling, and is discharged.

The control device 110 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300 and is connected to a PC.
It is connected to a LAN 400 accommodating 411 and 412 and a public line (not shown). The control device 110 realizes the copy function by reading the image data of the document by the reader unit 200, outputting the image data to the printer unit 300, and controlling the image data to be formed on the recording paper. Further, the scanner function is realized by converting the image data read by the reader unit 200 into code data and controlling the code data to be transmitted to the PCs 411 and 412 via the LAN 400. Furthermore, each PC 41
The printer function is realized by converting the code data received from 1, 412 via the LAN 400 into image data and controlling the image data to be output to the printer unit 300. Further, the reader unit 200 reads the image data of the original, outputs the image data to a FAX board (not shown) described later, and receives the image data sent to the public line via the FAX board to receive the image data. By outputting to 300, a facsimile function is realized.

A hard disk drive (HD drive) 160 is connected to the control device 110, and a storage area of the hard disk drive 160 is divided into a plurality of areas as described later, and image data is stored in each area. To be done. The control device 110 implements the box function using the hard disk of the hard disk drive 160. Details of this box function will be described later.

The operation unit 150 has various keys for inputting instructions to the control device 110 and a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an interface screen with the user, and outputs signals corresponding to the various keys according to the operation. It is generated and output to the control device 110.

Next, the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 3
The hardware configuration of 00 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the reader unit 2 of the image input / output system of FIG.
00 and a printer unit 300. FIG.

The reader section 200 and the printer section 300 are
As shown in FIG. 2, it is integrally configured. The reader unit 200 is equipped with a document feeding unit 250. The document feeding unit 250 feeds documents one by one from the beginning onto the platen glass 211, and the document is read every time the reading operation of each document is completed. Are discharged from the platen glass 211 to a discharge tray (not shown). When the document is fed onto the platen glass 211, the reader unit 200 turns on the lamp 212 and starts moving the moving unit 213. By the movement of the moving unit 213, the reading and scanning of the original on the platen glass 211 is performed. During this reading scan,
The reflected light from the document is reflected by the mirrors 214, 215, 216.
The image on the document is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218 via a lens 217 and C
An image is formed on the image pickup surface of the CD 218. CCD218 is
The image formed on the imaging surface is converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal is subjected to predetermined processing and then input to the control device 110.

The printer unit 300 includes a laser driver 32.
1, and the laser driver 321 drives the laser emission unit 322 based on the image data input from the control device 110. As a result, a laser beam corresponding to the image data is emitted from the laser emitting section 322, and the laser beam is emitted onto the photosensitive drum 323 while being scanned. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 323 by the emitted laser light, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the toner supplied from the developing device 324. The cassettes 311 and 3 are synchronized with the laser light irradiation timing.
The recording paper from 12 is fed between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer portion 325 via the conveyance path, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred onto the recording paper fed by the transfer portion 325.

The recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is fixed by a fixing roller pair (heating roller and pressure roller) 32 via a conveyor belt.
6, the fixing roller pair 326 heat-presses the recording paper,
The toner image on the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing roller pair 326 is ejected by the paper ejection roller pair 32.
The sheet is ejected to the sheet ejection unit 330 by 7. The paper discharge unit 330 includes a sheet processing device capable of performing post-processing such as sorting and stapling. When the double-sided recording mode is set, after the recording paper is conveyed to the paper discharge roller pair 327, the rotation direction of the paper discharge roller pair 327 is reversed, and the flapper 328 is used to re-feed the paper feed path 3.
Lead to 39. The recording paper led to the re-feeding conveyance path 339 is
The photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325 at the timing described above.
The sheet is re-fed between the recording sheet and the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the recording sheet.

Next, the detailed configuration of the control device 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device 110 in the image input / output system of FIG.

The control device 110 has a main controller 111 for controlling the entire device. The main controller 111 includes a CPU 112 and a bus controller 11.
3. Various I / F controller circuits (not shown) and the like are provided. In addition, the main controller 111 has
The ROM 114 transfers the DRAM 116 via the I / F 115.
Are connected via the I / F 117. CP
U112 performs various processes according to the program read from ROM114 via I / F115. For example, the PDL (page description language) received from each of the PCs 411 and 412 is interpreted, and a rasterization process for rasterizing the raster image data is performed. The work area of the CPU 112 is the DRAM 1
16 provided. Image data is also stored in the DRAM 116.

A codec 118 is connected to the main controller 111 via an I / F 120. The codec 118 converts the raster image data stored in the DRAM 116 into MH / MR / MMR / JB.
The compressed code data is compressed by a method such as IG, and conversely, the compressed code data is expanded into raster image data. The work area associated with the processing of the codec 118 is the SRAM 119.
Provided by. Codec 118 and DRAM 116
Data transfer between and is performed by the DMA method, and its control is performed by the bus controller 113.

Further, the main controller 111 includes
The network controller 121 is connected via the I / F 123, and this network controller 121
It has a network function such as Ethernet (R).
The network controller 121 includes a connector 122.
And the connector 122 is connected to the LAN 400 (see FIG.
(Shown in).

Further, the main controller 111 includes
An expansion connector 124 for connecting an expansion board and an I / O control unit 126 are connected via a general-purpose high-speed bus 125. Here, the general-purpose high-speed bus 125 is, for example, a PC.
It consists of an I-bus. In the present embodiment, a FAX board (not shown) is connected to the expansion connector 124 to realize the facsimile function, and the FAX board is connected to a public line.

The I / O control unit 126 includes a reader unit 200,
It includes a 2-channel asynchronous serial communication controller 127 for transmitting and receiving control commands to and from each CPU of the printer unit 300, and is connected to the scanner I / F 140 and the printer I / F 145 via the I / O bus 128.

Further, the I / O control unit 126 has a panel I
/ F132 is connected, and the panel I / F132 is an interface with the operation unit 150. This panel I / F1
An LCD controller 131 is connected to 32 and LC
The D controller 131 drives the liquid crystal display panel provided in the operation unit 150. Also, the panel I / F 132
Is an I / F 130 for taking in a key signal input according to the operation of the hard keys or soft keys of the operation unit 150.
including.

Further, the I / O control unit 126 has a real-time clock module 133 and an E-IDE connector 16 for updating and storing the date and time managed in the apparatus.
1 is connected to this real time clock module 1
33 is backed up by a backup battery 134. The E-IDE connector 161 is a connector for connecting an external storage device, and by connecting an external storage device such as a hard disk or MO drive to this connector 161, image data is written in or read from the external storage device. be able to. In the present embodiment, a hard disk drive (HD drive) 160 is connected, and this HD drive 160 drives a hard disk (HD) 162.

The scanner I / F 140 is the scanner bus 1
A connector 142 that is connected to the main controller 111 via 41 and is also connected to the reader unit 200 is provided. The scanner I / F 140 and the connector 142 are connected to the synchronous step synchronization serial I / F 143 and the video I / F 143.
It is connected through F144. Scanner I / F14
0 has a processing function of performing optimal binarization processing, scaling processing, etc. on an image received from the reader unit 200, and generates a control signal based on a video control signal received from the reader unit 200. , This control signal to the scanner bus 1
It has a function of outputting to the main controller 111 via 41. Here, from the scanner bus 141 to the DRAM 11
The data transfer to 6 is controlled by the bus controller 113.

Similarly, the printer I / F 145 is connected to the main controller 111 via the printer bus 146, and the connector 14 for connecting to the printer unit 300.
7 is provided. The printer I / F 145 and the connector 147 are connected to each other via a synchronous step synchronization serial I / F 148 and a video I / F 149. Printer I
The / F 145 performs a smoothing process on the image data output from the main controller 111 to apply the smoothing process to the printer unit 3.
00, and also has a function of generating a control signal based on the video control signal received from the printer unit 300 and outputting this control signal to the main controller 111 via the printer bus 146. DRAM 1
The transfer of the raster image data expanded on 16 to the printer unit 300 is controlled by the bus controller 113 and transferred to the printer unit 300 via the printer bus 146 and the video I / F 149.

Next, a logical method of using the hard disk 162 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the storage area of the hard disk 162 of the image input / output system of FIG. 1 is logically divided into a plurality of areas.

The storage area of the hard disk 162 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the temporary area 401 and the box area 4
It is logically divided into 02. Temporary area 401
In order to change the output order of the image data and to enable the output with a single scan in outputting a plurality of copies,
This is an area for temporarily storing L development data and image data from the scanner unit 210. Box area 40
Reference numeral 2 denotes an area used for the box function, which is divided into a predetermined number of areas. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the box area 402 is divided into areas 403-407. The areas 403 to 407 are assigned to the respective users and departments, and the corresponding box numbers, box names, and passwords are assigned to the areas 403 to 407, respectively. The user can access the area corresponding to the box number by designating the box number, and by inputting the password, the image data in the corresponding area can be read out, printed out, or transmitted.

As described above, the user designates the area in the box area 402 of the hard disk 162, the image data is stored in the designated area, and the image data is read out and printed out at an arbitrary timing by the user's operation. A function that can perform facsimile transmission is called a box function.

The box function is specifically divided into three functions of box registration, box print, and box transmission. In the box registration, the corresponding area in the box area 402 is designated by the PC 411, 412 or the reader unit 200, and the image data (P
This is a function for storing DL development data and image data read by the scanner unit 210. In the box print, an area in the box area 402 is designated, image data (PDL development data or image data read by the scanner unit 210) is read from the designated area, transferred to the printer unit 300, and printed out. It is a function to do. In box transmission, an area in the box area 402 is designated, and image data (PDL development data or scanner unit 210 is designated from the designated area.
Image data) read by
This is a function for performing transmission to the PCs 411 and 412 via 00, facsimile transmission via the public line, internet facsimile transmission, E-mail attachment transmission, remote copy transmission, and the like.

Next, the box registration of the box function will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of box registration in the image input / output system of FIG. Here, P transmitted from the PC 411
A case of storing DL data in a designated area in the box area of the hard disk 162 will be described.

In box registration, as shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S501, the user makes print settings on the PC 411. In this print setting,
The number of copies, paper size, enlargement / reduction ratio, single-sided / double-sided, page output order, sort output, presence / absence of stapling processing, etc. are set. Then, in step S502, a box number (BOX number) is input on the PC 411 to specify an area in the box area 402 of the hard disk 162. For example, when the user inputs the box number “1”, the area 403 in the box area 402 is designated as the area corresponding to the box number “1”. Then, the process advances to step S503 to specify access restriction. To restrict access, after storing the document in the box, set the number of times the document can be printed and sent. Further, it is possible to specify the number of times that the document can be accessed, not for each job type such as printing and sending. If access is not restricted, it can be specified that access is not restricted.

Next, in step S504, the PDL data is LA-coded to the control device 110 of the image input / output system 100.
Transfer via N400. Here, specifically, P
When a print instruction is given on the C411, the printer driver installed on the PC 411 converts the code data to be printed into PDL (Page Description Language) data according to the print instruction. The PDL data is transferred to the control device 110 together with the print setting parameters set in step S501.

Next, in step S505, the PDL data transferred by the control device 110 is expanded (rasterized) into image data, and in the subsequent step S506, the expanded image data is designated in the box area 402 of the hard disk 162. Stored in the reserved area. For example, with the box number “1”, the area 4 in the box area 402
When 03 is designated, the image data is stored in the area 403. When the area 404 in the box area 402 is designated by the box number “2”, image data is stored in the area 404. Further, the designated value of the access restriction is stored as image attribute data in association with the image data.

The above procedure is performed by the P sent from the PC 411.
This is a procedure for storing the DL data in a designated area in the box area of the hard disk 162, but also when storing the image read by the reader unit 200 in the designated area in the box area of the hard disk 162. The procedure is similar. In this case, the above step S501
Scan setting such as image processing is performed instead of the print setting of No. 2, the box number is designated as in step S502, and the access restriction is designated as in step S503, and then a scan start instruction is issued from the operation unit 150. As a result, the image data read by the reader unit 200 can be stored in the designated area in the box area 402.

Similarly, when an image remotely distributed from another device on the LAN 400 is registered, it can be stored in a corresponding area in the box area 402 by designating a box number and access restriction.

Next, the box print of the box function will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for box printing in the image input / output system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an example of a box area selection screen displayed on the operation unit 150 when performing box printing of the image input / output system of FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a password input screen displayed on the operation unit 150 when performing the box print of the image input / output system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a box print of the image input / output system of FIG. Operation unit 1 when performing
It is a figure which shows an example of the document selection screen displayed on 50.

When performing box printing, as shown in FIG. 6, first in step S601, the box area 4 of the hard disk 162 in which image data is stored is stored.
In order to access the area in 02, the box number is specified from the operation unit 150. For example, in the operation for designating the box number, the box key of the operation unit 150 is first pressed. When this box key is pressed, the box area selection screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the touch panel of the operation unit 150. In this box area selection screen, the box area 406 of the hard disk 162 is displayed.
Information 701 for each area 403 to 407 in the area, up and down cursor keys 702 and 703 for scrolling the screen up and down, a key 704 for closing this screen and returning to the standard screen (initial screen), and current operation A print status key 705 for displaying the print status being displayed is displayed.

Here, the information 701 for each area 403 to 407 includes a box number key indicating a box number attached to each area 403 to 407, a box name, and the number of stored documents. For example, when the user inputs the box number “1”, the box number “1” can be input by pressing the box number key “1”.

When a box number for designating an area in the box area 402 is input on the box area selection screen, a password input screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.
On this password input screen, a password input field (*** part in the figure), a cancel key 801 for canceling the password input, and an OK key 802 for confirming the entered password are displayed. . Cancel key 801
When is pressed, the screen returns to the box area selection screen shown in FIG.

The password is input on the password input screen by operating the ten-key pad of the operation unit 150, and the password input by operating the ten-key pad is recognized even by another person as shown in the figure. It is displayed as “***” so that it will not be displayed. When the input of this password is completed, the OK button 802 is pressed, and the password thus input is input from the operation unit 150 to the control device 11.
Sent to 0. The control device 110 determines whether the entered password is correct. Here, when the password is incorrect, the incorrect password input is displayed and the screen returns to the password input screen.

When the entered password is correct,
In step S602, the document selection screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the touch panel of the operation unit 150, and the document in the area corresponding to the designated box number is designated. This document selection screen is a screen for selecting a document in the area of box number 2. In this screen, information 901 for each document in the specified area is displayed.
Up / down cursor keys 902 and 903 for scrolling the information 901 up and down, a print lint key 904 for setting a box print for printing the file selected on this screen, and a selected document print A delete key 905 for deleting without sending or sending, a key 906 for closing this screen and returning to the screen shown in FIG. 7, and a box transmission for setting the box transmission for transmitting the file selected on this screen The transmission key 907 is displayed.

Information 9 for each document in the designated area
01 includes the stored date and time and file name of each document. Here, when the display area of the document (date and time, document name) selected by the user is pressed, the document is highlighted, and the highlighted display indicates that the document is selected. This document can be selected by pressing the display area of another document (date and time, document name). Further, when erasing the selected document without printing out or sending it, the delete key 905 is pressed.

When a document is selected on this document selection screen, the process proceeds to step S603. Here, when the printout (box print) or the transmission (box transmission) of the selected document is performed and the print key 904 is pressed, the box print is selected and the transmission key 907 is pressed. Box, select box transmission.

Next, in step S604, it is determined from the attribute information of the selected document whether the access restriction mode is being executed for this document. Next, the processing proceeds to step S605, and when the access restriction is not set, the processing proceeds to step S608 and the selected job is executed. In this case, when the send key 907 is pressed, the file selected from the designated area in the box area 402 is read and transmitted. When the print key 904 is pressed, the selected file is read from the designated area in the box area 402 and printing is performed. S
If the access restriction is set in 605, the process proceeds to step S606. Here, the access count of the selected document is determined, and if the access count is less than or equal to the access limit count, the process advances to step S607 to increment the access counter prepared for each document, and in step S608, the job Execute. In step S606,
If the document access count exceeds the access limit count, the process advances to step S609 to prohibit execution of the job.

In the above-described example, the number of times of access to a document is counted to determine whether or not a job can be executed. However, the access counter prepared for each job type is counted for each document, and the job type is determined for each document. It is also possible to judge whether the job can be executed or not by comparing with the limit value set to.

[0053]

As described above, according to the image input / output system of the present invention, with respect to the documents in the box, the registrants of the documents limit the number of access times for each document and for each job type for each document. If the number of access times is set to, the execution of the job can be prohibited when there is an access exceeding the set limit value, so the document registrant restricts the access to the box document beyond the intention. It is now possible to improve the functionality of the box function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input / output system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a reader unit 200 of the image input / output system of FIG.
3 is a diagram schematically showing a hardware configuration of printer unit 300. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control device 1 in the image input / output system of FIG.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 10.

4 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a storage area of a hard disk 162 of the image input / output system of FIG. 1 is logically divided into a plurality of areas.

5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of box registration in the image input / output system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing box printing in the image input / output system of FIG.

7 is a diagram showing an example of a box area selection screen displayed on the operation unit 150 when performing box printing in the image input / output system in FIG.

8 is a diagram showing an example of a document selection screen displayed on the operation unit 150 when performing box printing and box transmission of the image input / output system of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing an example of a password input screen displayed on the operation unit 150 when performing box printing in the image input / output system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 image input / output system 110 control device 150 control panel 200 Reader unit 210 scanner unit 250 document feeder unit 300 Printer section 310 paper feed unit 320 marking unit 330 Paper output unit 400 LAN 411, 412 PC (host computer)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AQ06 CL08                       HK23 HN05 HN15                 2C187 AD03 AD04 AE07 BF26 BG03                       BH08 CC08 GD02 JA01 JA05                 5B017 AA07 BB10 CA07                 5C073 AB04 AB11 BA01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit for inputting image data, an image storage unit for sequentially storing image data input by the image input unit, an image reading unit for reading out image data stored in the image storage unit, and the image. Box management means for managing the storage means by dividing it into a plurality of box areas, box storage means for storing image data in an arbitrary box area, box reading means for reading out an image by designating arbitrary image data from the arbitrary box area, It is characterized by further comprising: means for counting the number of times of reading the arbitrary image data, means for setting a limited number of times for reading the arbitrary image data, and judgment means for judging whether or not the arbitrary image data can be read. Image input / output system. 2. The image input / output system according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines that the read is possible when the count number is less than or equal to the limit number of times, and only when it is determined that the read is possible. An image input / output system characterized by permitting reading of data. 3. An image input unit for inputting image data, an image storage unit for sequentially storing image data input by the image input unit, an image reading unit for reading out image data stored in the image storage unit, and the image. Box management means for managing the storage means by dividing it into a plurality of box areas, box storage means for storing image data in an arbitrary box area, box reading means for reading out an image by designating arbitrary image data from the arbitrary box area, Means for setting the number of times of reading the arbitrary image data for each job type, means for counting the number of times of reading the arbitrary image data for each job type, and judgment means for judging whether or not the arbitrary image data can be read An image input / output system comprising: 4. The image input / output system according to claim 3, further comprising a job type determining means for determining a job type when an image is read out by designating arbitrary image data from an arbitrary box area. Is determined to be readable when the count number for each job type is less than or equal to the limit number for each job type, and only when it is determined to be readable,
An image input / output system, which permits reading of the arbitrary image data.