JP2005072777A - Unit, method, and program for image processing, and recording medium for recording the image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and reliably decide whether a manuscript image that has been read is a special document image, such as a confidential document, and to allow processing when reading the special document image to be diversified. <P>SOLUTION: The amount of feature of a pattern appearing on a manuscript image screen is detected from the image data of the manuscript image that has been read, and a decision result on whether the image data include a reference pattern is obtained (document type recognition section 210). An information transmission figure for expressing specified information in the form of figures is extracted from the image data of the manuscript image that has been read, and the decoded result of information expressed by the information transmission figure is obtained (system controller 204). Then, the search result of the contents to be processed is executed based on the decision result of the presence or absence of the reference pattern and the decoded result of information expressed by the information transmission figure, and processing according to processing contents that are the acquired search results (system controller 204, output control unit 211). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a storage medium that stores an image processing program that execute processing according to a pattern included in image data of a document image.

  In recent years, due to improvements in image processing technology and image forming technology, when copying banknotes and securities using a digital color copying machine, it is possible to make faithful copies that cannot be easily distinguished from the original copy. It has become. For this reason, it is necessary to take measures so that special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities cannot be copied at all or cannot be copied correctly.

  For example, in a company, even in the case of general documents other than special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities, there are many confidential documents that are prohibited from being output such as copying from the viewpoint of maintaining confidentiality of the document contents. It is necessary to take measures to prevent such confidential documents from being copied at all, or from being copied correctly.

  For this reason, various inventions have been made in the past that aim to exert restrictions on copying special manuscripts and confidential documents. Hereinafter, specific examples of such invention will be introduced.

  First, as a method for discriminating special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities, the input image data is compared with a specific mark (pattern data) registered in advance by a pattern matching method, and a specific mark exists. A method for discriminating that a document is a special document has been proposed. The inventions described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are typical examples. Thus, when it is determined that the document is a special document, it is easy to prohibit the copying, that is, not to copy.

  Next, as an invention for discriminating a confidential document prohibited from being copied, for example, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 describe an invention in which a mark indicating a confidential document attached to a confidential document is detected. ing. This utilizes the fact that a copy-prohibited confidential document is generally stamped with a mark indicating that it is a confidential document consisting of a confidential seal, a copy-prohibited mark, and the like. Thus, when it is determined that the original is a confidential document, it is easy to prohibit copying, that is, not to copy.

  Further, Patent Documents 5 and 6 propose a technique for suppressing copying by embedding a background pattern in an original image that is desired to be prohibited from copying. This is to use a sheet on which a background pattern having a base area and a message area is created on the background of the sheet used for the original image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern does not stand out so much in the original image, and does not hinder the interpretation of information included in the original image. However, when a manuscript image in which such a tint block pattern is embedded is copied, for example, a message area pattern emerges. Therefore, by giving characters such as “copy prohibited” as the pattern of the message area, it becomes obvious at a glance that the copy was a confidential document prohibited from copying. Can be generated.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-125259 JP 2001-86330 A JP-A-7-36317 JP 7-87309 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-164739 JP 2001-197297 A

  As described above, the input image data is compared with a specific mark (pattern data) registered in advance by the pattern matching method, and if it matches, special copying such as banknotes and securities is prohibited. Can be prevented from being copied. However, if copying is prohibited by such a method, all pattern data of the original to be prohibited from copying must be registered in advance. Therefore, even if it is effective for special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities, it is extremely difficult to apply it to an unspecified number of general manuscripts such as confidential documents.

  Further, as described above, copying of a confidential document can be prevented by prohibiting copying when a mark indicating a confidential document such as a confidential mark is detected. However, in this case, when an image reading operation is executed with a mark portion indicating a confidential document such as a confidential mark covered with paper or the like, it is a confidential document as a matter of course. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to determine the presence of a mark indicating that the copying cannot be prevented even if the confidential document should be prohibited from being copied.

  Further, as described above, for example, a confidential document is generated as a manuscript image in which a background pattern is embedded in the background, and when such a confidential document is copied, a part of the background pattern emerges. Psychologically, the ability to regulate copying can be generated. However, such a method using a tint block pattern only provides a copy suppression effect, and does not restrict the copying act itself. For this reason, there is a problem that a confidential document can be copied for a person who does not mind that the tint block pattern is raised.

  An object of the present invention is to easily and reliably determine whether or not a document image that has been read is a special document image such as a confidential document.

  Another object of the present invention is to give diversity to subsequent processing when it is determined that the original image read from the image is a special document image such as a confidential document.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for detecting a feature amount of a pattern appearing on an original image surface from image data of a read original image and a storage area for storing a reference pattern feature amount. The determination obtained by the process of accessing and comparing the feature quantity of the reference pattern stored in this storage area with the feature quantity of the detected pattern to determine whether or not the reference pattern is included in the image data Correspondence between means for obtaining a result, means for extracting an information transmission figure that expresses predetermined information in a graphic form from image data of a scanned original image, and the information transmission figure and information represented by the information transmission figure Access the storage area that stores the relationship definition, and refer to the correspondence definition stored in this storage area to decode the information represented by the extracted information transfer graphic Access to a storage area for storing a combination of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the information represented by the information transmission figure, and the determination result of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the information transmission figure are obtained. Based on the decoding result of the information to be expressed, means for acquiring the search result obtained by the process of searching for the process content according to the combination definition stored in the storage area, and the process content that is the acquired search result Means for executing processing according to the above.

  Therefore, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 executes the process according to the definition in combination based on the determination result of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the decoding result of the information expressed by the information transfer graphic. At this time, “a process for determining whether or not a reference pattern is included in the image data”, “a process for decoding the information represented by the extracted information transmission figure”, and “a process for searching for processing contents according to the combination definition” Any one or more of the processes may be executed by the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or may be executed by an external device.

  The invention described in claim 9 is an image processing method for executing a function realized by each means described in claim 1 as a process.

  Furthermore, the invention described in claim 17 is a computer-readable image processing program which is installed in a computer and causes the computer to execute functions realized by the respective means described in claim 1.

  Next, the subordinate concept of “pattern appearing on the document image surface” is defined in claims 2 to 4, claims 10 to 12, and claims 18 to 20. That is, the “pattern appearing on the document image surface” includes, for example, a background pattern of the document image (claims 2, 10, 18), a front pattern of the document image (claims 3, 11, 19), and a dot pattern (claim). 4, 12, 20). The dot pattern may be a background pattern or a front pattern (claims 4, 12, and 20).

  Next, the subordinate concept of “information transmission graphic” is defined in claims 5, 13, and 21. That is, the “information transmission graphic” is, for example, a data code. The data code includes a barcode and a two-dimensional code.

  Next, the information transmission figure extraction process and the process following the extraction process may be executed only when a determination result that a reference pattern is included in the image data is acquired. 6, 14, 22). This is because the information transmission figure extraction process and the process following this extraction process are required to be executed when the reference pattern is included in the image data of the read original image. This corresponds to an operation in which the original image is only a special document image such as a confidential document. In this case, if either one or both of the information transmission figure extraction process and the information decoding process expressed by the extracted information transmission figure are not normally executed, a predetermined process may be executed. Good (claims 7, 15, 23). Even if one or both of the extraction process of the information transmission figure and the decoding process of the information expressed by the extracted information transmission figure are not normally executed, the image data of the read original image includes the reference pattern. In other words, since there is no difference that the original image that has been read is a special document image such as a confidential document, when such a special document image is read, a corresponding process (predetermined This is because it is desirable to execute the process.

  And the extraction process of the information transmission figure and the process following this extraction process are not limited to the case where the determination result that the reference pattern is included in the image data is acquired, and the case where such a determination result is not acquired There is no hindrance to the execution (claims 8, 16, 24). It is expected that some original images do not have a reference pattern but are recorded with an information transmission figure. Even if it is such a manuscript image, depending on the content of the combination definition, more specifically, if the combination definition that there is no reference pattern and the information represented by the information transfer figure is defined in the combination definition, that combination This is because processing according to the processing content according to the definition can be executed.

  Furthermore, by storing the image processing program according to any one of claims 17 to 24 in a storage medium, the image processing program which is an intangible can be made portable, and convenience such as distribution can be achieved ( Claim 25).

  According to the first, ninth, and 17th aspects of the present invention, it is possible to determine the presence / absence of a reference pattern in the image data of the read original image, in other words, the document type of the original image, for example, whether it is a confidential document or the like. In addition, it is possible to decipher the information expressed by the information transmission figure, and the original image read by the combination of the determination result such as whether it is a confidential document and the information expressed by the information transmission figure It is possible to give diversity to subsequent processing contents for the image data.

  According to the second, tenth and eighteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to process a document image in which a reference pattern is formed on the background portion so as not to impair the readability of the document.

  According to the third, eleventh, and nineteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to process a document image that is difficult to form a reference pattern on the background portion.

  According to the fourth, twelfth, and twentieth aspects of the present invention, simple processing is performed to determine the presence / absence of a reference pattern in the image data of the read original image, in other words, the document type of the original image, for example, whether or not it is a confidential document. Can be determined with high accuracy.

  According to the invention described in claims 5, 13 and 21, a decoding result with high accuracy of information expressed by an information transmission figure (data code) can be used by a data code having a high degree of spread.

  According to the invention described in claims 6, 14, and 22, the execution of the information transmission figure extraction process and the process subsequent to the extraction process is required because the reference pattern is included in the image data of the read original image. In other words, when the operation is performed only when the scanned original image is a special document image such as a confidential document, the scanned original image is a confidential document. If the image is not a special document image like this, the decoding result of the information represented by the information transfer figure is not used, so by omitting the process to obtain the decoding result, the processing load on the device is reduced and the entire processing time is reduced. Shortening can be achieved.

  According to the seventh, fifteenth and twenty-third aspects of the present invention, even if one or both of the information transmission figure extraction process and the information decoding figure expressed by the extracted information transmission figure are not normally executed, image reading is performed. The image data of the manuscript image contains a reference pattern. In other words, there is no difference that the manuscript image read is a special document image such as a confidential document. When an image is read, a corresponding process (predetermined process) can be executed.

  According to the inventions described in claims 8, 16, and 24, when a document image that does not have a reference pattern but is recorded with an information transmission figure is read, in more detail, depending on the content of the combination definition, If the combination definition that there is no pattern and the information represented by the information transfer figure is defined in the combination definition, the process according to the processing content according to the combination definition can be executed, so it has a reference pattern If a document image on which only an information transmission figure is recorded is read, necessary processing can be executed.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

1. Document Image First, a document image used in the image processing apparatus, the image processing method, and the like according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a document image. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a copy of an original image in which a dot pattern embedded in the original image is raised. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a copy of an original image in which a dot pattern embedded in the original image appears floating. FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating the dot pattern illustrated in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic diagram illustrating the dot pattern illustrated in FIG.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, a manuscript sheet 102 for creating a manuscript image 101 which is a contract is an manuscript sheet 102 in which a dot pattern 103 as a pattern indicating a confidential document is embedded in the background. It is used. However, as another embodiment, the original paper 102 on which the dot pattern 103 is not formed may be used, and the dot pattern 103 may be simultaneously formed when the original image 101 that is a contract is created. That is, the dot pattern 103 may be preliminarily printed on the original paper 102 or may be simultaneously formed when characters, graphics, or the like are formed on the original paper 102.

  The dot pattern 103 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 includes a base area 104 and a message area 105. The base area 104 is a ground area that occupies most of the original paper 102. The message area 105 is an area for expressing a message distributed in the base area 104. The base area 104 and the message area 105 are not different from each other in the basic configuration of the dot pattern 103 itself, and are divided into the base area 104 and the message area 105 as human value judgment for the dot pattern 103. It ’s just that. In the present embodiment, the message area 105 is composed of characters “copy prohibited”. As characters constituting such a message area 105, any characters, symbols, and the like can be used in addition to “copy prohibited”. To supplement the description of FIG. 1, the dot pattern 103 in FIG. 1 is not expressed by distinguishing the base area 104 and the message area 105. This is because the dot pattern 103 is fine and cannot be expressed in FIG.

  In the original image 101 created using such original paper 102, when the original image 101 is copied, a part of the dot pattern 103 emerges. In this case, in the document image 101 illustrated in FIG. 2, the message area 105 expressed by the characters “copy prohibited” appears, and in the document image 101 illustrated in FIG. 3, the base area 104 appears.

  As described above, when the original image 101 in which the dot pattern 103 is embedded is copied, either the message area 105 or the base area 104 in the dot pattern 103 appears. The other area 104 or 105 is copied. This is because it is difficult to (reproduce). In other words, when the region 104 or 105 that does not rise up disappears, the remaining region 104 or 105 appears to rise up.

  The dot pattern 103 that causes such a phenomenon is constituted by a set of two types of dots 106 having different sizes as exemplified in FIGS. 4 and 5. That is, of these two types of dots 106, the small dots 106b are difficult to be copied (reproduced), and the large dots 106a are copied (reproduced). Therefore, in the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the message area 105 rises after copying, as shown in FIG. 5, a small dot 106 b is used for the base area 104, and a larger dot is used for the message area 105. Dots 106a are used. On the other hand, in the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the base area 104 is lifted after copying, as shown in FIG. 4, a small dot 106 b is used for the message area 105, and the base area 104 is formed. Large dots 106a are used.

  As another configuration example of the dot pattern 103, the message area 105 or the base area 104 that emerges is not limited to a dot, but can be configured by a thin line pattern, a specific pattern pattern, or the like.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the message area 105 or the base area 104 is treated as a feature amount. For example, if the message area 105 or the base area 104 that emerges is composed of dots 106, the message area 105 or the base area 104 that emerges in terms of size, density (number of dots per unit area), and inter-dot distance. If it is composed of a fine line pattern, the width of the line is used, and if the message area 105 or the base area 104 that emerges is composed of a specific pattern pattern, the feature of the pattern is used as a feature amount. be able to.

  In the above example, the feature quantity for the message area 105 or the base area 104 that emerges is limited. However, as such a feature quantity, the base area 104 or the message area 105 that does not emerge, or the message area 105 or the base area 104 that emerges. For each of the base region 104 or the message region 105 that does not appear, the respective feature amounts may be obtained. In short, if one or both of the base area 104 and the message area 105 can be read as data when the original image 101 on which the image data with the dot pattern 103 embedded is recorded is read, Can be treated as a feature quantity. Or, in the image data in which the dot pattern 103 existing in the form of data is embedded, if either or both of the base area 104 and the message area 105 constituting the dot pattern 103 can be read as data, Can be treated as a feature quantity.

  As another embodiment, as described above, the dot pattern may have a pattern other than the dot pattern 103 having the base region 104 and the message region 105 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 is a front view illustrating a document image and its dot pattern as an embodiment different from that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, and FIG. 7 is a document image different from FIG. It is a front view which illustrates a dot pattern. The dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is composed of dots 106 having a single size. The dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is the same as the pattern corresponding to only the base region 104 and the pattern corresponding to only the message region 105 in the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIGS. It can be grasped as a thing. That is, even if the dot pattern 103 corresponds to the base area 104 or the dot pattern 103 corresponding to the message area 105, the dot pattern 103 is used as data when the document image 101 having such a dot pattern 103 is read. If it can be read, it can be treated as a feature quantity.

  A dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 6 is configured as a background image of the original image 101 drawn on the original paper 102. In this sense, the background dot pattern is the same as the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIGS. On the other hand, the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 7 is drawn on the original image 101 drawn on the original paper 102. Therefore, the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 7 is not a background dot pattern but a front dot pattern.

  Here, the dot pattern 103 (dot pattern 103) shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, 6, and 7 is a dot pattern in which the relationship between the single dots 106 constituting the dot pattern 103 is a characteristic amount. 103. That is, as the feature amount of the dot pattern 103 (dot pattern 103) shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, 6, and 7, dot density (number of dots per unit area) and inter-dot distance can be mentioned. These feature quantities are all included in the relationship between the single dots 106 constituting the dot pattern 103. Therefore, a feature amount called dot density and a feature amount called inter-dot distance are compared and considered.

  First, the dot density, which is the density of the dots 106, is the number of dots per unit area, as described above. This feature amount can be determined by counting the number of dots in a certain unit area to be determined. When counting the actual number of dots, some detection omissions and false detections occur. Therefore, by setting a certain allowable value (threshold) for the number of dots counted, the feature amount can be detected using the density of the dots 106 as a feature amount. In this case, if the threshold value to be set with respect to the number of counted dots is a strict value, that is, a value with a small allowable range, a determination omission is likely to occur. Conversely, the threshold value to be set with respect to the counted number of dots. If the value is a loose value, that is, a value with a large allowable range, it is difficult to cause omission of determination.

  However, referring to the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 6, a certain dot 106 included in the dot pattern 103 is undetectable by the document image 101 drawn on the document sheet 102. On the other hand, in the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. 7, since the dot pattern 103 is drawn on the original image 101 drawn on the original paper 102, each dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIG. In this state, the dots 106 are easily detected. However, the dots 106 that overlap the original image 101 drawn on the original paper 102 are not always correctly detected. For this reason, the degree to which the number of dots can be detected is greatly affected by the form of the original image 101 drawn on the original paper 102. Therefore, when the dot density is a feature amount, it can be said that even if a certain allowable value (threshold value) is set for some of the counted number of dots, a determination omission is likely to occur in the determination of the feature amount.

  Next, a case where the distance between dots, which is the distance d between adjacent dots 106, is used as a feature amount will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a dot pattern 103 in which the distance between dots is d. FIG. 9 represents the distance distribution between adjacent dots 106 with the distance between dots on the horizontal axis and the appearance frequency on the vertical axis. It is a graph to do.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the dot pattern 103 in which the distance d between two adjacent dots 106 is constant, the distance between two adjacent dots 106 among the dots 106 constituting this dot pattern 103. The distance between dots, which is d, is a feature amount. Even if the dot pattern 103 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is overlapped with the original image 101, the feature amount is correctly detected as long as the distance d between the adjacent dots 106 is the feature amount. Is possible. In this case, when the dot 106 is detected from the dot pattern 103 and a plurality of distances d between adjacent dots 106 are determined, the distance d between the correct dots 106 is a peak value as shown in the graph of FIG. Draw a distribution of sharp peaks. Therefore, by setting a certain allowable value (threshold value) for the distance d, it is possible to more reliably detect the feature amount using the distance d between the dots 106 as the feature amount. In this case, as is apparent from the graph of FIG. 9, if the threshold value set for the distance d is a strict value, that is, a value with a small allowable range, determination omission is likely to occur. If the threshold value to be set is a loose value, that is, a value with a large allowable range, it is difficult to cause omission of determination.

2. Image processing apparatus, image processing method, etc., image processing program, and storage medium for storing image processing program (1) System configuration of image processing apparatus The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performs image processing as illustrated in FIG. Built into the system. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration example of the entire image processing system.

  That is, the image processing system is constructed as a server client system 4 in which a server PC 1 and a plurality of client PCs 2 (client PCs 1 to n) are connected via a network communication network 3 such as a LAN or WAN. PC is an abbreviation for personal computer. One or several of the client PCs 2 (for example, the client PC 1) function as an administrator computer. That is, the administrator of the client PC 2 that functions as an administrator computer is a user. The server client system 4 is connected to image processing apparatuses 5 (MFPs 1 to n) configured as MFPs.

(2) PC (server PC1, client PC2) included in the image processing system
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating hardware resources in the server PC 1 and the client PC 2 included in the image processing system. Since these server PC 1 and client PC 2 have the same architecture, they will be described using the same drawings and symbols.

  The server PC 1 and the client PC 2 include a CPU 11 that centrally controls each unit. The CPU 11 stores a ROM 12 that is a read-only memory that stores a BIOS and the like, and various types of data are rewritable to store the work of the CPU 11. A RAM 13 that functions as an area or the like is connected by a bus 14 to constitute a microcomputer. Further, the bus 14 has an HDD 15 in which a computer program is installed, a CD-ROM drive 17 for reading data recorded on the CD-ROM 16, an input device 18 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display such as a CRT or LCD. 19 and an interface 20 that controls communication with an external device are connected. The server PC 1 and the client PC 2 are connected to the network communication network 3 via the interface 20.

  Various computer programs installed in the HDD 15 are originally recorded on the CD-ROM 16 as an example, and the computer program is read by the CD-ROM drive 17 by the CPU 11 and installed in the HDD 15. When the computer program installed in the HDD 15 is activated, the computer program is copied from the HDD 15 to the RAM 13 and executed by the CPU 11 and the RAM 13. In this sense, the RAM 13, HDD 15, or CD-ROM 16 functions as a storage medium for storing computer programs.

  However, not only the CD-ROM 16 but also various types of media such as various optical disks such as DVDs, various magnetic disks such as various magneto-optical disks and flexible disks, and semiconductor memories are used as storage media for storing computer programs. Can do. Further, a computer program may be downloaded from a network such as the Internet and installed in the HDD 15. In this case, the storage device that stores the computer program in the server on the transmission side is also a storage medium in the present invention. The program may operate on a predetermined OS (Operating System), in which case the OS may execute a part of various processes described later, or a word processor. It may be included as part of a group of program files that constitute predetermined application software such as software or an OS.

(3) Image processing apparatus 5, image processing method in image processing apparatus 5, image processing program installed in image processing apparatus 5, storage medium for storing image processing program Next, referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. An image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment configured as follows will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of hardware resources of the image processing apparatus 5. As shown in FIG. 12, the image processing apparatus 5 of the present embodiment has a digital copying machine configuration in which a scanner 201 as an image reading apparatus, an image processing unit 202 with a digital circuit configuration, and a plotter 203 are controlled by a system controller 204. It is an MFP. The system controller 204 utilizes computer functions constructed from a built-in CPU (Central Processing Unit) 204a, ROM (Read Only Memory) 204b, and RAM (Random Access Memory) 204c, and responds to an instruction from the operation display unit 205. The scanner 201, the image processing unit 202, and the plotter 203 are controlled to return necessary information to the operation display unit 205 for display. The system controller 204 is also connected with an image storage unit 206 having an image memory configuration for storing image data of an original image read by the scanner 201 and a communication processing unit 207 functioning as an external interface. Is connected to the network communication network 3 via the communication processing unit 207. Further, a remote operation unit 208 is connected to the communication processing unit 207, and the image processing apparatus 5 can be controlled by the remote operation unit 208.

  The image processing unit 202 includes a copy image processing unit 209, a document type identification unit 210, and an output control unit 211.

  The copy image processing unit 209 has functions provided in a general digital copying machine, such as shading correction, background removal, filter processing, scaling processing, gamma correction processing, and gradation processing. Since these are not different from the equivalent circuit configuration provided in a general digital copying machine, description thereof is omitted.

  The document type identification unit 210 and the output control unit 211 are configurations unique to the image processing apparatus 5 of the present embodiment. Prior to describing the document type identification unit 210 and the output control unit 211, one of the features of the image processing apparatus 5 of the present embodiment will be described.

  The image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment detects the feature amount of the dot pattern 103 from the image data of the original image 101 read by the scanner 201, and stores the detected feature amount of the dot pattern 103 in advance. It is compared with the feature quantity of the reference pattern, and the presence or absence of the identity is determined. In other words, in this embodiment, if the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is a confidential document, for example, the output by the plotter 203 is prohibited, or the confidential document is received via the communication processing unit 207. The client PC 2 used as the administrator computer is notified that the image has been read. For this reason, such a confidential document is positioned as a special document, and such a special document is created using a manuscript sheet 102 having a predetermined pattern, here, a dot pattern 103. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the feature amount of the dot pattern 103 created on the original paper 102 to indicate that the document is a special document is set to, for example, a register (not shown) in the document type identification unit 210 of the digital circuit configuration. Store and save in the storage area. Then, the feature amount of the dot pattern 103 is detected from the image data of the original image 101 read by the scanner 201, and the feature amount of the detected dot pattern 103 is compared with the feature amount of the reference pattern stored in advance. Then, the presence or absence of the identity is determined. If identity is recognized between the feature amount of the dot pattern 103 extracted from the image data and the feature amount of the reference pattern, the document image 101 read from the image is a special document.

  The image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment includes a document type identification unit 210 as an architecture for determining whether or not a document image 101 that has been read is a special document, and executes processing when a special document is determined. An output control unit 211 is included as an architecture. The document type identification unit 210 and the output control unit 211 are digital circuits that implement a sequence corresponding to a processing program and a circuit that executes the sequence with firmware.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the document type identification unit 210 shown in FIG. The document type identifying unit 210 having a digital circuit configuration detects the feature amount of the dot pattern 103 appearing on the document image surface from the image data of the document image read by the scanner 201, and for example, the document type identifying unit 210 having the digital circuit configuration. The feature amount of the reference pattern stored in a storage area such as a register (not shown) in FIG. 5 is acquired by accessing the ROM 204b or RAM 204c, and the feature amount of the reference pattern and the dot pattern 103 detected from the image data are acquired. The feature amount is compared, and it is determined whether or not the reference pattern is included in the image data. As another embodiment relating to the storage location of the feature amount of the reference pattern, the feature amount of the reference pattern may be stored in the ROM 204b or RAM 204c in the system controller 204. In any case, such processing is performed by the document type identifying unit 210 having a digital circuit configuration that executes computer processing such as various kinds of arithmetic processing according to the image processing program recorded in the document type identifying unit 210 with the firmware configuration. Executed.

  As an example, in the present embodiment, an example in which the dot density data of the dot pattern 103 formed as a background image or a front image as illustrated in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7 is stored and stored in a storage area as a reference pattern. To do. That is, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the document image 101 having the dot pattern 103 as illustrated in FIG. 6 or 7 is a confidential document.

  The document type identification unit 210 includes a black dot detection unit 210a, a black dot density determination unit 210b, and a dot number determination unit 210c. Therefore, the document type identification unit 210 detects dots from the image data of the original image read by the scanner 201 using the black dot detection unit 210a. As a detection method in this case, various conventional methods for detecting an image pattern by a digital circuit, for example, pattern matching can be used. Next, the black dot density determination unit 210b calculates the dot density within a certain area in the dots detected by the black dot detection unit. Such calculation processing is executed by a counter or an adder having a digital circuit configuration. The dot number determination unit 210c stores and saves the feature amount of the reference pattern in a storage area (not shown). For example, the feature amount of the reference pattern includes a threshold value that is an allowable value for determining the identity with respect to the dot density of the dot pattern 103 within a certain area as a reference for dot density calculation in the black dot density determination unit 210b, and one sheet And a threshold value that is an allowable value for the identity determination with respect to the number of dots of the dot pattern 103 included in the original document sheet. The dot number determination unit 210c determines that the dot density calculated by the black dot density determination unit 210b is included in a threshold relating to the dot density stored and saved as a feature amount of the reference pattern in a storage area (not shown). In this case, the number of dots detected by the black dot detection unit 210a is accumulated in, for example, a counter (not shown). Then, the dot number determination unit 210c reads the accumulated number of dots by the scanner 201 when the accumulated number of dots is included in the threshold value regarding the number of dots stored and saved as a feature amount of the reference pattern in a storage area (not shown). It is determined that a reference pattern exists in the image data of the original image, that is, the image data is image data of a special document such as a confidential document, and the determination result is output to the document type identification unit 210 as a system controller. 204 and the output control unit 211. Accordingly, the system controller 204 and the output control unit 211 obtain a determination result that the image data is image data of a special document such as a confidential document.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as the internal processing of the image processing apparatus 5, there is a reference pattern in the image data of the original image 101 read by the scanner 201, that is, the image data is like a confidential document. An example is shown in which it is determined that the image data is a special document and the determination result is provided to the system controller 204 and the output control unit 211 as an output of the document type identification unit 210. On the other hand, as another embodiment, the image processing apparatus 5 determines whether or not a reference pattern exists in the image data of an original image read by such a scanner 201, for example, an external device such as a server PC1. May be requested from the server PC1.

  Further, instead of using the dot pattern 103 as a feature amount of the reference pattern, a method using another shape can be implemented. For example, a cross pattern in which short lines are crossed may be added to a document and detected by pattern matching. In this case, as a reference pattern, a feature amount of a cross pattern obtained by intersecting short lines, for example, a line length or an intersection angle is used as a feature amount.

  Alternatively, a specific color, for example, blue may be defined as the feature amount of the reference pattern as the background color of the original paper instead of the graphic shape. In this case, the color that is the feature amount of the reference pattern, for example, blue, can be easily obtained when the scanner 201 is a color scanner.

  The output control unit 211 executes special processing as instructed by the system controller 204 based on the determination result by the document type identification unit 210 and the like. That is, the output control unit 211 prohibits output of image data by the plotter 203 or a communication processing unit in response to an instruction from the system controller 204 when the document image 101 whose image has been read is a special document processing target document. The client PC 2 used as the administrator computer is notified that the image of the confidential document has been read via 207.

  Next, the system controller 204 will be described. Here, before describing the system controller 204, another feature of the image processing apparatus 5 of the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment determines whether the image data of the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is a special document such as a confidential document. The output control unit 211 executes processing according to an instruction from the system controller 204 when the document image 101 whose image has been read is a special document processing target document. Depending on the processing contents so far, for example, a sufficient effect can be expected for a problem such as confidential document protection. However, in this case, as a condition for executing the special processing by the output control unit 211, only one of two alternative conditions, that is, whether or not the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is a special document, can be set. On the other hand, in consideration of actual operational aspects, special documents such as confidential documents have a plurality of types of ranks, and operators who read images of the special documents also have a plurality of types of ranks. Alternatively, even if it is simply referred to as a special document, the contents of the document itself and the contents of special processing to be executed on the document can be said to vary greatly. That is, in consideration of actual operation, the condition for executing the special processing by the output control unit 211 is not only the alternative condition of whether or not the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is a special document. If the condition can be set by combining whether or not the original image 101 is a special document and other desired information, the usefulness is greatly increased.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, not only a document sheet 102 having a dot pattern 103 is used as a document sheet 102 for creating a special document, but also data such as an information transmission figure is stored in such document sheet 102 in advance or afterwards. The code, here the barcode 151 is printed. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a document image 101 with a barcode 151 attached thereto. Then, the barcode decoding software constituting a part of the image processing program is installed in the ROM 204b of the system controller 204 with the firmware configuration. This barcode decoding software causes the CPU 204a to execute a process of extracting the barcode 151 from the image data of the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 and decoding the extracted barcode 151. That is, the image data of the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is sent to the document type identifying unit 210 and simultaneously sent to the system controller 204 and stored in the RAM 204 c or the image storage unit 206. For the image data stored in this manner, the barcode decoding software causes the CPU 204a to execute a process of cutting out the image data of the barcode 151 arranged at a predetermined position. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the image data (FIG. 15A) at the correct position where the document image 101 does not rotate is not always obtained, and the document image 101 is 90 degrees (FIG. 15B). ), 180 degrees (FIG. 15 (c), or 270 degrees (FIG. 15 (d)) image data in a rotated state may be acquired. In view of such a possibility, FIG. As illustrated, the barcode 151 clipping position 152a at the correct position where the document image 101 does not rotate, the barcode 151 clipping position 152b at the position where the document image 101 is rotated 90 degrees, and the document image 101 is 180 degrees. The bar code 151 cutout position 152c at the rotated position and the bar code 151 cutout position 152d at the position where the original image 101 has been rotated by 270 degrees are used as bar codes. Cut out the image data of the code 151. Whether or not the barcode 151 exists in the cut out image can be easily determined by whether or not the code can be extracted by decoding the image. The data of the thickness and interval of the barcode 151 is found from the black and white binarized data, and the alphanumeric string can be extracted by decoding the data of the thickness and the interval of the barcode 151. It can be seen that the bar code 151 exists at the cut-out position where the bar code 151 can be extracted, and if the alphanumeric string can be extracted, the bar code 151 indicates that the extracted alphanumeric string is information that the bar code 151 has. Therefore, for example, a pair that defines the correspondence between an alphanumeric string and certain information in the ROM 204b. If the relationship definition is stored, the ROM 204b is accessed, the corresponding relationship definition stored in the ROM 204b is referred to, and the information corresponding to the extracted alphanumeric character string, that is, the bar code 151 which is an information transmission figure. The information expressed by can be deciphered.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the system controller 204 stores and saves the correspondence definition that defines the correspondence between the alphanumeric string and certain information in the ROM 204b, and retrieves it from the barcode 151 with reference to this correspondence definition. In this example, information corresponding to the good digit string, that is, information expressed by the barcode 151 which is an information transmission figure is shown. That is, in the present embodiment, for example, the CPU 204a executes such information acquisition processing in accordance with barcode decoding software installed in the ROM 204b. On the other hand, as another embodiment, the image processing apparatus 5 is configured to read a barcode on an external device such as the server PC 1 when an image of a special processing target document is read or triggered by another event. For example, a software transmission request may be made, and for example, barcode decoding software may be acquired using a JAVA applet (JAVA is a registered trademark). Alternatively, as yet another embodiment, the image processing apparatus 5 cuts out the barcode 151 from the image data, extracts the alphanumeric string data, and then requests the external device, for example, the server PC1 to perform the decoding process. You may make it acquire the information which the barcode 151 expresses from PC1.

  In the present embodiment, the barcode 151 is exemplified as the information transmission graphic. However, the data code as the information transmission graphic is not limited to the barcode 151 and may be a two-dimensional barcode. When the amount of information is large, it is preferable to use a two-dimensional barcode. Or even if it is the one-dimensional barcode 151 which is illustrated to FIG.14 and FIG.15, information amount can be increased by multi-stages, such as 2 steps | paragraphs and 3 steps | paragraphs.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment, the document type identification unit 210 can determine whether or not the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is a special document. The controller 204 can acquire information represented by the barcode 151 from the barcode 151 included in the original image 101 which is a special document. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment transmits a command from the system controller 204 to the output control unit 211 based on the information acquired in this manner, and executes special processing. For this purpose, in the image processing apparatus 5 of the present embodiment, software for image processing is installed in the ROM 204b of the system controller 204 with a firmware configuration. As another embodiment, the image processing apparatus 5 sends a request for transmission of such image processing software to an external device, for example, the server PC 1, and acquires the image processing software as, for example, a JAVA applet (JAVA is a registered trademark). It is also possible to use this mode. Alternatively, as yet another embodiment, the image processing apparatus 5 cuts out the barcode 151 from the image data, extracts the alphanumeric string data, obtains the information based on the correspondence definition, and outputs the information according to the information. The contents of the special process to be commanded to the control unit 211 may be inquired of an external device such as the server PC1, and the content of the special process to be commanded to the output control unit 211 may be acquired from the server PC1. In this case, when the image processing apparatus 5 cuts out the barcode 151 from the image data and extracts the alphanumeric string data, the output control unit according to the request for the decoding process and the information expressed by the barcode 151 as the decoding result Both the inquiry about the contents of special processing to be commanded to 211 may be transmitted to an external device, for example, the server PC1, and the content of special processing to be commanded to the output control unit 211 may be acquired from the server PC1.

  In any case, the image processing program controls the output operation of the output control unit 211 based on the information expressed by the barcode 151. At this time, the image processing program stores any storage area for storing a combination definition of the presence / absence of the reference pattern, that is, whether the document is a special document and the information expressed by the barcode 151 which is an information transmission figure. For example, the ROM 204b in the system controller 204 is accessed, and the combination definition stored in the storage area is obeyed based on the determination result of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the decoding result of the information expressed by the bar code 151 which is the information transmission figure. The search result obtained by the process of searching the processed contents is acquired.

  Hereinafter, a specific example of information expressed by the barcode 151 and special processing executed by the output control unit 211 will be described.

[Specific Example 1]
In the first specific example, document level information is given to the barcode 151. Thus, when an image of a special document such as a confidential document is read, the barcode 151 is cut out from the image data of the original image 101 and decoded, whereby the document level of the special document can be recognized.

So, for example,
In the case of a level 1 special document, image output by the plotter 203 is prohibited.

  In the case of a level 2 special document, image output by the plotter 203 is allowed, but a mark indicating that the document is a confidential document, for example, a confidential mark, is printed on the output image.

In the case of a level 3 special document, image output by the plotter 203 is allowed, but the administrator PC PC 2 is notified by e-mail or the like that the special document has been read.
Such special processing is instructed to be executed by the output control unit 211, or is executed by the system controller 204. In particular, for example, when the notification to the client PC 2 for the administrator is accompanied with time information when such a special document is image-read or information from a monitoring device (not shown), for example, a confidential document is illegally read. Great convenience is given to follow-up in such cases. As an example of the information from the monitoring device, a CCD camera that images an operator who operates the image processing device 5 is used as the monitoring device, and an image captured by the CCD camera is accompanied with the notification.

[Specific Example 2]
In the second specific example, not only document level information is given to the barcode 151, but specific information related to the user of the image processing apparatus 5 is used for special processing determination. The specific information related to the user of the image processing apparatus 5 can be easily obtained by, for example, asking the operation display unit 205 or the remote operation unit 208 to input user information or a password. Alternatively, as another embodiment for obtaining specific information related to the user of the image processing apparatus 5, the barcode 151 may include specific information related to such a user. In this case, an operation mode is adopted in which a document sheet 102 with a barcode 151 for identifying the user is assigned to each user of the image processing apparatus 5.

For example,
In the case of a level 1 special document, the users A and B are allowed to output an image by the plotter 203 but are not allowed to the user C.

  In the case of a level 2 special document, the user A is permitted to output an image by the plotter 203, but is not permitted to the users B and C.

In the case of level 3 special documents, image output by the plotter 203 is not permitted to all users.
Such special processing is instructed to the output control unit 211 to be executed. In this case, when a condition for prohibiting image output by the plotter 203 is satisfied, the administrator PC 2 may be notified by e-mail or the like that the image of the special document has been read. In this case, as in the case of the specific example 1, for example, the notification to the client PC 2 for the administrator is accompanied by time information when such a special document is image-read or information from a monitoring device (not shown). For example, a great convenience is given to the follow-up investigation when a confidential document is illegally scanned. As an example of the information from the monitoring device, a CCD camera that images an operator who operates the image processing device 5 is used as the monitoring device, and an image captured by the CCD camera is accompanied with the notification.

[Specific Example 3]
In the third specific example, the barcode 151 does not have document level information but has a document ID. That is, each document has unique information. Thereby, it is possible to cause the output control unit 211 to execute output control corresponding to each document ID.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus 5 and the image processing method in the image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment, the presence or absence of the reference pattern in the image data of the document image 101 that has been read, in other words, the document image 101. Document type, for example, whether or not it is a confidential document, etc., and the information expressed by the bar code 151 that is an information transmission figure can be deciphered. The combination of the determination result and the information expressed by the bar code 151 that is an information transmission figure makes it possible to give diversity to subsequent processing contents of the image data of the original image 101 that has been read.

  The image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment executes a process for determining whether or not the original image 101 read by the scanner 201 is a special document according to a sequence installed in a digital circuit called a document type identification unit 210. A process of acquiring information expressed by the barcode 151 from the barcode 151 included in the original image 101 which is a special document and controlling the output control unit 211 and the like is executed by a sequence installed in the ROM 204b of the system controller 204. In this sense, the document type identification unit 210 and the ROM 204b function as a storage medium that stores an image processing program. On the other hand, when the image processing apparatus 5 is a general computer such as the server PC 1 or the client PC 2, the image processing program takes the form of package software and is used by being installed in the HDD 15, for example. Is preferable. Further, even if the image processing apparatus 5 has a digital copying machine configuration such as an MFP, if the image processing apparatus 5 has a general computer configuration, the image processing program takes the form of package software. For example, it is possible to install and use it in the HDD of the image processing apparatus 5 (not shown).

(4) Other Processing In the present embodiment, whether or not a reference pattern is included in the image data of the original image 101 obtained by executing the document type identification processing by the document type identification unit 210 and reading the image by the scanner 201, in other words, Whether a special document such as a confidential document has been read is determined. Then, the system controller 204 executes output control for the output control unit 211 according to the determination result. Due to such a configuration, the image processing apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment does not employ a configuration in which the plotter 203 is driven to output an image as soon as the image data processing in the copy image processing unit 209 is performed. That is, prior to driving the plotter 203, the document type identification unit 210 always executes document type identification processing and the like.

  In this case, the image data processing in the copy image processing unit 209 and the document type identification processing in the document type identification unit 210 may be performed simultaneously, or a time difference may be provided between the execution times. When providing a time difference, the image data is temporarily stored in a temporary memory (not shown) and the image data is sent to the copy image processing unit 209, and the document type identification is performed in the image data processing in the copy image processing unit 209. The document type identification process in the unit 210 is preceded.

  Further, as an example, the system controller 204 performs an information extraction process, that is, an extraction process of the barcode 151 that is an information transmission figure and a process subsequent to the extraction process, as a result of the document type identification process in the document type identification unit 210 The process is executed only when the determination result that the reference pattern is included in the image data is acquired, that is, when the special document is read. When the document type identification process in the document type identification unit 210 is high speed and the information extraction process is low speed, it is preferable to adopt such a configuration. This is because time-consuming information extraction processing is limited to only some special documents, which leads to saving of processing time as a whole. On the other hand, if the information extraction process is also fast, the information extraction process is always performed regardless of the result of the document type identification process, and it is determined that the special document has been scanned as a result of the document type identification process. In such a case, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the information extraction result that has already been processed is adopted.

  In the present embodiment, as a process in the case where one or both of the extraction process of the barcode 151 as the information transmission figure and the decoding process of the information expressed by the extracted barcode 151 are not normally executed, , A predetermined process, for example, a process of transmitting an image output prohibition command by the plotter 203 to the output control unit 211 or notifying the administrator client PC 2 by e-mail or the like is executed. . Even if either or both of the extraction process of the barcode 151 and the decoding process of the information expressed by the extracted barcode 151 are not normally executed, the result of the document type identification process in the document type identification unit 210 is the image data. Therefore, if the special document image is read, the corresponding processing is executed. This is because it is desirable.

  However, as another example, the system controller 204 performs, as an example, an information extraction process, that is, an extraction process of a barcode 151 that is an information transmission figure and a process subsequent to the extraction process by the document type identification unit 210. As a result of the document type identification process, the process may be executed even when the determination result that the reference pattern is included in the image data is not acquired, that is, when the special document is not read. It is expected that the document image 101 does not have a reference pattern but has an information transmission figure such as a barcode 151 recorded thereon. For example, as an operation, a document image 101 (FIG. 17A) having both a reference pattern such as the dot pattern 103 and an information transmission figure such as a barcode 151, and a reference pattern such as the dot pattern 103 are provided. An original image 101 (FIG. 17B) having no information transmission figure such as a barcode 151 but an original image having neither a reference pattern such as the dot pattern 103 nor an information transmission figure such as a barcode 151. An operation example is assumed in which three types of document images 101 such as 101 (FIG. 17C) are used. In such a case, the content of the combination definition is not provided for the reference pattern such as the dot pattern 103 but the document image 101 illustrated in FIG. 17B having the information transmission figure such as the barcode 151. Depending on how, if the combination of the absence of the reference pattern and the information represented by the information transmission figure is defined in the combination definition, the output control unit performs processing according to the processing content according to the combination definition. 211 can be executed. Such processing contents can further diversify the subsequent processing contents for the image data of the document image 101 that has been read.

3 is a front view illustrating a document image. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a copy of an original image in which a dot pattern embedded in the original image is seen floating. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a copy of an original image in which a dot pattern embedded in the original image is raised. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an enlarged dot pattern illustrated in FIG. 2. It is a schematic diagram which expands and shows the dot pattern illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating a document image and its dot pattern as another embodiment. FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a document image different from FIG. 6 and its dot pattern. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the dot pattern which makes the distance between dots d. It is a graph which expresses the distance distribution between adjacent dots, taking the distance between dots on the horizontal axis and taking the appearance frequency on the vertical axis. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration example of the whole image processing system. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware resources in the server PC and client PC which are included in the image processing system. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the hardware resource of an image processing apparatus. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a document type identification unit shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a document image with a barcode attached thereto. The state of rotation of the original image with the barcode attached is correct (a), rotated 90 degrees (b), rotated 180 degrees (c), rotated 270 degrees (d) FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the position which cuts out the image data of barcode. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates the kind of original image in a certain operation.

Explanation of symbols

101 Document image 103 Pattern (dot pattern)
151 Information transmission figure (bar code)

Claims (25)

Means for detecting a feature amount of a pattern appearing on a document image surface from image data of a document image that has been read;
The storage area for storing the feature amount of the reference pattern is accessed, the feature amount of the reference pattern stored in the storage area is compared with the feature amount of the detected pattern, and the reference pattern is included in the image data. Means for obtaining a determination result obtained by the process of determining whether or not
Means for extracting an information transmission figure for expressing predetermined information in a graphic form from image data of a document image that has been read;
Access the storage area that stores the correspondence definition between the information transmission graphic and the information represented by the information transmission graphic, and refer to the correspondence definition stored in this storage area to represent the extracted information transmission graphic. Means for obtaining the decryption result obtained by the process of decrypting the information;
The storage area is accessed based on the determination result of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the decoding result of the information represented by the information transmission figure by accessing the storage area for storing the combination definition of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the information represented by the information transmission figure Means for obtaining a search result obtained by a process for searching for processing contents according to the combination definition stored in
Means for executing processing according to the processing content that is the acquired search result;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a background pattern of the document image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a front pattern of the document image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a dot pattern.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission graphic is a data code.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an information transmission figure extraction process and a process following the extraction process are executed only when a determination result that a reference pattern is included in the image data is acquired.   The image processing according to claim 6, wherein a predetermined process is executed when one or both of the extraction process of the information transfer figure and the decoding process of the information expressed by the extracted information transfer figure are not normally executed. apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an extraction process of an information transmission figure and a process following the extraction process are executed even when a determination result is not acquired if a reference pattern is included in the image data. Detecting a feature amount of a pattern appearing on a document image surface from image data of a document image that has been read;
The storage area for storing the feature amount of the reference pattern is accessed, the feature amount of the reference pattern stored in the storage area is compared with the feature amount of the detected pattern, and the reference pattern is included in the image data. Obtaining a determination result obtained by the process of determining whether or not,
Extracting an information transmission figure for expressing predetermined information in a graphic form from image data of a document image that has been read;
Access the storage area that stores the correspondence definition between the information transmission graphic and the information represented by the information transmission graphic, and refer to the correspondence definition stored in this storage area to represent the extracted information transmission graphic. Obtaining a decryption result obtained by the process of decrypting the information;
The storage area is accessed based on the determination result of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the decoding result of the information represented by the information transmission figure by accessing the storage area for storing the combination definition of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the information represented by the information transmission figure Obtaining a search result obtained by the process of searching for the processing content according to the combination definition stored in
A process of executing processing according to the processing content that is the acquired search result;
An image processing method comprising:   The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a background pattern of the document image.   The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a front pattern of the document image.   12. The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a dot pattern.   The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the information transmission graphic is a data code.   The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein the information transmission figure extraction process and the process following the extraction process are executed only when a determination result that a reference pattern is included in the image data is acquired.   The image processing according to claim 14, wherein a predetermined process is executed when one or both of the extraction process of the information transfer figure and the decoding process of the information expressed by the extracted information transfer figure are not normally executed. Method.   The image processing method according to claim 9, wherein an extraction process of an information transmission figure and a process subsequent to the extraction process are executed even when a determination result is not acquired if a reference pattern is included in the image data. Installed on the computer, on this computer,
A function for detecting a feature amount of a pattern appearing on a document image surface from image data of a document image that has been read;
The storage area for storing the feature amount of the reference pattern is accessed, the feature amount of the reference pattern stored in the storage area is compared with the feature amount of the detected pattern, and the reference pattern is included in the image data. A function of acquiring a determination result obtained by the process of determining whether or not,
A function of extracting an information transmission figure that expresses predetermined information in a graphic form from image data of a document image that has been read;
Access the storage area that stores the correspondence definition between the information transmission graphic and the information represented by the information transmission graphic, and refer to the correspondence definition stored in this storage area to represent the extracted information transmission graphic. A function of obtaining a decryption result obtained by a process of decrypting information;
The storage area is accessed based on the determination result of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the decoding result of the information represented by the information transmission figure by accessing the storage area for storing the combination definition of the presence / absence of the reference pattern and the information represented by the information transmission figure A function for obtaining a search result obtained by a process for searching for a process content according to the combination definition stored in
A function to execute processing according to the processing content that is the acquired search result;
A computer-readable image processing program for executing   The image processing program according to claim 17, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a background pattern of the document image.   The image processing program according to claim 17, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a front pattern of the document image.   20. The image processing program according to claim 17, wherein the pattern appearing on the document image surface is a dot pattern.   The image processing program according to claim 17, wherein the information transmission graphic is a data code.   The image processing program according to claim 17, wherein only when a determination result indicating that a reference pattern is included in the image data is acquired, an information transmission figure extraction process and a process following the extraction process are executed.   23. The image processing according to claim 22, wherein a predetermined process is executed when one or both of the extraction process of the information transfer figure and the decoding process of the information expressed by the extracted information transfer figure are not normally executed. program.   The image processing program according to claim 17, wherein an extraction process of an information transmission figure and a process subsequent to the extraction process are executed even when a determination result is not acquired if a reference pattern is included in the image data. A storage medium for storing the image processing program according to any one of claims 17 to 24.

Images