JP2007049656A - Image forming apparatus, method, and program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which sounds a warning against printing a printing inhibited confidential document or the like in a manner easy to recognize. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 comprises: a background pattern detection section 104 for detecting a background pattern from acquired image information; a pattern matching recognition section 106 for comparing the background pattern detected by the background pattern detection section 104 with a prescribed printing inhibited background pattern to recognize matching of both the patterns; a printing inhibition range judgement section 107 for judging a printing inhibition range of image information based on a result of the recognition due to the pattern matching recognizing section 106: a system control section 101 for applying prescribed image processing to the printing inhibition range of the image information judged by the printing inhibition range judgement section 107; and a printing section 108 for printing, onto recording paper, the image information to which the prescribed image processing is applied by the system control section 101. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium that prevent printing of a prohibited document.

  Conventionally, for example, in a company, a method for embedding a tint block pattern in a print-prohibited document image has been taken as a print prevention measure for confidential documents. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is not so conspicuous in the original image, so that the user or the like can easily recognize the content (such as characters) contained in the original image. When a document image in which a tint block pattern is embedded is printed, a message such as “copy prohibited” appears. As a result, the user or the like can recognize that the copied material is a confidential document prohibited from printing, and psychologically suppresses the printing action.

  In recent years, in order to maintain confidentiality of document contents, there are many confidential documents that are prohibited from printing. Along with this, there has been proposed an apparatus that more reliably prevents printing of confidential documents prohibited from printing. For example, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is embedded in the background image of the document image, and a reading unit such as a scanner reads the image information of the document image. When it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern detected from the read document image is the same as the stored copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, printing is prohibited. Specific examples of the print prohibition process include stopping the operation of the copying machine, outputting unprinted white paper (see Patent Documents 1 to 5 below).

JP 2004-200957 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-200962 JP 2004-201068 A JP 2004-201069 A JP 2004-274092 A

  However, the above-described apparatus is not sufficient as a print suppression measure for print-prohibited images, and depending on the user, a warning about printing confidential documents that are prohibited from being printed in a process such as outputting blank paper. Could not be communicated in an easy-to-understand manner.

  Furthermore, if the image forming apparatus determines that it is a confidential document that is prohibited from printing or the like, a large area that requires a tint block pattern or the like is large, the consumption of printing agent such as toner increases.

  In order to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, the present invention can effectively prevent unauthorized printing and can prevent printing of confidential documents and the like, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, an image forming program, and a recording medium. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a detecting unit that detects a tint block pattern from acquired image information, and the tint block pattern detected by the detecting unit. Recognizing means for recognizing coincidence of both patterns in comparison with a predetermined print-prohibited tint block pattern; determining means for determining a print-prohibited range of the image information based on a recognition result recognized by the recognizing means; Control means for performing predetermined image processing on the print prohibition range of the image information determined by the means, and printing means for printing the image information subjected to predetermined image processing by the control means on a recording sheet. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit does not print the print prohibition range of the image information determined by the determination unit, and the print A predetermined image including a character string indicating printing prohibition in a part of the prohibited range is printed.

  The image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein when the recognition unit recognizes the match of the tint block pattern, the determination unit prints the entire original within the print prohibition range. It is characterized by determining as.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the detecting means scans the image information to detect a tint block pattern, and the determining means When the matching of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is recognized by the recognizing means, the recognized scanning position and the subsequent positions are determined as the print prohibition range.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the detecting means detects a tint block pattern for each fixed area, and the printing means performs printing for each fixed area. It is characterized by performing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, a display for displaying a print prohibition state based on an instruction from the control means. Means are provided.

  An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, further comprising display control means for controlling the display of the print prohibition state by the display means. The display content of the display means is continuously displayed until an instruction to cancel the displayed print prohibition state is given by the display means.

  An image forming apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the display control unit cancels the display by the display unit by authentication of administrator authority.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method for detecting a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern from image information, and comparing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern detected by the detection step with a print-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern to recognize a match between both patterns. A recognition step, a determination step of determining a print prohibition range of the document based on the recognition result recognized by the recognition step, and control to perform predetermined image processing on the print prohibition range determined by the determination step A control process; and a printing process for printing image information controlled by the control process on a recording sheet.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, an image forming program causes a computer to execute the image forming method according to the ninth aspect.

  A computer-readable recording medium according to an eleventh aspect of the invention records the image forming program according to the tenth aspect.

  According to the image forming apparatus, the image forming method, the image forming program, and the recording medium according to the present invention, it is possible to attach a predetermined warning text or the like to a copy of a print prohibited image such as a confidential document. There is an effect that it can be suppressed.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
First, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a system control unit 101, a reading unit 102, an image information storage unit 103, a background pattern detection unit 104, a print prohibited background pattern pattern storage unit 105, and a pattern. A coincidence recognition unit 106, a print prohibition range determination unit 107, a printing unit 108, a display unit 109, and an administrator authority authentication unit 110 are configured. These units are connected by a bus 111.

  The system control unit 101 includes a CPU (CPU: Central Processing Unit) and the like, and controls the entire system. The reading unit 102 includes an image scanner (not shown), scans the document by irradiating the document with light, and incident the reflected light on the image scanner through an optical system such as a lens. The document is scanned at a predetermined resolution. Read image information.

  The image information storage unit 103 stores the image information of the document read by the reading unit 102. The tint block pattern detection unit 104 detects a tint block pattern from the image information of the document read by the reading unit 102.

  The print prohibition copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage unit 105 stores a print prohibition copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern. For example, when printing, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage unit 105 stores a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern. The pattern coincidence recognition unit 106 includes a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern detected by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern detection unit 104 (hereinafter referred to as a detected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern) and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern stored in the print-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage unit 105 (hereinafter referred to as a print-prohibited pattern pattern). To recognize the coincidence of both patterns.

  When the pattern coincidence recognition unit 106 recognizes that the detected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern and the print-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern match, the print-prohibited range determination unit 107 determines the image information of the document as the print-prohibited range. The printing unit 108 acquires image information stored in the image information storage unit 103 and prints it on recording paper. At this time, the printing unit 108 finishes storing all the image information of the document read by the reading unit 102 in the image information storage unit 103, and then starts the printing operation.

  The display unit 109 includes an operation panel having various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, a function key, and a one-touch key (not shown), a liquid crystal display, and the like. The display unit 109 displays various command contents related to the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 input by the user using the operation keys and various information such as out of paper and recording paper jam from the image forming apparatus 100 to the user.

  The administrator authority authentication unit 110 authenticates whether the user is an administrator or the like. For example, when the user inputs an ID, a password, and the like to the display unit 109, the administrator authority authentication unit 110 collates the ID and the password stored in advance in a password storage unit (not shown). Authenticate the user as an administrator.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the user sets a document and presses the start key, the image forming apparatus 100 starts its operation. The reading unit 102 reads a document (step S201). This reading is performed using an image scanner. The image information of the document read by the reading unit 102 is stored in the image information storage unit 103.

  Next, the background pattern detection unit 104 determines whether a background pattern has been detected from the image information stored in the image information storage unit 103 (step S202). If the image information includes a background pattern, the background pattern is detected from the image information.

  When the tint block pattern detection unit 104 detects the tint block pattern (step S202: Yes), the pattern match recognition unit 106 stores the tint block pattern detected by the tint block pattern detection unit 104 and the print prohibition tint block pattern storage unit 105. Compare with the existing tint block pattern.

  Next, the pattern match recognition unit 106 determines whether the recognition result is a match between both patterns (step S203). When the pattern match recognition unit 106 compares the detected background pattern and the print prohibited background pattern as a result of a match between both patterns (step S203: Yes), the print prohibited range determination unit 107 displays the print prohibited range. Is determined (step S204).

  In this case, the system control unit 101 determines that all original images are prohibited from printing. Then, the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 to prohibit printing of the image information of the document acquired from the image information storage unit 103 (step S205). Further, the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 to print a predetermined image indicating printing prohibition in a part of the printing prohibited range (step S206). A detailed description of the predetermined image indicating printing prohibition will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Further, the system control unit 101 warns the display unit 109 of a print prohibition warning or the like that “a recording paper was output without printing image information in the print prohibition range because a copy prohibition original was about to be copied”. It is displayed (step S207).

  Next, the system control unit 101 determines whether the warning displayed on the display unit 109 has been canceled (step S208). Here, when there is no cancellation | release (step S208: No), it returns to step S207 and the warning displayed on the display part 109 by the system control part 101 is displayed continuously. When the administrator or the like cancels the warning by inputting, for example, a password and an ID to the display unit 109 (step S208: Yes), the warning display on the display unit 109 disappears and the series of operations ends.

  Note that when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern detection unit 104 does not detect a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern from the image information stored in the image information storage unit 103 (step S202: No), When the coincidence of the print prohibition copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is not recognized (step S203: No), the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 to execute a normal printing operation (step S209). At this time, the printing unit 108 prints the image information of the document, and ends a series of operations.

  Here, a predetermined image indicating print prohibition will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a predetermined image indicating printing prohibition. The predetermined image 300 indicating that printing is prohibited includes, for example, a warning text 301, a date and time 302 when the printing operation is performed, and an alphanumeric string 303 that identifies the image forming apparatus 100. Assume that the printing position of the predetermined image 300 on the recording paper can be arbitrarily set.

  Next, the result of printing a document by the image forming apparatus 100 in the processing of Embodiment 1 (see FIG. 2) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed. A print-prohibited tint block pattern is printed on the entire surface of the document.

  A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 401 (shaded area in the figure) indicating that printing is prohibited is embedded in the original image 400, and a confidential document 402 that is prohibited from printing is printed. The reading unit 102 starts reading the document image 400 along the direction of the arrow 403, and the printing unit 108 prints the document image 400 on the recording paper 410 along the direction of the arrow 404.

  Since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 401 indicating print prohibition is embedded in the entire original document in the document image 400, the pattern matching recognition unit 106 recognizes the match between the detected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern and the print-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern (FIG. 2). Step S203: equivalent to Yes). At this time, the print prohibition range determination unit 107 determines the entire document image 400 as the print prohibition range. Therefore, the printing unit 108 does not print all the image information of the original image 400, and prints the predetermined image 300 indicating that printing is prohibited on the recording paper 410.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed, and a print-prohibited tint block pattern is printed on a part of the document.

  A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 501 (shaded area in the figure) indicating that printing is prohibited is embedded in the original image 500, and a confidential document 502 that is prohibited from printing is printed. The reading unit 102 starts reading the original image 500 along the direction of the arrow 503, and the printing unit 108 prints the original image 500 on the recording paper 510 along the direction of the arrow 504.

  In the original image 500, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 501 indicating that printing is prohibited is embedded in a part of the original, but the pattern match recognition unit 106 recognizes the match between the detected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern and the print-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern (FIG. 2). Step S203: equivalent to Yes). The print prohibition range determination unit 107 determines the entire document image 500 as the print prohibition range when even a portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is recognized in the document image 500. Therefore, the printing unit 108 does not print all the image information of the original image 500, and prints the predetermined image 300 indicating printing prohibition on the recording paper 510.

  Next, the operation for canceling the warning display will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the warning display canceling operation.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, when printing is prohibited, a warning is displayed on the display unit 109 (step S207). In order to cancel the warning display displayed on the display unit 109, the user inputs, for example, an ID and password proving that the user is an administrator or the like to the display unit 109. Then, based on the ID and password stored in the password storage unit (not shown), the administrator authority authentication unit 110 determines whether the administrator authentication has been performed (step S601).

  When the administrator authority authentication unit 110 verifies the ID entered by the user, the password stored in the password storage unit, and the password, and authenticates the password (step S601: Yes), it is displayed on the display unit 109. The warning display is canceled (step S602). Further, when the administrator authority authentication unit 110 compares the ID input by the user with the password stored in the password storage unit and does not authenticate (step S601: No), it is displayed on the display unit 109. The displayed warning is not canceled and is continuously displayed.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, by printing the warning text 301 on the print result, the user can be informed of the reason why the image information of the document is not printed on the recording paper. This can be distinguished from the case where the document is not printed. Furthermore, the warning about the printing action can be easily communicated by making the user visually recognize the warning text 301. The predetermined image 300 includes any character or the like, for example, by printing an alphanumeric string 303 that identifies the date and time 302 when the printing operation is performed and the image forming apparatus 100, and when and in which image forming apparatus printing is prohibited. You can also see if is going to be copied.

  In addition, the display unit 109 displays a print prohibition warning or the like indicating that “a copy-prohibited document is about to be copied, so that recording paper is output without printing image information in the print-prohibited range”. The reason why the image information is not printed on the recording paper can also be known from the display unit 109 of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, when printing a plurality of originals, if a user does not take a recording sheet until the user finishes the printing operation even though one of the originals includes a print-prohibited original, It is possible to confirm from the display on the display unit 109 that a print-prohibited document is about to be printed without confirming with recording paper.

  Furthermore, since this display is continued until it is canceled by the administrator or the like, even when the next user performs an operation, it is confirmed again from the display unit 109 that a print-prohibited document was about to be printed. it can.

  And to cancel the warning display, it is necessary to prove that the user is an administrator, etc., so after a malicious user tries to print a print-prohibited document, the display is canceled to hide the action. Because it is not possible, fraud can be prevented.

  Also, for example, by painting to the extent that characters in image information cannot be identified, and not printing out the recording paper, instead of printing out the recording paper, printing of toner etc. for painting The consumption of the agent can be suppressed.

  By the way, an image forming apparatus that is not provided with the reading unit 102 can perform the same processing as that of the present invention. For example, printing is performed by acquiring image information stored in advance, printing is performed by acquiring image information from the outside, and the like.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured to start a printing operation while sequentially acquiring document images. Since the basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) described above, description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the operations in steps S202 to S209 are the same as the operations in the first embodiment described above (see FIG. 2).

  In the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the user sets a document and presses the start key, the image forming apparatus 100 starts its operation. The reading unit 102 reads a document for every fixed area instead of the entire document (step S701). Next, the tint block pattern detection unit 104 determines whether or not a tint block pattern is detected from image information of a certain area of the document stored in the image information storage unit 103 (step S202). If the read image information includes a tint block pattern, the tint block pattern is detected from the read image information.

  When the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern detection unit 104 detects a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern from the read image information (step S202: Yes), it is determined whether the recognition result by the pattern match recognition unit 106 is a match between both patterns (step S203). .

  The pattern match recognition unit 106 compares the background pattern detected by the background pattern detection unit 104 with the background pattern stored in the print prohibited background pattern pattern storage unit 105. At this time, if the pattern matching recognition unit 106 recognizes that the two patterns match (step S203: Yes), the print prohibition range determination unit 107 determines the print prohibition range (step S204).

  When the print prohibition range is determined, the system control unit 101 executes the same processing as steps S205 to S208 in FIG. That is, the system control unit 101 determines that printing is prohibited after the position where the printing prohibited range is determined in the document image. Then, the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 so as not to print the image information of the document whose printing is prohibited (step S205).

  Further, the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 to print a predetermined image indicating printing prohibition on a part of the printing prohibited range (step S206). About displaying a warning on the display unit 109, such as a predetermined image indicating printing prohibition and “copying prohibited copy of original image information was printed on recording paper without printing”. (Step S207) is the same as described in the first embodiment.

  Also, the warning display cancellation operation in step S208 is the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 6), and when the administrator authority is authenticated, the warning display is canceled and the series of operations is terminated.

  In the case where the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern detection unit 104 does not detect a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern from the image information stored in the image information storage unit 103 (step S202: No), When the coincidence of the print prohibition copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is not recognized (step S203: No), the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 to perform normal printing operation on the read image information of a certain area. Is executed (step S209).

  Next, the system control unit 101 determines whether printing has been completed for all document images (step S702). When the printing unit 108 has finished printing on all the document images (step S702: Yes), the series of operations is finished. If printing has not been completed for all original images (step S702: No), the process returns to step S701 and the same processing is continued.

  Next, the result of printing a document by the image forming apparatus 100 in the process of the second embodiment (see FIG. 7) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed. A print-prohibited tint block pattern is printed on the entire surface of the document.

  A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 401 (shaded area in the figure) indicating that printing is prohibited is embedded in the original image 400, and a confidential document 402 that is prohibited from printing is printed. The reading unit 102 starts reading the original image 400 along the direction of the arrow 403, and the printing unit 108 prints the original image 400 on the recording paper 411 along the direction of the arrow 404.

  Since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 401 indicating print prohibition is embedded in the entire original document in the document image 400, the pattern matching recognition unit 106 first detects the detected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern and the detected copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern from the image information 405 of a certain area read by the reading unit 102 first. Then, the coincidence with the print-prohibited tint block pattern is recognized (corresponding to Step S203: Yes in FIG. 7). Accordingly, the print prohibition range determination unit 107 determines that the image information 405 read first is the print prohibition range. In this case, the system control unit 101 determines that all the document images 400 are prohibited from printing. Therefore, the printing unit 108 does not print all the image information of the original image 400, and prints the predetermined image 300 indicating printing prohibition on the recording paper 411.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed, and a print-prohibited tint block pattern is printed on a part of the document.

  A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 501 (shaded area in the figure) indicating that printing is prohibited is embedded in the original image 500, and a confidential document 502 that is prohibited from printing is printed. The reading unit 102 starts reading the original image 500 along the direction of the arrow 503, and the printing unit 108 prints the original image 500 on the recording paper 511 along the direction of the arrow 504.

  A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 501 indicating that printing is prohibited is embedded in a part of the document in the document image 500. First, in the image information 505 having a certain area read by the reading unit 102, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 501 indicating printing prohibition is not detected (corresponding to Step S202 of FIG. 7: No). Therefore, the printing unit 108 performs a normal printing operation on the image information 505. When the reading unit 102 has read up to the portion of the image information 506, a tint block pattern 501 indicating printing prohibition is detected (corresponding to step S202: Yes in FIG. 7), and the pattern matching recognition unit 106 reads both patterns. A match is recognized (corresponding to step S203: Yes in FIG. 7).

  Since the print prohibition range determination unit 107 determines that the image information 506 is a print prohibition range, the system control unit 101 determines that the image information 506 and the subsequent pages in the document image 500 are print prohibition. Then, the system control unit 101 controls the printing unit 108 so that the image information 506 and the subsequent prints are not performed on the original image 500. That is, in the original image 500, the original image information is printed up to the image information 506, but after the image information 506, the original image information is not printed, and the predetermined image 300 indicating printing prohibition is printed.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, the printing unit 108 stores the image information stored in the image information storage unit 103 while storing the image information in the image information storage unit 103. Obtain and print sequentially. Thereby, a printing operation can be realized with a small image information storage area, and the storage capacity of the image information storage unit 103 can be reduced. Further, the printing operation can be started at an earlier timing than the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment.

  The image forming method described in this embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. The program may be a transmission medium that can be distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus, the image forming method, the image forming program, and the recording medium according to the present invention are useful for image input / output devices such as a digital copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a scanner, and a network file server. It is suitable for a digital copying machine that sequentially acquires image information of a document and performs a printing operation.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the predetermined image which shows printing prohibition. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of warning display cancellation | release. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing result of a document on which a tint block pattern is formed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image forming apparatus 101 System control part 102 Reading part 103 Image information storage part 104 Background pattern detection part 105 Print prohibition background pattern pattern storage part 106 Pattern matching recognition part 107 Print prohibition range determination part 108 Printing part 109 Display part 110 Administrator authority authentication Department 111 Bus

Claims (11)

Detecting means for detecting a tint block pattern from the acquired image information;
A recognizing unit that recognizes a match between both patterns by comparing the tint block pattern detected by the detecting unit with a predetermined print-prohibited tint block pattern;
A determination unit that determines a print prohibition range of the image information based on a recognition result recognized by the recognition unit;
Control means for performing predetermined image processing on the print prohibition range of the image information determined by the determination means;
Printing means for printing the image information subjected to predetermined image processing by the control means on recording paper;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The control unit does not print the print prohibition range of the image information determined by the determination unit, and prints a predetermined image including a character string indicating print prohibition in a part of the print prohibition range. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the entire original as a print prohibition range when the recognition unit recognizes the matching of the tint block pattern. 4. The detecting means detects the tint block pattern by scanning the image information,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines, after the recognized scanning position, as a print prohibition range when the recognition unit recognizes the matching of the tint block pattern. 4. The detecting means detects a tint block pattern for each fixed area,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the printing unit performs printing for each fixed area.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that displays a print prohibition state based on an instruction from the control unit.   Display control means for controlling the display of the print prohibition state by the display means, the display control means until the instruction of canceling the print prohibition state displayed by the display means The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display content is continuously displayed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display control unit cancels the display by the display unit by authentication of administrator authority. A detection step of detecting a tint block pattern from image information;
Recognizing a match between both patterns by comparing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern detected by the detection step with a print-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern,
A determination step of determining a print prohibition range of the document based on the recognition result recognized by the recognition step;
A control step for performing control so as to perform predetermined image processing in the print prohibition range determined by the determination step;
A printing process for printing the image information controlled by the control process on a recording paper;
An image forming method comprising:   An image forming program for causing a computer to execute the image forming method according to claim 9. A computer-readable recording medium on which the image forming program according to claim 10 is recorded.

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