JP2006295858A - Image forming method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming method and an image forming apparatus enabling a user to acquire the same product as an original document including a ground tint even if the user performs normal duplication processing if the user is a creator himself/herself of the original document including the ground tint. <P>SOLUTION: The method is provided with a user information acquiring step for acquiring user information about the user trying to print out a paper original including the ground tint; an attribute information acquiring step for scanning the paper original to acquire attribute information added to the paper original; an information extracting step for extracting creator information about the creator having created the paper original, image data storing area information about the storing area storing the image data of the paper original and ground tint storing area information about the storing area storing the ground tint data; a permission level determining step for determining the permission level of the user by comparing the user information with the creator information; and a print output step for performing different print output depending on the permission level of the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus that suppress unauthorized copying of confidential paper originals (hereinafter referred to as confidential paper originals) such as banknotes, securities, and confidential documents.

  Conventionally, in order to prevent unauthorized copying of a confidential paper document, a tint block has been printed on the confidential paper document in advance.

  The tint block pattern formed on the confidential paper document is composed of a latent image portion that is an aggregate of large dots and a background portion that is an aggregate of small dots. When you copy the original confidential paper document with such a background pattern printed on it, a latent image such as `` COPY '' will appear in the duplicate, making it impossible to copy the exact same original confidential paper document, It also informs a third party that the copy is not original. In addition, if the word “prohibition of duplication” is used as a latent image, it means that the duplicator recognizes that the original confidential paper manuscript is prohibited from duplication and he / she wants to duplicate it. It is also possible to aim for a psychological suppression effect.

  By the way, in the conventional copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print output process, even if the person who created the original paper document including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied by the image forming apparatus, the above-described latent image appears. Since the original is printed out, the same original paper manuscript can never be duplicated. For this reason, if the creator himself / herself suddenly needs the same original paper document as a business trip destination, the application software is started and the image data file of the corresponding document is started. Is necessary for the creator himself / herself to perform a print output process by opening the file on the application. In addition, when there is no PC for starting application software or printing out, or when the image data file is not at hand of the creator, the original paper document cannot be printed out in the first place. There is.

  This application is a prior art in which the user's approval process is performed by comparing the name data embedded as a watermark in the image data stored on the server with the name data of the user accessing the server. The person knows (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, the present applicant is aware of the prior art of transferring original document data from a server and outputting it from information added to the read image data (see, for example, Patent Document 2). These prior arts all relate to reproduction from stored original image data, and no prior art directly related to the present invention could be found.

JP 2003-167799 A JP 2004-153666 A

  Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that the creator of the original document including the background pattern can obtain the same original document including the background pattern even if the normal copying process is performed. An image forming method and an image forming apparatus are provided.

Means and actions / effects for solving the problem

In order to solve the above technical problem, according to the present invention,
A user information acquisition step for acquiring user information relating to a user who intends to print out a paper document including a background pattern;
An attribute information acquisition step of acquiring the attribute information attached to the paper document by scanning the paper document;
From the attribute information, creator information relating to the creator who created the paper original, image data storage location information relating to the storage location where the image data of the paper original is stored, and tint block data storage location relating to the storage location where the tint block data is stored. An information extraction step for extracting information;
A permission level determination step of comparing the user information with the creator information to determine the permission level of the user;
A print output step for performing different print outputs according to the permission level of the user;
An image forming method is provided.

  According to the image forming method described above, by determining the permission level of a user who intends to print out a paper document including a tint block, when a person with a high permission level such as the creator himself is trying to print out, the original paper Print out the same original as the original, or print out the latent image that appears on the paper original when an outsider or other low-permission person is trying to print out. Different printouts can be performed depending on the permission level.

  When the user is the creator, the image data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are taken out from the image data storage location and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage location, respectively, and combined to print out the same original paper document. it can.

  When the user is other than the creator and the permission level is the copy permission level, the latent image floating on the paper document can be printed out.

  If the user is a person other than the creator and the permission level is a non-copying permission level, the output is printed in a form that gradually deviates from that of the original paper document as the permission level decreases. Is done. For example, printing output itself can be disabled, the entire surface can be printed black and solid, or fine dots can be formed on the entire surface to be printed in gray.

  The image data and the tint block data can be stored in a memory inside the image forming apparatus, but are preferably stored in a memory of an external server so that they can be accessed from various places.

  Image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data can be stored in a single external server, but are preferably stored in separate external servers from the viewpoint of security and the like.

The image forming method
User information acquisition means for acquiring user information relating to a user who intends to print out a paper document including a background pattern;
Attribute information acquisition means for acquiring the attribute information attached to the paper original by scanning the paper original;
From the attribute information, creator information relating to the creator who created the paper original, image data storage location information relating to the storage location where the image data of the paper original is stored, and tint block data storage location relating to the storage location where the tint block data is stored. Information extracting means for extracting information;
A permission level determination means for comparing the user information with the creator information to determine the permission level of the user;
Print output means for printing out an image;
With
This is achieved in an image forming apparatus characterized by performing different print outputs according to the permission level of the user.

  Hereinafter, an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the tint block print output process according to the first embodiment.

  The image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 10 having a copying function for copying a paper document, a server 30, and a network 40 such as the Internet or an in-house LAN.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image processing unit (CPU) 12, a memory 14, an image input unit (scanner) 16, a user information acquisition unit 18, an image output unit 20, a data transmission / reception unit 22, and a display display. And an operation unit as information input means.

  The image processing unit 12 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The image processing unit 12 performs various image processing so that the background pattern is raised, and is used together with the image input unit (scanner) 16 to perform attribute information detection means, information extraction means, and permission level determination means. Also used as The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is also used to control data exchange with the external server 30 and to control the entire image forming apparatus.

  An image input unit (scanner) 16 serving as an image input unit is a so-called scanner in which a reading head scans a paper document and reads image data from the paper document. The creator information about who created the original document data, the permission level information about who is authorized for what kind of print output, and the original document image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are stored. Since attribute information such as storage location information (link information) is provided at a specific part of the paper document, the image input unit (scanner) 16 is also used to read such attribute information.

  The memory 14 is used to store a control program for controlling the image forming apparatus and image processing, and read image data, and includes a hard disk drive, a RAM, and a ROM.

  A user information acquisition unit 18 as a user information acquisition unit is for acquiring user information indicating who is attempting to copy a paper document using the image forming apparatus 10, and a touch button as an operation unit. And a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  The image output unit 20 as a print output unit is a so-called printer for printing out image data and the like.

  The data transmitting / receiving unit 22 is for controlling data exchange with the external server 30 or the like.

  A server 30 connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 40 is for electronically storing image data and tint block data of an original document. The image data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data of the original document can be stored electronically on separate servers, or can be stored together electronically on a single server. The server 30 includes a data search / data synthesis unit (CPU) 32, a memory 34, and a data transmission / reception unit 32.

  The data search / data synthesis unit (CPU) 32 is constituted by a CPU (Central Processing Unit). In response to a request from the image forming apparatus 10, a data search / data composition unit (CPU) 32 retrieves and synthesizes image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data of the original document electronically stored in the memory 34. Is. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is also used to control data exchange with the image forming apparatus 10 and to control the server 30.

  The memory 34 is for electronically storing a control program for controlling data retrieval and data composition, and image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data of an original document, and includes a hard disk drive, RAM, and ROM.

  The data transmitting / receiving unit 32 is for controlling electronic data exchange with the image forming apparatus 10.

  When a confidential paper document on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is printed is copied, for example, the following normal copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print output process is performed.

  The original confidential paper document is printed with a tint block and a character portion in which a latent image portion that is an aggregate of large dots and a background portion that is an aggregate of small dots are mixed. After the confidential paper document on which the background pattern is printed is read by the image input unit (scanner) 16, various image processing is performed on the read image data.

  When image processing such as smoothing processing, contrast processing, and sharpness processing is performed, the background portion of small dots is erased, and a latent image portion of large dots (for example, the letter “COPY”) emerges. Recognize that the original confidential paper manuscript is copy-prohibited.

  Next, the tint block print output process according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step # 100, the tint block print output process is started.

  When the user tries to duplicate the confidential paper document on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is printed, the image data is read by the image input unit (scanner) 16 (step # 102). In step # 104, attribute information formed in a specific part of the read image data is extracted. In step # 106, it is determined whether or not the attribute information is included in the image data. When the attribute information is not included, a normal tint block print output process with a latent image (for example, “COPY”) is performed by the image output unit 20 (step # 130), and a series of tint block print output processes is completed. (Step # 132).

  If the attribute information is included, the creator information, the image data storage location information of the original document, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage location information (link information) are extracted from the attribute information (step # 108). On the other hand, in step # 110, user information input from the operation panel or the like is extracted. In step # 112, the user information is compared with the creator information. It is determined whether or not the user and the creator are the same (step # 114). When the user and the creator are not the same, a normal tint block print output process with a latent image (for example, “COPY”) is performed by the image output unit 20 (step # 130), and a series of tint block print output is performed. The process ends (step # 132).

  When the user and the creator are the same, based on the storage location information (link information) of the image data of the original document and the storage location information (link information) of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data, from a plurality of servers existing on the network 40 The corresponding server 30 is specified. Image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are respectively retrieved and retrieved from the memory 34 of the corresponding server 30 by the data retrieval / data composition unit (CPU) 32 (step # 116, step # 118). The extracted image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are combined by the data search / data combining unit (CPU) 32 (step # 120). The synthesized image data is sent to the image forming apparatus 10 and then temporarily stored in the memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 10, and print output processing is performed by the image output unit 20 as an original confidential paper document with a background pattern. In step # 122, the series of tint block print output processing is completed (step # 124).

  Next, a tint block print output process according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step # 200, the tint block print output process is started.

  When the user tries to duplicate the confidential paper document on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is printed, the image data is read by the image input unit (scanner) 16 (step # 202). In step # 204, attribute information formed at a specific part of the read image data is extracted. In step # 206, it is determined whether or not the attribute information is included in the image data. When the attribute information is not included, a normal tint block print output process with a latent image (for example, “COPY”) is performed by the image output unit 20 (step # 230), and a series of tint block print output processes is completed. (Step # 232).

  If attribute information is included, permission level information, image data storage location information and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage location information (link information) are extracted from the attribute information (step # 208). . On the other hand, in step # 210, user information input from the operation panel or the like is extracted. In step # 212, the user information is compared with the permission level information. It is determined whether or not the user is permitted to print (step # 214). If the user is not permitted, a normal tint block print output process with a latent image (for example, “COPY”) is performed by the image output unit 20 (step # 230), and a series of tint block print output processes is completed. (Step # 232).

  When the user is permitted to print out, from a plurality of servers existing on the network 40 based on the storage location information (link information) of the image data of the original document and the storage location information (link information) of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data. The corresponding server 30 is specified. Image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are respectively retrieved and retrieved from the memory 34 of the corresponding server 30 by the data retrieval / data composition unit (CPU) 32 (step # 216, step # 218). The extracted image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are combined by the data search / data combining unit (CPU) 32 (step # 220). The synthesized image data is sent to the image forming apparatus 10 and then temporarily stored in the memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 10, and print output processing is performed by the image output unit 20 as an original confidential paper document with a background pattern. (Step # 222), a series of tint block print output processing is completed (step # 224).

  Next, a tint block print output process according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step # 300, the tint block print output process is started.

  When the user tries to duplicate the confidential paper document on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is printed, the image data is read by the image input unit (scanner) 16 (step # 302). In step # 304, attribute information formed in a specific part of the read image data is extracted. In step # 306, it is determined whether or not the attribute information is included in the image data. When the attribute information is not included, a normal tint block print output process with a latent image (for example, “COPY”) is performed by the image output unit 20 (step # 332), and a series of tint block print output processes is completed. (Step # 334).

  If attribute information is included, permission level information, image data storage location information and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage location information (link information) are extracted from the attribute information (step # 308). . On the other hand, in step # 310, user information input from the operation panel or the like is extracted. In step # 312, the user information is compared with the permission level information. It is determined whether or not the user is permitted to print out the original document (step # 314).

  If the user is not permitted to print out the original document, it is determined whether the permission level of the user is a level at which copying is also prohibited (step # 314). When the permission level of the user is not the copy prohibition level, a normal tint block print output process with a latent image (for example, “COPY”) is performed by the image output unit 20 (step # 332), and a series of tint block printing is performed. The output process ends (step # 334).

  When the permission level of the user is the duplication prohibition level, a print output process of a printed matter that is stepwise deviated from that of the original paper document is performed (step # 342). For example, depending on the permission level, no print output can be made, or the entire printed matter is printed in black solid form so that the contents of the printed matter cannot be read, or printed in gray. Thus, it is possible to make the print output so that the content of the printed matter is slightly readable, and to perform different print outputs according to the permission level of the user. Such print output processing is performed, and a series of tint block print output processing is completed (step # 344).

  When the user is permitted to print out the original document, it exists on the network 40 based on the storage location information (link information) of the image data of the original document and the storage location information (link information) of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data. The corresponding server 30 is specified from the plurality of servers. Image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are respectively retrieved and retrieved from the memory 34 of the corresponding server 30 by the data retrieval / data composition unit (CPU) 32 (step # 316, step # 318). The extracted image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are combined by the data search / data combining unit (CPU) 32 (step # 320). The synthesized image data is sent to the image forming apparatus 10 and then temporarily stored in the memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 10, and print output processing is performed by the image output unit 20 as an original confidential paper document with a background pattern. (Step # 322), a series of tint block print output processing is completed (step # 324).

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the image data and copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data of the original document are electronically stored in the server 30 connected to the network, but are electronically stored in the memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 10. It may be in the form.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining the tint block print output process of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the tint block print output process of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the tint block print output process of 3rd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image processing part (CPU)
14 Memory 16 Image input unit (scanner)
18 User information acquisition unit 20 Image output unit 22 Data transmission / reception unit 30 Server 32 Data search / data synthesis unit (CPU)
34 Memory 40 Network 42 Data transceiver

Claims (12)

A user information acquisition step for acquiring user information relating to a user who intends to print out a paper document including a background pattern;
An attribute information acquisition step of acquiring the attribute information attached to the paper document by scanning the paper document;
From the attribute information, creator information relating to the creator who created the paper original, image data storage location information relating to the storage location where the image data of the paper original is stored, and tint block data storage location relating to the storage location where the tint block data is stored. An information extraction step for extracting information;
A permission level determination step of comparing the user information with the creator information to determine the permission level of the user;
A print output step for performing different print outputs according to the permission level of the user;
An image forming method comprising:   When the user is the creator, the image data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are taken out from the image data storage location and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage location, respectively, and combined to print out the same original paper document. The image forming method according to claim 1.   2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein when the user is a creator other than the creator and the permission level is copy permission, an image in which a latent image appears on a paper document is printed out. .   When the user is a person other than the creator and the permission level is non-copying permission, printing is output in a form deviating from that of the original paper document as the permission level decreases. The image forming method according to claim 1.   The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the image data and the tint block data are stored in an external server.   2. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the image data and the tint block data are respectively stored in separate external servers. User information acquisition means for acquiring user information relating to a user who intends to print out a paper document including a background pattern;
Attribute information acquisition means for acquiring the attribute information attached to the paper original by scanning the paper original;
From the attribute information, creator information relating to the creator who created the paper original, image data storage location information relating to the storage location where the image data of the paper original is stored, and tint block data storage location relating to the storage location where the tint block data is stored. Information extracting means for extracting information;
A permission level determination means for comparing the user information with the creator information to determine the permission level of the user;
Print output means for printing out an image;
With
An image forming apparatus that performs different print output according to a permission level of a user.   When the user is the creator, the image data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data are taken out from the image data storage location and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage location, respectively, and combined to print out the same original paper document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the user is other than the creator and the permission level is copy permission, a latent image is printed on a paper document. .   8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the user is other than the creator and the permission level is copy permission, the print output form changes according to the permission level.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image data and the tint block data are stored in an external server. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image data and the tint block data are respectively stored in separate external servers.

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