JP2007081472A - Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correctly extract postscript information for an original document in which an original image representing original document information is recorded, and correctly reflect the extracted information on the original document information. <P>SOLUTION: The original document is initially printed, and then, an invisible toner reflecting an infrared ray on the printed original document is used to print ID information 34 on, for example, a corner of a sheet, and coordinate information 36 is printed on the entire surface of the sheet. In this way, if postscript is performed, the invisible toner in a postscript region 38 cannot be read by a code information reading section. Accordingly, by extracting a region where the coordinate information cannot be read, the coordinates can be extracted together with the postscript region 38. In order to reflect the extracted postscript region 38 on the original document information, the extracted postscript region is composited to a coordinate position where the above coordinate information in the original document information cannot be read. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system that extract handwritten information added to a document image.

  There has been proposed a technique for extracting a part added by handwriting from an image of a document read by a scanner, a digital camera or the like, and synthesizing it with electronic data of the original original document.

For example, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the original electronic data stored in the storage unit is searched based on the input image, and the searched original electronic data is compared with the input image. Extract the difference information. Then, the extracted difference information is synthesized with the original electronic data, and the electronic data generated by the synthesis is stored in the storage means. By processing in this way, it is possible to perform image processing that minimizes image degradation without losing information or the like written on a paper sentence.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-246577

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that if the position of the scanned image is deviated, the image is also deviated when synthesized with the original electronic data.

  Furthermore, when comparing the scanned image with the original image, there is a possibility that a portion that is not added is erroneously extracted as an added portion.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and accurately extracts additional information on a document on which an original image representing original document information is recorded, and accurately reflects it on the original document information. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 specifies the original document information after the original image representing the original document information read from the storage means for storing the original document information is recorded in advance. Reading means for reading the original image from a document in which code information including specific information and coordinate information representing coordinates is recorded in advance, a code information reading unit for reading the code information from the document, and the code information reading unit Based on the specific information read by the code information reading means and the extraction means for extracting the original image corresponding to the area where the unreadable coordinates are concentrated among the read coordinate information, the specific information is obtained from the storage means. Acquisition means for acquiring original document information corresponding to, and acquisition by the acquisition means Synthesis means for synthesizing the original image extracted by the extraction means at a position corresponding to an extraction position of the original document information extracted by the extraction means; and storage means for storing the synthesis result of the synthesis means in the storage means; It is characterized by providing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the reading unit, after the image representing the original document information read from the storage unit is recorded in advance, the specifying information specifying the original document information and the coordinate information representing the coordinates An original image is read from a document on which code information including is previously recorded, and the code information reading unit reads code information from the document.

  Note that the coordinate information may be information recorded on the entire surface of the document as in the invention described in claim 2, or a code such as a symbol or a mark is applied as in the invention described in claim 3. You may do it.

  Further, the code information can be recorded on a document using invisible toner that reflects infrared rays, and an infrared camera can be applied as the code information reading means, as in the invention described in claim 4.

  In addition to the above, the code information may use, for example, a watermark technique, or may be recorded so as to be inconspicuous using visible toner.

  On the other hand, the extracting unit extracts an original image corresponding to a region where unreadable coordinates are concentrated from the coordinate information read by the code information reading unit. That is, after an original image representing original document information is recorded on a document, if a document on which code information is recorded is additionally written by handwriting or the like, in the code information recorded on the document, the area of the additional portion is recorded. Corresponding coordinate information cannot be read. Therefore, the additional portion can be extracted by extracting the unreadable area in this way.

  The acquisition unit acquires original document information corresponding to the specific information from the storage unit based on the specific information read by the code information reading unit.

  The synthesizing unit synthesizes the original image extracted by the extracting unit at a position corresponding to the position extracted by the extracting unit of the original document information acquired by the acquiring unit, and the synthesized result is stored in the accumulating unit by the storing unit. Stored.

  That is, since the added part is extracted by reading the coordinates, the added area can be reflected in the original document information without any deviation. Further, since there is no comparison between the read image (added document) and the original document as in the prior art, it is possible to prevent erroneous extraction of a portion not added.

  Therefore, it is possible to accurately extract additional information on a document on which an original image representing original document information is recorded, and to accurately reflect the information on the original document information.

  In addition, the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, like the image forming apparatus according to claim 5, records a recording unit that records the original image, and records the code information. The image forming apparatus may further include a code information recording unit that performs the above-described operation.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to claim 5 may be an image forming system further including the storage unit connected to the image forming apparatus via a network, like the image forming apparatus system according to claim 6.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately extract additional information on a document on which an original image representing original document information is recorded and accurately reflect the information on the original document information. is there.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a person who applied the present invention to an image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a server 14 via a network 12 and is capable of printing based on original document information stored in advance in the server 14. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 performs printing based on the original document information, and then uses ID information for identifying the original document information and a code such as a symbol or a mark on the sheet using invisible toner that reflects infrared rays. The code information including the coordinate information representing the coordinates is printed.

  Note that the original document information is registered in advance in the server 14 by storing, for example, electronic data created by a personal computer or the like as original document information.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a code information reading unit 16, an image reading unit 18, a control unit 20, an image output unit 22, and an operation input unit 24.

  The code information reading unit 16 reads the code information printed on the paper with invisible toner by the code information embedding unit 26 described later and outputs the code information to the control unit 20, and the image reading unit 18 reads the image printed on the paper. To the control unit 20. For example, an infrared camera or the like that can read invisible toner can be applied as the code information reading unit.

  The control unit 20 includes an ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28, a document search unit 30, and an image processing unit 32, and comprehensively controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. The ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28, the image processing unit 32, and the document search unit 30 may have a hardware configuration or a software configuration.

  The ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28 receives the code information read by the code information reading unit 16 and analyzes the ID information for specifying the original document printed on the paper and the coordinate information printed in advance on the paper. To do. At this time, the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28 detects an area where the coordinate information printed on the paper is unreadable (for example, the maximum area of the unreadable area), and adds the additional area (for example, by handwriting) to the area. Area). In other words, if additional writing is performed by handwriting or the like on a paper on which coordinate information has been printed in advance with invisible toner, the additional information is overwritten with the coordinate information and cannot be decoded. Can be an area.

  The document search unit 30 acquires the ID information analyzed by the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28, and searches the original document information corresponding to the ID information from the server 14 via the network 12. The retrieved original document information is acquired from the server 14 and output to the image processing unit 32.

  When the image processing unit 32 synthesizes the additional writing information and the original document information and stores them in the server 14, the image processing unit 32 adds the additional writing area extracted by the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28 and the original document information searched by the document search unit 30. And synthesize. That is, since the postscript information can specify the position of the postscript area from the indecipherable coordinates, the image of the postscript area is synthesized at the position corresponding to the original document information. The combined information is stored in the server 14 via the network 12 as original document information. The original document information obtained by combining may be overwritten on the original document information, or may be stored in the server 14 as new original document information with different ID information added. .

  In addition, when performing copying or the like, the image processing unit 32 inputs an image read by the image reading unit 18, converts it into a data format that can be processed by the image output unit 22, and outputs it to the image output unit 22. When printing based on the original document information stored in the server 14, the original document information input from the server 14 via the network 12 is converted into a data format that can be processed by the image output unit 22. The image is output to the image output unit 22.

  The image output unit 22 prints an image based on the data input from the image processing unit 32. The image output unit 22 includes a code information embedding unit 26, and the code information embedding unit 26 prints the code information using an invisible toner that reflects infrared rays. As the coordinate information of the code information, for example, a code including marks and symbols may be printed over the entire surface so that the coordinates on the paper can be specified, or a grid or the like may be printed. .

  The operation input unit 24 can input operations such as a copy instruction, an original document registration instruction, an original document print instruction, an additional document registration instruction, and the like performed by the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 20 executes various functions based on the information input by the user.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing performed in the image forming apparatus 10.

  First, in step 100, the control unit 20 determines whether or not a copy or print instruction has been issued. This determination is made when the control unit 20 determines whether or not a copy instruction is given by the operation input unit 24 or whether or not a print instruction is given from a personal computer or the like connected to the network 12. If yes, the process proceeds to step 102. If negative, the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 102, a copy or print process is performed, and the process proceeds to step 104. That is, when a copy instruction is given, the original is read by the image reading unit 18 and processed by the image processing unit 32, and then the image output unit 22 forms an image on a sheet. When a print instruction is issued, an image is formed by the image output unit 22 based on data input via the network 12.

  In step 104, it is determined whether or not to print the original document. The determination is made by determining whether or not an instruction to print the original document has been issued by the operation input unit 24 or a personal computer connected to the network 12, and if the determination is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 106. If the result is negative, the routine proceeds to step 108.

  In step 106, an original document printing process to be described later is performed, and the process proceeds to step 108.

  In step 108, it is determined whether or not the document is registered in the server 14. This determination is made by determining whether or not document registration is instructed by the operation input unit 24. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 110. If the determination is negative, a series of processing is performed as it is. Exit.

  In step 110, a read document registration process (to be described later) for electronically registering a portion added to the original document together with the original document information and registering an image read by the image reading unit 18 as an original document is performed. Then, the series of processing ends.

  Here, the above-described original document printing process will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the original document printing process.

  In step 200, the original document information is read from the server 14 via the network 12, and the process proceeds to step 202. For example, original document information instructed by the operation input unit 24 or a personal computer is read from the server 14. Alternatively, original document information transmitted from a personal computer or the like via the network 12 is read out.

  In step 202, the original document is printed. That is, the original document information read via the network 12 is converted into a data format or the like that can be processed by the image output unit 22 by the image processing unit 32, and printing based on the original document information is performed by the image output unit 22. .

  In step 204, the code information is printed, and the series of original document printing processes is terminated. That is, the above-described ID information and coordinate information are printed by the code information embedding unit 26 using invisible toner on the paper on which the original document information is printed.

  Next, the above-described additional reading registration process will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the additional reading registration process.

  In step 300, the document image is read by the image reading unit 18, and the process proceeds to step 302.

  In step 302, the control unit 20 determines whether or not to register additional writing. This determination is affirmed when an instruction to extract and register information added to the read original is given by the operation input unit 24, and negative when an instruction to register the read original as an original original is issued. .

  If the determination in step 302 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 304, the code information is read by the code information reading unit 16, and the process proceeds to step 306. That is, the code information including the ID information and the coordinate information recorded on the document by the invisible toner is read and output to the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28.

  In step 306, the coordinate information decoding additional area (additional information) is extracted by the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28, and the process proceeds to step 308. In other words, the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28 becomes indecipherable because the additional information is overwritten with the coordinate information if the additional information is added by handwriting or the like to the paper on which the coordinate information is previously recorded with the invisible toner. Then, the area is extracted as an additional write area.

  In step 308, the original document is searched by the document search unit 30, and the process proceeds to step 310. That is, the document search unit 30 searches and acquires original document information corresponding to the ID information from the server 14 via the network 12 based on the ID information input from the ID & coordinate information analysis unit 28. Then, the acquired original document information is output to the image processing unit 32.

In step 320, the postscript information extracted in step 306 and the original document information searched in step 308 are combined and the process proceeds to step 314. That is, the image processing unit 32 can identify the position of the additional recording area from the coordinates where the additional recording information cannot be decoded, and therefore synthesizes the image of the additional recording area at the position of the corresponding original document information. Therefore, the additional recording area can be reflected in the original document information without any deviation. In addition, since there is no comparison between the read image and the original document image as in the prior art, there is no possibility of erroneously extracting a portion that has not been added. Furthermore, the original document created by combining in this way can be edited as text except for the additional writing part when the part other than the additional writing area is created in a text format or the like. If the determination in 302 is negative, the process proceeds to step 312 to register the image read by the image reading unit 18 as an original document as it is. As a result, image processing such as conversion into data in the storage format of the server 14 is performed, and the process proceeds to step 314. That is, the read image is directly used as original document information. In this case, even a manuscript created with data in text format is processed as an image, so editing in text format becomes impossible.

  In step 314, the original document information created in step 310 or step 312 is stored in the server 14 via the network 12. When registering original document information in the server 14, ID information for specifying the original document information is added and registered. As the ID information, for example, a file name or the like may be applied, or other unique information or the like may be added.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment first prints an original document, and uses the invisible toner that reflects infrared rays on the printed original document to identify the ID information. For example, 34 is printed toward the corner of the paper, and the coordinate information 36 is printed over the entire surface of the paper. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the invisible toner in the additional recording area 38 cannot be decoded by the code information reading unit 16 when it is additionally recorded. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5C, by extracting the area where the coordinate information does not need to be decoded, the coordinates can be extracted together with the additional recording area 38.

  When the extracted additional recording area 38 is reflected in the original document information, as shown in FIG. 5D, the original document information and the extracted additional recording area are set to coordinate positions where the above-described coordinate information cannot be decoded. Synthesize. Thus, since the coordinates are read, the added area can be reflected in the original document information without any deviation. In addition, since there is no comparison between the read image (added document) and the original document as in the prior art, a portion that is not added is not erroneously extracted.

  In the above embodiment, the code information is printed on the paper using the invisible toner. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the code information may be embedded using a technique such as a watermark. Alternatively, the code information may be printed on a sheet using normal visible toner. When using visible toner, for example, the coordinate information may be made inconspicuous using small dots, or may be printed using an inconspicuous color such as yellow.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed in the image forming apparatus. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of original document printing processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an additional writing reading registration process. It is a figure for demonstrating the characteristic effect of the image forming apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Network 14 Server 16 Code information reading part 18 Image reading part 20 Control part 22 Image output part 26 Code information embedding part 28 ID & coordinate information analysis part 30 Document search part 32 Image processing part 34 ID information 36 Coordinate information 38 Additional area

Claims (6)

After the original image representing the original document information read from the storage means for storing the original document information is recorded in advance, the specific information for identifying the original document information and the code information including the coordinate information representing the coordinates are previously stored. Reading means for reading the original image from the recorded document;
Code information reading means for reading the code information from the document;
Extraction means for extracting the original image corresponding to the region where unreadable coordinates are concentrated among the coordinate information read by the code information reading means;
An acquisition unit for acquiring original document information corresponding to the specific information from the storage unit based on the specific information read by the code information reading unit;
Synthesizing means for synthesizing the original image extracted by the extracting means at a position corresponding to an extraction position by the extracting means of the original document information acquired by the acquiring means;
Storage means for storing the synthesis result of the synthesis means in the storage means;
An image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate information is information recorded on the entire surface of the document.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coordinate information includes a code.   The image according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the code information is recorded on the original using invisible toner that reflects infrared rays, and the code information reading unit includes an infrared camera. Processing equipment. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Recording means for recording the original image;
Code information recording means for recording the code information;
An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5;
The storage means network-connected to the image forming apparatus;
An image forming system.

Images