JP2007166223A - Image forming apparatus, image discarding apparatus, documentation management system, and document management method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of managing circulation or presence of a duplication even after a second distribution is performed in a predetermined disclosure range. <P>SOLUTION: A documentation management system (1) is comprised by connecting: a personal computer (2); image forming apparatuses (3, 4, 5); a document discarding apparatus (6); and a distribution destination management database storage section (7). A main distribution destination list comprising distribution destinations and information thereof, information on a "disclosure range" being a maximum range in which the duplication can be circulated; data of a document manager, document names or the like are stored in the distribution destination management database. A processing performed at the distribution destination of the document is reflected on the distribution destination management database. Thus the distribution management database can grasp the currency and the presence of the document. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image discarding apparatus, a document management system, and a document management method capable of managing a document such as a confidential document.

  In recent years, copying of documents has become extremely simple due to the widespread use of image forming apparatuses having a copying function, such as personal computers, printers, and copying machines. Under such circumstances, it is easy to copy copyrighted originals, or originals requiring prohibition of unauthorized copying, such as “copy prohibited”, “restrict copying”, “confidential”, etc. There is a disadvantage that copying is performed. It is necessary to take measures to prevent such copying of confidential documents from being performed at all or from being performed correctly.

  Under such circumstances, for example, a proposal as in Patent Document 1 has been made. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 detects a dot pattern embedded in a background image included in image data of a document image that has been read from image data, and prohibits output in which the detected dot pattern is stored in a storage area. Compare with the pattern and determine its identity. Then, the determination result is transmitted to a computer used by a specific person, in many cases, an administrator. As a result, it is possible to notify the specific person that the document image having the dot pattern that should be prohibited from being output has been scanned, and to create a trigger for tracking that the image document has been scanned illegally. . Further, when an image of a document image having a dot pattern that should be prohibited from being output is read, it is possible to track which document image has been read illegally by attaching an identification code.

JP 2004-304772 A

  However, although it is possible to prohibit the output of a document whose output is prohibited as described in Patent Document 1, to what extent the copies after the secondary distribution such as further output at the distribution destination where the output is permitted are distributed. However, it is considered difficult to grasp to the end.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of managing the distribution and location of copies after that even when secondary distribution is performed within a predetermined disclosure range. Let it be an issue.

  To achieve this object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention includes an input image acquisition unit, a background background pattern image generation unit that generates a background background pattern image to be superimposed on a document acquired by the input image acquisition unit, and the background background pattern image. Document information input means for inputting document information to be embedded in the image, image composition means for generating an output image by superimposing a background pattern image with the document information embedded in the input image, and image output means for outputting the output image A communication unit that communicates with a distribution destination management database storage unit that stores the distribution destination management database, and a control unit that instructs the communication unit to reflect the created document information in the distribution destination management database (Claim 1). With such a configuration, a sub-distribution destination list can be created by document information input means such as a user interface when further copying is performed in a distribution-destination image forming apparatus that permits copying. By reflecting this sub-distribution destination list in the distribution destination management database (claim 4), it is possible to grasp how far the copy is always distributed. That is, a main distribution list is created in the distribution destination management database, and the current distribution range of the document is described in the main distribution destination list. If a plurality of image forming apparatuses of the present invention are operated as a network constructed by connecting to the distribution destination management database storage unit, documents can be managed in the network.

  In such an image forming apparatus, document information detection means for detecting document information from a background tint block image superimposed on an input document, and whether the output image can be output by comparing the document information with the distribution destination management database It can be set as the structure provided with the control part which judges (Claim 2). When the document information includes a range in which the copied material may be distributed, that is, a disclosure range, the image forming apparatus outside the disclosure range is controlled so that an output image is not output. Also, depending on the document, copying may be prohibited depending on the distribution route, and output is also rejected in such a case.

  That is, the image forming apparatus on the network may further output the copy or stop outputting the copy according to the arrangement. In addition, the document information may include not only whether or not copying is possible but also information indicating whether or not scanning is possible. In view of this, it is possible to perform a control for notifying the distribution destination management database storage unit of the actual processing of the image forming apparatus based on these instructions. With such a configuration, it is possible to reliably manage the existence and distribution destination of documents.

  Further, such an image forming apparatus includes a control unit that suppresses output of a larger number of copies than the upper limit of the number of copies when the document information includes information on the upper limit of the number of copies. (Claim 5).

  In addition, when a document whose distribution destination is to be managed includes a plurality of pages, a configuration may be adopted in which each page is managed. That is, when the document information includes information on page numbers, the distribution destination management database is transmitted through the communication means so that the page number of the page output by the image output device is reflected in the distribution destination management database. It can be set as the structure provided with the control part which performs control notified to a storage part (Claim 6).

  The document discarding apparatus of the present invention is a document discarding apparatus provided with a document shredding means, a document information detecting means for detecting document information embedded from a background pattern image superimposed on a document to be discarded, and a distribution destination management A communication unit that communicates with a distribution destination management database storage unit that stores a database; and a control unit that instructs the communication unit to reflect the document information in the distribution destination management database. (Claim 7). Documents and images that are output or copied may naturally be discarded. In such a case, if a document discard apparatus of the present invention, a so-called shredder, is used, the discarded document can be managed.

  The document management system of the present invention is connected to the image forming apparatus as described above, the document discarding apparatus, and these via a communication means, and a distribution destination management database storage unit storing a distribution destination management database, the distribution destination And a control unit for updating the management database (claim 8). If such a document management system is constructed, the distribution of documents can be managed consistently.

  The document management method of the present invention includes a process of detecting document information from a background tint block image superimposed on an input document, and a process of determining whether or not an output image can be output by comparing the detected document information with a distribution destination management database. And a step of outputting an output image based on the determination, and a step of reflecting the determination result in the management database.

  Further, in such a document management method of the present invention, when output of an output image is permitted by the determination in the process of determining whether or not the output image can be output in comparison with the detected document information and the distribution destination management database. In addition, a process of creating a sub-distribution destination list and a process of reflecting the sub-distribution destination list in the distribution-destination management database can also be configured (claim 10). The method further comprises a step of detecting document information from the background tint block image superimposed on the discarded document, a step of crushing the discarded document, and a step of reflecting the document information in the management database. Item 11).

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes the document information input unit that inputs the document information embedded in the background pattern image, and includes the communication unit that communicates with the distribution destination management database storage unit. The copy can be managed based on the information of the distribution destination included.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the schematic configuration of the document management system 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The document management system 1 is configured by connecting a personal computer 2, image forming apparatuses 3, 4, 5 of the present invention, a document discarding apparatus 6, and a distribution destination management database storage unit 7. Data as shown in FIG. 12 is stored in the distribution destination management database. That is, a main distribution destination list including distribution destinations and information on the distribution destinations, information of “disclosure range” that is the maximum range in which a copy can be distributed, data such as a document manager and a document name are stored. ing.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 3 functions as a printer when outputting a document (original) to be managed from the personal computer 2. The image forming apparatuses 4 and 5 function as a copier for copying a document output from the image forming apparatus 3. When outputting a document from the image forming apparatus 3, the distribution destination (the name of the distributor, the department to which the user belongs), the administrator information of the document (name, the IP address of the printed PC, the e-mail address, etc.), the distribution destination Scan prohibition / permission information, the maximum number of copies that can be copied, the disclosure range when copying is permitted, and information (document file names, etc.) for specifying a document are input as the first sub-distribution list 8. The first sub-distribution list 8 is output to the image forming apparatus 3 and transmitted to the distribution destination management database storage unit 7 to be reflected in the distribution destination management database.

  The image forming apparatus 4 corresponding to the distribution destination 1 is ready to create the second sub distribution list 9 when copying is permitted in the first sub distribution list 8. The second sub distribution list 9 includes the same information as the first sub distribution list 8. The second sub-distribution list 9 can be input from the user interface of the image forming apparatus 4, and the input second sub-distribution list 9 is transmitted to the distribution destination management database storage unit 7 by the communication unit included in the image forming apparatus 4. And reflected in the distribution destination management database. Such an operation is performed in all image forming apparatuses up to the image forming apparatus 5 corresponding to the distribution destination n. Since the contents of the sub-distribution destination list created in each image forming apparatus are reflected in the distribution destination management database, all distribution destinations of documents to be managed are managed in the distribution destination management database.

  The document discarding device 6 detects the document information when discarding the document in which the document information is embedded, transmits the document information to the distribution destination management database storage unit 7 by the communication unit, and reflects it in the distribution destination management database. Let As a result, the distribution destination management database can manage up to the document discarding state.

  The detailed configuration of each device constituting the document management system 1 as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes an image developing unit 10 and a scanner unit 11, both of which correspond to input image acquisition means in the present invention. Furthermore, the scan image processing unit 12, the image storage unit 13, the copy prohibition information detection unit 14, the copy permission condition information detection unit 15 as the information detection device 100 corresponding to the document information detection means in the present invention, and the control unit 16 A background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 17 corresponding to the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit in the present invention, an image composition unit 18 corresponding to the image composition unit in the present invention, a print unit 19 corresponding to the image output unit in the present invention, A user interface 20 and a communication unit 16a corresponding to communication means in the present invention are provided.

  The image development unit 10 inputs print data described in a print description language (PDL) via a network such as a LAN. The image expansion unit 10 performs image data expansion processing to generate image data. The generated image data is output to and stored in the image storage unit 13. In the image forming apparatus 3 functioning as a printer, an input image is acquired through the image developing unit 10.

  The scanner unit 11 reads a document placed on the platen glass, and outputs the read image data to the scan image processing unit 12. In the image forming apparatuses 4 and 5 functioning as a copier, an input image is acquired through the scanner unit 11.

  The scanned image processing unit 12 performs color correction, color space conversion, screen processing, and the like on the input image data, and stores the image data after the image processing in the image storage unit 13.

  The image composition unit 18 reads the image data from the image storage unit 13 and outputs it to the printing unit 19. In addition, when the control unit 16 is set to synthesize a background pattern image, the background pattern image data stored in the memory in the image composition unit 18 in synchronization with the reading of the image data from the image storage unit 13. , The logical sum (OR) composition is performed on a predetermined color plane of the image data, and the composite image data is output to the print unit 19. The print unit 19 records the combined image data or image data output from the image combining unit 18 on a sheet.

The image forming apparatus 3 according to the present exemplary embodiment synthesizes the background pattern image so as to form a body as a document to be managed when output as a document. Further, the image forming apparatuses 4 and 5 read information from the background pattern image embedded in the image forming apparatus 3 and further synthesize a background pattern image in which new information is embedded.
Additional information embedded in the background pattern image is document management information, more specifically, the first sub distribution list 8 and the second sub distribution list 9, and the following information is embedded.
(A) Distribution destination (distributor name, department, etc.)
(B) ... Document manager information (name, IP address of printed PC, e-mail address, etc.)
(C) ... Scan prohibition / permission information at the distribution destination (D) ... Maximum number of copies that can be copied (E) ... Disclosure range when copying is permitted (F) ... Documents are specified Information (such as document file name)
(G) ... Latent image information (information on latent image that floats when copied)
For example, latent image character string, font type, font size, latent image character string direction (angle), background tint image color

  Here, the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image IP and a background pattern PB that covers the entire surface of the output image O.

  The background pattern PB and the latent image IP are different from each other. However, the output image O is formed with a pattern having the same pixel area and pixel color per unit area so that it can be seen by the human eye as a uniform gray background.

  The latent image IP is composed of finer dots than other portions so that the image appears to the extent that the latent image IP can be identified by human eyes in the copied document.

  The background pattern PB is composed of codes. The code is composed of a condition code CD representing arbitrary code data and a prohibited copy code CP that restricts copying.

  The code is composed of a hatched pattern PS representing arbitrary code data. In the oblique line pattern PS, the one represented by a half line inclined 45 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the scanning direction D represents bit 0 of the code data, and the one inclined 135 degrees represents bit 1 of the code data.

  The forbidden copy code CP is composed of a pattern in which the entire hatched pattern PS represents bit 0 and a bit 1. The forbidden copy code CP is used to determine that a copy is restricted when two or more types of forbidden copy codes CP are detected.

The condition code CD is composed of a synchronization code area AS and a data code area AC.
The synchronous code area AS is a code area in which the outer periphery of a rectangular area of a predetermined size surrounding the data code area AC is composed of a hatched pattern PS1 in which all bits 1 are represented.
In the data code area, the information (A) to (G) is encoded and embedded as a condition code CD.

Next, the background pattern image generation unit 17 will be described with reference to FIG. The background pattern image generation unit 17 generates the first sub distribution list 8 in the image forming apparatus 3 and the second sub distribution list 9 in the image forming apparatuses 4 and 5 as the background pattern image.
Additional information (copy prohibition information, condition information, latent image information) is input from the control unit 16 to the background tint block image generation unit 17. Of these, copy prohibition information and copy permission condition information are input to the additional information encoding unit 42, and latent image information is input to the latent image generation unit 41.

  The latent image generation unit 41 generates a latent image based on the input latent image information. The latent image information is information indicating what kind of latent image character is embedded in the pattern image. Specifically, the latent image character string, font type, font size, and direction of the latent image character string (angle) ) Etc. Upon receiving the latent image information, the latent image generation unit 41 draws a latent image character string in the specified direction with the specified font type and font size, and generates a binary latent image image. The generated latent image is output to the additional information encoding unit 42. Note that the resolution of the latent image is a resolution obtained by dividing the resolution of the printer by the size of a pattern to be described later. For example, when the printer resolution is 600 dpi and the pattern size is 12 pixels × 12 pixels, the resolution of the latent image is 50 dpi.

  The additional information encoding unit 42 encodes the input copy prohibition information and condition information. First, when the copy prohibition information indicates that a document that has been printed out is not to be copied by the image forming apparatus, two types of copy prohibition codes shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are generated. Here, the copy prohibition code in FIG. 5A is all bit 0 inside the code, and the copy prohibition code in FIG. 5B is all bit inside the code. is there. When copy prohibition information is not input, or when it does not indicate that a document that has been printed out is not to be copied by the image forming apparatus, the two types of codes shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are generated. Is not done.

  Next, when condition information is input, an error correction code is applied to the condition information to generate a condition code as shown in FIG. The code in FIG. 5C represents a bit string of encoded condition information by the arrangement of bit 0 and bit 1. The outer periphery of the cord has a special bit pattern for facilitating the positioning of the cord.

  Next, a plurality of the generated codes are repeatedly arranged as shown in FIG. 6A to generate a pattern number array having the same size as the latent image. Here, the hatched rectangle in the figure is the copy prohibition code in FIG. 5A, the vertical hatched rectangle is the copy prohibition code in FIG. 5B, and the dot hatched rectangle is in FIG. 5C. This is the condition code. If a copy prohibition code is not generated, a condition code is placed in the copy prohibition code portion in the figure. If the condition code is not generated, a copy prohibition code is placed in the condition code portion in the figure. At this time, the value of each element of the pattern number array is 0 or 1.

  Next, referring to the latent image, the pattern number of the element of the pattern number array corresponding to the coordinates of the black pixels in the latent image is changed to 2. If this is performed for all the black pixels in the latent image, the pattern number arrangement is such that the latent image characters are drawn with the pattern number 2 on the background in which the copy prohibition code and the condition code are arranged side by side. This state is shown in FIG. A black “COPY” portion in the figure indicates a portion in which the pattern array number is changed to “2”. The pattern number array is output to the pattern image generation unit 44.

  The pattern image generation unit 44 refers to each element of the input pattern number array, reads a pattern corresponding to the pattern number from the pattern storage unit 43 and converts it into a pattern image, thereby generating a background pattern image. The generated background tint block image is stored in a memory (not shown) in the image composition unit 18.

Next, the copy prohibition information detection unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a detailed configuration of the copy prohibition information detection unit 14. The copy prohibition information detection unit 14 operates when the image forming apparatuses 4 and 5 read information from the background pattern image generated in the image forming apparatus 3.
The image data output from the scanner unit 11 is input to the gray scale conversion unit 21 and converted from full color to gray scale. Thereafter, it is binarized by the binarization processing unit 22.

  The binarized image data is input to the noise removal processing unit 23, and noise removal processing is performed. Specifically, a pixel block in which black pixels are connected is obtained, and each pixel of the pixel block whose size (number of connected pixels) is not within a predetermined range is replaced with a white pixel. The predetermined range is set to an appropriate range so that the hatched pattern is not deleted, and other patterns (isolated dot patterns, characters and figures in the document, etc.) are deleted.

  The image data from which noise has been removed is input to the pattern detection unit 24, where two types of oblique line pattern detection processing are performed, and the result is output as image data of 2 bits per pixel. Specifically, detection is performed by template matching by applying the patterns shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B at the positions of the respective pixels in the image data. Here, when the pattern (A) shown in FIG. 8 is detected, the pixel value 0 is output, and when the pattern (B) shown in FIG. 8 is detected, the pixel value 1 is output and the pattern is not detected. , Pixel value 2 is output.

  The image data output from the pattern detection processing unit 24 is input to the blocking processing unit 25. Here, the block size is set to a size smaller than half the size of the copy prohibition code and the condition code, and is set to a size such that one or more blocks are completely included in the code. The blocking processing unit 25 divides the input image data into blocks of a predetermined size and outputs them to the number calculation unit 26.

  The number calculation unit 26 calculates the number of pixels having a pixel value 0 and the pixel having a pixel value 1 in the block, and outputs the result to the ratio calculation unit 27. The total is output to the determination processing unit 28. The ratio calculation unit 27 calculates the ratio of pixels with a pixel value of 0 and outputs the result to the determination processing unit 28.

  The determination processing unit 28 performs determination processing based on the total number input from the number calculation unit 26 and the ratio input from the ratio calculation unit 27.

  Here, when the inside of the block being processed is located inside the copy prohibition code of all bits 0, a diagonal line pattern corresponding to a predetermined number of bits 0 or more is detected in the block, and bit 1 Since the hatched pattern corresponding to is hardly detected, the ratio of the hatched pattern corresponding to bit 0 should be high and almost close to 1.0.

  If the block currently being processed is located inside the copy prohibition code of all bits 1, a hatched pattern corresponding to a predetermined number of bits 1 or more is detected in the block, and bit 0 is set. Since the corresponding diagonal pattern is hardly detected, the ratio of the diagonal pattern corresponding to bit 0 should be low and almost close to 0.0.

  If the block currently being processed includes at least a part of the condition code, a diagonal line pattern corresponding to a plurality of bits 0 and a diagonal line pattern corresponding to a plurality of bits 1 are detected in the block. The ratio of the hatched pattern corresponding to 1 should be much lower than 1.0 and much higher than 0.

  If the input image data is an image in which copy prohibition information is embedded, a copy prohibition code with all bits 0 in the block and a copy prohibition code with all bits 1 in the block are included in the image. There should be more than one embedded.

The following determination process is performed using the above characteristics.
If the total number> the first threshold value and the ratio> the second threshold value, the block is determined to be the copy prohibition code 0.
Total number> first threshold value and. When (1−ratio)> second threshold value, the block is determined to be copy prohibition code 1.
In cases other than the above, it is determined that the block is not a copy prohibition code. Also, the first threshold value is set by adding a margin to the number of theoretical patterns included in the block from the block size and pattern size. The second threshold value is set to a value close to 1.0.

  The determination processing unit 28 separately counts the number of blocks determined to be the copy prohibition code 0 and the number of blocks determined to be the copy prohibition code 1. If the number of blocks determined to be copy prohibition code 0 is equal to or greater than threshold value 3 and the number of blocks determined to be copy prohibition code 0 is equal to or greater than threshold value 3, the image is determined to be a copy prohibition document; The determination result is output to the control unit 16.

Next, details of the copy permission condition information detection unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG. The copy permission condition information detection unit 15 operates when the image forming apparatuses 4 and 5 read information from the background pattern image generated in the image forming apparatus 3.
The image data output from the scanner unit 11 is input to the gray scale conversion unit 31, converted from full color to gray scale, and then binarized by the binarization processing unit 32.

  The binarized image data is input to the noise removal processing unit 33, and the noise removal processing 33 is performed. The image data from which the noise has been removed is input to the pattern detection processing unit 34, where two types of oblique line pattern detection processing are performed, and the data of the processing result is stored in the buffer memory 35. In this image data, the pixel value at the position where the diagonal line pattern corresponding to bit 0 is detected is 0, the pixel value at the position where the diagonal line pattern corresponding to bit 1 is detected is 1, and other values are 2 The image data is 2 bits per pixel.

  The image data stored in the buffer memory 35 is input to the skew angle detection processing unit 36, and the skew angle is detected. Here, the skew angle of the input image data is obtained. As a specific method, Hough transform is performed on a pixel having only a pixel value of 0 or 1, and the peak of the projection distribution on the angle axis is obtained. The obtained skew angle is output to the code detector 37.

  Further, the image data stored in the buffer memory 35 is read out and input to the code detection unit 37, and the two-dimensional code is detected. Specifically, the image is scanned at the obtained skew angle to extract a pixel value of 0 or 1 (corresponding to 0 or 1 of the bit). The synchronization code is found from the extracted bit string. The synchronization code is defined as a code in which the outer periphery of a rectangular area having a predetermined vertical and horizontal size is entirely composed of bits 1. A bit array surrounded by the synchronization code is a two-dimensional code (condition code). This bit array is rearranged into a one-dimensional bit string and output to the error correction decoding unit 38.

  The error correction decoding unit 38 performs a predetermined error correction decoding process on the input bit string and decodes it as condition information. The decrypted copy permission condition information is output to the control unit 16.

  Next, the configuration of the document disposal apparatus 6 will be described. The document discarding device 6 includes an information detection unit 6a corresponding to the document information detection means in the present invention. The information detection unit 6a performs the same function as the information detection unit 100 in the image forming apparatus 3 and the like, and detects document information embedded from a background pattern image superimposed on a discarded document. The document disposal apparatus 6 includes a control unit 6b, a communication unit 6c, and a document crushing unit 6d. When discarding a document, the document discarding device 6 reads out the document information by the information detecting unit 6b, and reflects the information in the distribution destination management database via the communication unit 6c.

  Regarding the operation of the document management system 1 configured as described above, refer to the conceptual diagram shown in FIG. 1, the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the example of the distribution destination list shown in FIG. 12, and the flowchart shown in FIG. I will explain.

  First, the disclosure range of the document to be managed (document name XYZ) is A part and B part, and this information is stored in the distribution destination management database in the distribution destination management database storage unit 7. This document is managed by Mr. Z in section A, and this information is also stored in the distribution destination management database together with the document name.

  First, Mr. Z of section A who is the administrator of the document XYZ creates a first sub-distribution list when outputting the document XYZ using the personal computer 2 and the image forming apparatus 3, and inputs it to the personal computer 2 while managing the distribution destination. The database storage unit 7 is notified (step S1). Here, in the first sub-distribution list 8, A part B and B part C are designated as distribution destinations. Also, scanning / copying at the distribution destination is permitted, and the upper limit of the number of copies is not limited. The scope of disclosure can be distributed to Part A and Part B. At this stage, part A and part B and part B are stored in the main distribution destination list in the distribution destination management database.

  Next, in step S2, the image forming apparatus 3 creates and outputs a document in which information on the first sub-distribution list 8 is embedded in the background pattern image. The document output in this way is distributed to Mr. A and Mr. B and Mr. B, C by Mr. A, who is the administrator (step S3).

  Next, Mr. A, who received the distribution from Mr. A, performs copying using the image forming apparatus 4 (step S4). At this time, the control unit of the image forming apparatus 4 determines whether or not document scanning is prohibited (step S5). Here, since the document distributed by Mr. A is not prohibited from being scanned, NO is determined, and the process proceeds to step S6. If scanning is prohibited, the process proceeds to step S7, and the main distribution list is not updated any more, so the main distribution list is confirmed and the process ends.

  In step S <b> 6, Mr. A / B creates the second sub distribution list 9 and inputs the second sub distribution list 9 from the user interface 20 of the image forming apparatus 4. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 4 to which the second sub-distribution list 9 has been input refers to the disclosure range information in the first sub-distribution list 8 embedded in step S2, and the second sub created by the part A B The distribution list 9 collates with a predetermined disclosure range, that is, whether any part other than the A part and the B part is designated (step S8, step S9).

  When it is determined in the collation in step S9 that the value is within the disclosure range, the process proceeds to step S10. Here, the second sub-distribution list 9 created by Mr. A / B includes Mr. A / D, Mr. B / E, and Mr. F / C. That is, Mr. C who is not included in the disclosure range is included. For this reason, the process proceeds to step S11 to stop copying and interrupt the processing. On the other hand, if part C is not included in the second sub-distribution list 9, YES is determined in the step S9, and the process proceeds to a step S10. Here, it is also possible to control to copy the number of persons within the permitted range excluding Mr. C, who is outside the disclosed range.

  In step S10, a document in which a new background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in which the information in the second sub-distribution list 9 is embedded is created and output.

  Further, the contents of the second sub distribution list 9 are notified to the distribution destination management database storage unit 7 through the communication unit 16a (step S12), and the main distribution list in the distribution destination management database is updated (step S13). That is, the newly distributed A section D and B section E are stored together with the distributing section A section B.

  Thereafter, the same operation is repeated as in the third sub-distribution destination list, so that the main distribution list is sequentially updated.

  Next, document management associated with document disposal will be described with reference to FIG. First, when a document to be discarded is applied to the document discarding device 6 and the document is detected to be discarded (step S21), the information detection unit 6a reads the information embedded in the document, and the distribution destination management database storage unit 7 through the communication unit 6b. (Step S22). Following this, the main distribution list is updated. As a result, it is possible to grasp that the document has been discarded.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to manage the distribution and location of copies after that even if secondary distribution is performed within the disclosure range.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications of these embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. It is apparent from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows schematic structure of a document management system. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows a background tint block image. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a background tint block image generation part. It is a figure which shows copy prohibition information and condition information. It is a figure which shows a pattern number arrangement | sequence. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a copy prohibition information detection part. It is a figure which shows an example of the image used for template matching. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a copy permission condition information detection part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a document disposal apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the document management system of an Example. It is a figure which shows an example of a distribution destination list. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of document discard.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Document management system 2 Personal computer 3, 4, 5 Image forming apparatus 6 Document disposal apparatus 7 Distribution destination management database storage part 8 First sub distribution list 9 Second sub distribution list 10 Image development part 11 Scanner part 12 Scan image processing part 13 Image storage unit 14 Copy prohibition information detection unit 15 Copy permission condition information detection unit 16 Control unit 16a Communication unit 17 Background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 18 Image composition unit 19 Print unit 20 User interface

Claims (11)

Input image acquisition means;
A background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generating unit for generating a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be superimposed on the document acquired by the input image acquiring unit;
Document information input means for inputting document information to be embedded in the background pattern image;
Image combining means for generating an output image by superimposing a background tint block image in which document information is embedded in the input image;
Image output means for outputting the output image;
A communication means for communicating with the distribution destination management database storage unit storing the distribution destination management database;
A control unit for instructing the communication means to reflect the created document information in the distribution destination management database;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
Document information detecting means for detecting document information from a background tint block image superimposed on an input document;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that determines whether the output image can be output by checking the document information with the distribution destination management database. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs control to notify the distribution destination management database storage unit through the communication unit so that processing based on the determination in the control unit is reflected in the distribution destination management database. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A control unit is provided for performing control to notify the distribution destination management database storage unit through the communication unit so that the sub-distribution destination list input by the document information input unit is reflected in the distribution destination management database. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that suppresses output of a larger number of copies than the upper limit of the number of copies when the document information includes information on the upper limit of the number of copies. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
The distribution destination management database storage unit through the communication means to reflect the page number of the page output by the image output device to the distribution destination management database when the document information includes information about page numbers. An image forming apparatus comprising a control unit that performs control to notify to the image forming apparatus. A document disposal apparatus equipped with a document shredding means,
Document information detection means for detecting document information embedded from a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image superimposed on a document to be discarded;
A communication means for communicating with the distribution destination management database storage unit storing the distribution destination management database;
A control unit for instructing the communication means to reflect the document information in the distribution destination management database;
A document disposal apparatus comprising: An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and / or a document disposal apparatus according to claim 5, which are arbitrarily selected.
A distribution destination management database storage unit that is connected to the image forming apparatus and / or the document disposal apparatus via a communication unit and stores a distribution destination management database;
A control unit for updating the distribution destination management database;
A document management system comprising: A process of detecting document information from a background pattern image superimposed on the input document;
A process of determining whether or not an output image can be output by comparing the detected document information with the distribution destination management database;
A process of outputting an output image based on the determination;
A process of reflecting the determination result in the management database;
A document management method characterized by comprising: A document management method according to claim 9, wherein
A process of creating a sub-distribution destination list when output of the output image is permitted by the determination in the process of determining whether to output the output image in comparison with the detected document information and the distribution destination management database;
A process of reflecting the sub-distribution destination list in the distribution destination management database;
A document management method characterized by comprising: A process of detecting document information from a background pattern image superimposed on the discarded document;
The process of crushing discarded documents;
A process of reflecting the document information in the management database;
A document management method characterized by comprising:

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