JP2006094107A - Image processing apparatus, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To memorize execution history of image processing together with image data, and perform efficient management. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus 1 is provided with an image input 11 which reads in an image, an image output 12 which outputs the read image by the image input 11 to a predetermined medium, an authentication device 13 which authenticates a user who instructs input and output processing of an image, a server 14 which corresponds and memorizes user identification information which is authenticated by the authentication device 13, and image information which the user instructs input and output processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that outputs a read image to a medium such as paper, and to an apparatus that can store an input / output processing history.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image processing apparatuses such as copying machines have a function of accumulating log information indicating which user has output how many sheets. With this function, it is possible to grasp the number of output sheets for each user, and charging according to the number of output sheets, analysis for proper arrangement of devices, and the like are possible. In addition, by recording the document name in the log and storing it for a long period of time, it is possible to track who has output which document when (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-341212

  However, when it is difficult to specify the document contents by recording the document name, or when the same document name is set for different images, it is said that the output image cannot be specified by recording only the document name. Problems arise. Also, in recent years, a function has been developed that can specify the document output person from the document itself by forcibly superimposing information such as the user name and output time on the output image itself. However, even when this method is used, there remains a problem that it cannot be centrally managed as a log.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems. That is, the present invention includes an image input unit that reads an image, an image output unit that outputs an image read by the image input unit to a predetermined medium, an authentication unit that authenticates a user who instructs image input / output processing, The image processing apparatus includes a history storage unit that stores the identification information of the user authenticated by the unit and the information of the image for which the user has instructed input / output processing in association with each other.

  Further, the present invention corresponds to a process of acquiring image data, a process of authenticating a user instructing output of the acquired image data, identification information of the authenticated user, and information of an image instructed to output by the user And an image processing method.

  In the present invention, the identification information of the user authenticated by the authentication means and the image information for which the user has instructed the input / output process are stored in the history storage means in association with each other. It is possible to grasp whether the image has been processed and to perform accurate history management.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, since the user identification information and the information of the image to be output are stored in association with each other in relation to the image output history, an accurate trace relating to the image output can be realized. Is possible. As a result, not only log management for each user and paper size but also log management for each accumulated output image can be performed, so that a wider range of log management can be performed. Also, storing image information in a reduced size or storing image information only when a specific condition is met does not simply increase the capacity of the log, but it can be stored efficiently and extreme Large capacity can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. That is, the image processing apparatus 1 includes an image input unit 11 that reads a document image and converts it into image data, and an image that is subjected to color space conversion, compression, decompression processing, and various correction processing on the image data and is printed out on paper or the like. An output unit 12, an authentication device 13 for authenticating a user who uses the image processing apparatus, and a server 14 serving as a means for storing a history of image processing are provided. In the present embodiment, the authentication device 13 and the server 14 are connected via the network N as an example. However, the authentication device 13 and the server 14 may be directly connected to the device main body or may be built in.

  Further, the image input unit 11 may be configured as a separate body from the apparatus main body as a scanner, an integrated configuration, or a configuration for receiving image data from an external personal computer or the like. Further, the image output unit 12 may be configured separately from the apparatus main body, may be integrated, or may be connected via a network.

  A user who uses the image processing apparatus first inserts an ID card or the like into the authentication apparatus 13 to authenticate the user. The authentication device 13 acquires user authentication information from an ID card or the like, and determines whether the user is an available user. If available, it is possible to read a document image by the image input unit 11 and to perform print output by the image output unit 12.

  The user places a document to be copied or the like on the image input unit 11 and presses the start button. The image input unit 11 executes processing for acquiring image data of a document when the start button is pressed. The image of the original is read as an electrical signal by a scanning CCD sensor or the like, and is captured as image data.

  The captured image data is subjected to various correction processes and then sent to the image output unit 12. In the image output unit 12, in the case of color based on the processed image data, for example, an electrostatic latent image and toner corresponding to image data of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). It becomes an image, is transferred to a medium such as paper, and is generated as a color image.

  In such an operation of the image processing apparatus 1, in the present embodiment, history management based on image data is performed by accumulating image data instructed by the user in the server 14 in correspondence with identification information of the authenticated user. Can be done.

  Next, the operation (image processing method) of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a flow relating to image data storage. In the following description, reference numerals not shown in FIG. 2 refer to FIG. First, the user inserts an ID card or the like into the authentication device 13. The authentication device 13 of the image processing apparatus 1 reads and collates identification information such as an ID card and performs user authentication processing (step S1).

  After the user authentication is completed, the document image is read (step S2). That is, the user places a document to be copied on the image input unit 11 and presses a start button to scan and read the image of the document. Next, various processes such as color space conversion and γ correction are performed on the read image data (step S3).

  Thereafter, an electrostatic latent image and a toner image are generated based on the processed image data, transferred to a medium such as paper, and printed out (step S4). After printing out, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S5). If the predetermined condition is satisfied, the user has instructed processing corresponding to the identification information of the authenticated user. Processing for storing the image data in the server 14 is performed (step S6).

  Examples of data stored in association with image data include user identification information, processing date and time, processing conditions, and link information of image data to be stored when the server 14 is connected to a network.

  Further, the predetermined condition as to whether or not to save image data is (1) save all processed image data, (2) save image data other than already saved image data, (3) process Storing only the first page of the processed document, (4) storing part of the image data of the processed document, and (5) reducing and storing the image data of the processed document.

  Here, in the case of (1) storing all processed image data, since the capacity of the image data to be stored increases, it is desirable to store in the external server 14 having a small capacity limit.

  (2) Save image data other than already saved image data, (3) Save only the first page of the processed document, (4) Save some image data of the processed document, (5) In the case where the processed image data of the original is reduced and stored, the same limited capacity of the server 14 can be used efficiently.

  Next, history management for stored image data will be described. The server 14 which is the history storage means of the present embodiment is provided with a management means for managing the stored user identification information and image data corresponding to the identification information.

  The management means reads out the stored image data and displays it on the display of the server 14, transfers the image data via a network in response to a request from the image processing apparatus 1, or extracts the image data based on a predetermined condition. Display the image data or delete the image data based on a predetermined condition.

  First, reading of stored image data will be described. Since the image data stored in the server 14 is associated with log information such as the identification information of the user who has instructed the image data and the processing date and time, the management unit prints (prints out) job history information or displays it. (User interface) can be displayed. It is also possible to display image data in a job selected from the displayed job history information.

  Next, extraction of accumulated image data will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of image data extraction. In the following description, reference numerals not shown in FIG. 3 refer to FIG. First, predetermined conditions for image data extraction are set (step S11).

  This condition setting may be, for example, a specific user ID, a document that has been copied before, a document that has been registered in advance, or a confidential document (with a watermark for preventing unauthorized copying). Or illegal document (for example, banknote).

  Next, image data is extracted based on the set conditions (step S12). Since the server 14 stores processed image data corresponding to the user identification information (user ID), if the condition setting is a specific user ID, the image data corresponding to the user ID is extracted. If the condition setting is specific image data, image data that matches the specific image data is extracted.

  As a result, if there is extracted image data (Yes in step S13), a process of displaying the image data on a display or the like is performed (step S14). Note that a list display based on the file name of the extracted image data may be performed. In addition, a list such as the extracted image data and file names may be printed on paper.

  On the other hand, if there is no image data matching the condition (No in step S13), a message indicating that the image data has not been extracted is displayed on a display or the like (step S15).

  As described above, since the image data processed by the image processing apparatus 1 is recorded in the server 14 in association with the user identification information, the processing date and time, etc., even when managing the history, the user identification information, the processing date and time, the image It becomes possible to perform extraction management by matching in

  Next, erasing of stored image data will be described. In the following description, reference numerals not shown in FIG. 4 refer to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of erasing image data. First, predetermined conditions for erasing image data are set (step S21). Examples of the condition setting include whether a certain time has elapsed from the processing date and time, whether or not a predetermined capacity has been exceeded, and the like.

  Then, it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition is met (step S22). If the predetermined condition is met, a process of deleting image data that meets the condition from the server 14 is performed (step S23).

  By erasing such image data, it is possible to effectively use the capacity of the server 14 that stores the image data.

  Further, the server 14 can switch whether or not to store the image data, and can switch the conditions for storing or not storing the image data. In other words, if it is set to store image data only when necessary, it can be switched according to the capacity of the server 14, and if it is set to store image data only when it meets a predetermined condition, Management can be performed efficiently. For example, charging management is facilitated by accumulating only image data of a specific user ID, or it is useful for maintenance by accumulating image data only for documents that have been copied previously or documents that have been registered in advance. It becomes possible.

It is a schematic diagram explaining the image processing apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the flow regarding image data preservation | save. It is a flowchart explaining the flow about extraction of image data. It is a flowchart explaining the flow about deletion of image data.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image processing apparatus, 11 ... Image input part, 12 ... Image output part, 13 ... Authentication apparatus, 14 ... Server, N ... Network

Claims (10)

Acquisition means for acquiring image data;
Authentication means for authenticating a user instructing output of the image data obtained by the obtaining means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a history storage unit that stores the identification information of the user authenticated by the authentication unit and the information of the image that the user has instructed to output. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history storage unit stores all or a part of information of an image that the user instructs to output. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history storage unit reduces and stores information of an image that the user has instructed to output. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a management unit that reads the identification information of the user stored in the history storage unit and image information corresponding to the identification information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the management unit outputs the read identification information and image information corresponding to the identification information to a predetermined medium. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the management unit displays the read identification information and image information corresponding to the identification information on a screen. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the management unit extracts and reads out information stored in the history storage unit that matches a specific condition. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the management unit deletes information stored in the history storage unit that matches a specific condition. 2. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the history storage unit stores the identification information of the user in association with the information of the image that the user has instructed to output only when a specific condition is met. apparatus. Acquiring image data; and
Authenticating a user instructing output of the acquired image data;
An image processing method comprising: associating and storing the authenticated identification information of the user and information of an image that the user has instructed to output.

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