JP2007166509A - Print-out apparatus, control method thereof, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a black-and-white background image in which a difference occurs between lightness of a latent image part and that of a background part, from being outputted or to raise a caution about it when black-and-white printing is instructed to a color background image. <P>SOLUTION: A print-out apparatus includes: a first decision means for deciding whether or not black-and-white print-out is set; a second decision means for deciding whether the color of a background image is a chromatic color; and a printing control means which performs control so as not to print out the background image when it is decided by the first decision means that print-out setting is black-and-white print-out setting and it is decided by the second decision means that the color of the background image is a chromatic color, and performs control so as to print out the background image when it is not decided by the first decision means that print-out setting is black-and-white print-out setting or when it is not decided by the second decision means that the color of the background image is a chromatic color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print output apparatus capable of printing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

  Conventionally, for the purpose of prohibiting or suppressing copying of forms and resident cards, these contents have been printed on a specially-printed paper called anti-counterfeit paper. This forgery-preventing paper is hard to be seen by humans in the original, but is a paper on which characters such as “prohibited copying” appear when copying using a copying machine or the like. As a result, the effect of making the copy person hesitant to use the copy is produced. Furthermore, it is assumed that such a form or the like is printed on forgery prevention paper, so that the effect of inhibiting and checking the copy itself is also produced.

  However, such anti-counterfeit paper has a problem that it is more expensive than ordinary paper. Further, only characters set at the time of production of the anti-counterfeit paper can be raised, and the use of the paper is limited.

  On the other hand, as various contents are digitized, contents such as forms and resident's cards are also digitized. However, the digitization of these forms and resident's forms themselves is still in a transitional period, and content created using a computer is often output and used on paper using a printer or the like.

  In response to such a situation, attention has been paid to a technique for generating anti-counterfeit paper, which has been prepared in advance by plate making or the like, using a computer and a printer (Patent Document 1). This is a technique for generating image data called a tint block in addition to content data when printing and outputting content created using a computer, and outputting these data in an overlapping manner. The background pattern is sometimes called a copy check pattern. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image appears as a simple pattern or background image to the human eye in the original (printed matter output by the printer), but when copied, predetermined characters and images are visualized. And this original can give the same check effect as said forgery prevention paper. This is possible due to a dramatic improvement in printer performance.

  When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image created using a computer is output overlaid on content data, it can of course be output using normal printing paper, etc. There are advantages in terms. Furthermore, since a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be generated when the content data is printed out, it is possible to freely determine not only the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image but also characters to be visualized when copying the original. Another advantage is that the output date and time, information specific to the printing apparatus, and the like can be used as the tint block image.

  Now, as described above, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image realizes the effect of suppressing the use of the copied material, etc., when the original is copied, the predetermined characters that could not be recognized before copying become obvious. It is.

  In order to achieve this effect, the generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image basically includes an area in which the same image as the original remains in the copy and an image existing in the original in the copy disappears or the above remaining area. It is composed of two areas that are thinner than the image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image composed of the two areas is preferably set to have substantially the same density in the two areas in a state where the image is printed out. In other words, the printed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image needs to be configured so that it is difficult for humans to visually recognize that characters to be visualized on a copy are hidden. An image area that is hidden in the printed output of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image but appears to be visually recognizable by humans in a copy of the printed output is called a “latent image (or latent image)”. In addition, an image area having a lower density than the density of a latent image that disappears with a copy or is visualized with the copy is referred to as a “background (or background image)” for convenience. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image basically consists of the latent image and the background image. In some cases, the latent image is called a foreground as a term on the user interface.

  The latent image is configured so that dots are concentrated in a predetermined area. On the other hand, the background portion is configured such that dots are dispersed within a predetermined area. By configuring so that the density of dots in this region is substantially the same, it is possible to make it difficult to distinguish the latent image portion from the background portion in the printed output of the tint block image.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the state of dots in these two image areas. As shown in the figure, a tint block image is composed of a background portion in which dots are dispersed in a predetermined area and a latent image portion in which dots are concentrated. The dots in these two regions can be generated by different halftone dot processing and different dither processing. For example, when a tint block image is generated using halftone processing, the latent image portion performs halftone processing with a low number of lines. In addition, it is preferable that the background portion performs halftone dot processing with a high number of lines. Furthermore, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated using dither processing, the latent image portion performs dither processing using a dot-concentrated dither matrix. Further, it is preferable that the background portion performs dither processing using a dot dispersion type dither matrix.

  In general, a reading unit and an image forming unit of a copying machine have a limit level of reproducibility depending on an input resolution for reading minute dots on an original and an output resolution for reproducing minute dots. If the dots in the background portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are formed smaller than the limit level of dots that can be reproduced by a copying machine, and the dots in the latent image portion are formed larger than the limit level, the dots in the latent image portion are copied on the copy. Can be reproduced and small dots in the background are not reproduced. By utilizing these characteristics, the latent image becomes apparent on a copy of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. Hereinafter, an image that appears on a copy is referred to as a visible image. Even if the background portion is reproduced by copying, the same effect as when dots are not reproduced can be obtained as long as the latent image portion on the copy can be clearly recognized. FIG. 11A shows a tint block image. FIG. 11B shows a visualized tint block image. FIG. 11B conceptually shows that when the dots are concentrated, the image is also visualized on the copy, and when the dots are dispersed, the dot is not reproduced on the copy.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing is not limited to the above-described configuration, and it is sufficient that a character string or the like can be reproduced on a copy at a recognizable level. That is, even if a character string or the like is designated as the background portion and is shown in a state like a white character at the time of copying, the purpose of the tint block printing is achieved.

A method of generating a tint block image is disclosed in Patent Document 1. A method for adjusting the density of a tint block image is disclosed in Patent Document 2. This patent document 2 discloses a technique for adjusting the density of the latent image part and the density of the background part so that the latent image part and the background part of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in the original look at the same brightness. The fact that the latent image portion and the background portion have substantially the same brightness in the original means that the latent image on the original cannot be seen at first glance.
JP 2001-197297 A JP 2005-091730 A

  As in Patent Document 2, the tint block image is generated by adjusting the density so that the brightness of the latent image portion and the brightness of the background portion are substantially the same. At this time, density adjustment is performed for each color such that if the tint block color is cyan, density adjustment for cyan is performed, and if the tint block color is black, density adjustment for black is performed.

  In this way, the tint block image is subjected to density adjustment for each color. However, when black and white printing is performed on a tint pattern image of color (for example, cyan single color, magenta single color, yellow single color), density adjustment for each color means Will not be done.

  For example, if a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image whose density has been adjusted on the assumption that an image is formed with a cyan color material is certainly formed with a cyan color material, the brightness of the latent image portion and the background portion are almost the same. Become. However, when this cyan tint block image is printed in black and white, an image is formed with a black color material, which may cause a difference in brightness between the latent image portion and the background portion.

  That is, if the user instructs monochrome printing for a color tint block image, if the pixel value of the color tint block image is simply replaced with a monochrome pixel value, the latent image portion and the background portion There is a problem that a difference occurs in the brightness of the image (the latent image can be visually recognized on the original).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by having the following configuration. That is, a first determination unit that determines whether the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, a second determination unit that determines whether the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color, and the first When the determination unit 1 determines that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting and the second determination unit determines that the color of the tint block image is chromatic, the print output of the tint block image In the case where the first determination unit does not determine that the print output setting is the monochrome print output setting, or the second determination unit determines that the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color. And a print control means for controlling to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when it is not determined.

  According to the present invention, when monochrome printing is instructed for a color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, it is possible to prevent or warn that a black-and-white copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having a difference in brightness between the latent image portion and the background portion is output. Can do.

Example 1
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  In the embodiment described below, an area to be visualized on a copy obtained by copying a printed output having a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is referred to as a latent image portion or a foreground portion. An area that disappears on the copy or has a lower density than the density of the latent image portion on the copy is referred to as a background portion. Then, description will be made assuming that text information and image information are input as a latent image portion and these text information and image information are reproduced on a copy so that they can be recognized at a higher density than the background portion.

  However, the background pattern image in the present invention is not limited to this. For example, text information or image information is set as a background portion, and an area around the background portion is set as a latent image portion, so that text information and image information are expressed as white on a copy. It may be a form.

  Further, the present invention is not defined by the type of tint block image, its generation process, color, shape, size, or the like.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 200 includes a scanner unit 2070 that is an image input device, a printer unit 2095 that is an image output device, a controller unit 2000, and an operation unit 2062 that is a user interface. The scanner unit 2070, the printer unit 2095, and the operation unit 2062 are connected to a controller unit 2000, respectively. The controller unit 2000 is connected to a network transmission means such as a LAN 2063 and a public line. Transmission by G3 and G4 fax including color image transmission is possible from the public line. Further, other image forming apparatuses 220 and 230 having the same device configuration as the image forming apparatus 200 can be connected to the LAN 2063. Further, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 240 is connected, and can send and receive files and e-mails using FTP and SMB protocols. The image forming apparatuses 220 and 230 have scanner units 2270 and 2370, printer units 2295 and 2395, and operation units 2212 and 2312, which are connected to the controller unit 2200 and 2300, respectively.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming apparatus. A controller unit (controller) 2000 is connected to a color scanner 2015 as an image input device and a color printer 2017 as an image output device. On the other hand, image information and device information are input / output by connecting to a LAN 2008 or a public line (WAN) 2051. A CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 2001, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data. A ROM 2003 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. An HDD 2004 is a hard disk drive that stores system software and image data. An operation unit I / F 2005 is an operation unit (UI) 2006 and an interface unit, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 2006 to the operation unit 2006. Also, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the system user from the operation unit 2006 to the CPU 2001. A network 2007 is connected to the LAN 2008 and inputs / outputs information. A Modem 2050 is connected to the public line 2051 and inputs / outputs image information. Binary image rotation 2052 and binary image compression / decompression 2053 are for converting the direction of an image before transmitting a binary image by Modem 2053, or converting it to a predetermined resolution or a resolution adapted to the partner's ability. It is. Compression and decompression support JBIG, MMR, MR, and MH. A DMAC 2009 is a DMA controller that reads an image stored in the RAM 2002 without using the CPU 2001 and transfers the image to the ImageBus I / F 2011. Also, the image from the image bus is written into the RAM 2002 without going through the CPU 2001. The above devices are connected to the system bus 2008. An ImageBus 2011 is an interface for controlling high-speed image input / output via the image bus 2010. A compressor 2012 is a compressor for JPEG compression in units of 32 pixels × 32 pixels before sending an image to the image bus 2010. A decompressor 2013 is a decompressor for decompressing an image sent via the image bus 2010.

  The raster image processor (RIP) 2018 receives the PDL code from the host PC via the network 2007, and the CPU 2001 stores it in the RAM 2002 through the system bus 2008. The CPU 2001 converts the PDL into an intermediate code, inputs it again to the RIP 2018 via the system bus 2008, and develops it into a bitmap image (multi-value). At this time, the RIP 2008 also develops an image area flag corresponding to the attribute for each pixel of the bitmap image, similarly to the scanner image processing 2014 described later. The attribute for each pixel is described in the PDL code, and thereby, for example, an attribute such as whether the pixel is a character or a non-character is determined and developed as an image area flag in the same manner as a bitmap image.

  The scanner image processing 2014 performs various appropriate image processing (for example, correction, processing, editing) on the color image and the black and white image from the scanner 2015 and outputs (multi-value). Similarly, the printer image processing 2016 performs binary multi-value conversion by decompression 2013 at the time of printing for performing various kinds of image processing (for example, correction, processing, and editing) appropriate for the printer 2017. Therefore, binary and multi-value output are performed. Is possible. The image conversion unit 2030 has various image conversion functions used when converting an image on the RAM and writing it back into the RAM 2002 again. A rotator 2019 can rotate an image of 32 pixels × 32 pixels unit at a specified angle, and supports binary and multi-value input / output. The magnification changer 2020 has a function (for example, from 25% to 400%) for converting the resolution of the image (for example, from 600 dpi to 200 dpi) and for changing the magnification. Before scaling, the image of 32 × 32 pixels is rearranged into an image in units of 32 lines. The color space conversion 2021 converts, for example, a YUV image on the memory into a Lab image by matrix calculation and LUT, and stores the image on the multi-valued input on the memory. Further, this color space conversion has a 3 × 8 matrix operation and a one-dimensional LUT, and can perform well-known background removal and show-through prevention. The converted image is output in multiple values. A binary multi-value conversion 2022 converts a 1-bit binary image into a multi-value 8-bit, 256 gradation. On the other hand, the multi-value / binary conversion 2025 converts, for example, an 8-bit, 256-gradation image on the memory into 1-bit, 2-gradation by a technique such as error diffusion processing, and stores it on the memory. The composition 2023 has a function of synthesizing two multi-valued image images (or binary images) on the memory into one multi-valued image (or binary image). For example, a company logo can be easily attached to a document image by combining the image of the company logo in the memory with the document image. The method of synthesis is averaged for each pixel, the value of the brighter pixel at the luminance level is the value of the pixel after synthesis, the darker is the pixel after synthesis, logical OR operation, logical product operation for each bit, A known technique such as performing an exclusive OR operation is used. The thinning filter 2024 performs resolution conversion for outputting 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 multivalued images by thinning out pixels of the multivalued image. In addition, edge enhancement or smoothing can be performed by a known filtering process such as using 9 × 9. By using the thinning filter 2024 together with the variable magnification 2020, a wider range of enlargement / reduction can be performed. The movement 2025 can be output by adding a margin portion to the input binary image or multi-valued image or deleting the margin portion. The rotation 2019, scaling 2020, color space conversion 2021, binary multi-value 2022, composition 2023, thinning filter 2024, movement 2025, and multi-value binary 2026 can be connected and operated. For example, when image rotation and resolution conversion are performed on a multi-valued image on a memory, both processes can be performed continuously without using a memory.

  FIG. 14 shows an image format. The image format used in the present invention uses the image packet structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-103473. In compression 2012, raster format images are rearranged as packets of 32 × 32 pixel units as shown in FIG. 14, and JPEG compression is performed in packet units. At the same time, information such as an ID indicating the position of the packet, a color space, a Q table ID, and a data length is added to the packet to form a header. Binary data (image area flag) indicating characters and photographs is similarly compressed and attached after JPEG. FIG. 15 shows packet data. In decompression 2013, JPEG is developed based on the header information and rearranged into a raster image. By making such a packet image, only the image inside the packet is rotated at the time of image rotation, and by changing the position of the packet ID, it can be partially rotated by decompression and compression, so it is very efficient. . All images flowing through ImageBus 2010 are packet images.

  When a raster image is necessary for FAX transmission, binary image rotation 2052, binary image compression, expansion 2053, or the like, conversion from a packet image to a raster image is performed by software.

  FIG. 16 shows a detailed description of the scanner image processing 2014. The RGB 8-bit luminance signal input from the scanner is converted into a standard RGB color signal independent of the filter color of the CCD by masking 2501. In the filter 2502, for example, a 9 × 9 matrix is used, and an image is blurred or sharpened. A histogram 2503 is a processing unit that samples image signal data in an input image, and is used to determine the background level of the input image. In this module, RGB data in a rectangular area surrounded by the specified start and end points in the main and sub-scan directions is sampled at a constant pitch in the main and sub-scan directions, and a histogram is created. . This histogram is read when background skipping or prevention of show-through is specified, and the background of the original is estimated from the histogram, and is stored and managed in the memory or HDD along with the image as the background skipping level. Used for image processing. In gamma 2504, processing is performed so that the density of the entire image is increased or decreased. For example, it is a part that converts the color space of the input image into an arbitrary color space or performs correction processing relating to the color of the input system. In order to determine whether the document is color or black and white, the image signal before scaling is converted into a known Lab by color space conversion 2505. Of these, a and b represent color signal components. If the level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level in the comparator 2506, a 1-bit chromatic / achromatic color determination signal is output from the comparator 2506 as a chromatic color. Output. A counter 2507 measures the output from the comparator. The chromatic / achromatic signal is stored as an image area flag in the memory or HD together with the image, and is used for the image conversion unit 2030 or image processing at the time of printing. Character / photo determination is a function that extracts a character edge from an image and separates the image into characters and a photo. As an output, a character photograph determination signal is obtained. This signal is also used as an image area flag. Reference numeral 2509 denotes a specific document determination device. The specific document determination unit can compare the input image signal and the degree to which the pattern held in the determination unit matches, and can read the determination result of matching or mismatching as illustrated. The image is processed according to the determination result to prevent counterfeiting of banknotes and securities.

  FIG. 17 shows a detailed description of the printer image processing 2016.

  In 2601, the background color of the image data is skipped and unnecessary background fogging is removed. For example, the background removal is performed by a 3 × 8 matrix operation or a one-dimensional LUT. This is a function included in 2032 as described above, and is a completely equivalent circuit. Reference numeral 2602 denotes a monochrome generation unit that converts color image data, for example, RGB data into Gray single color when converting color image data into monochrome data and printing it as a single color. For example, it is composed of a 1 × 3 matrix operation that multiplies RGB by an arbitrary constant to obtain a Gray signal. An output color correction unit 2603 performs color correction in accordance with the characteristics of the printer unit that outputs image data. For example, it includes processing by 4 × 8 matrix calculation or direct mapping. A filter processing unit 2604 arbitrarily corrects the spatial frequency of the image data, and includes, for example, processing for performing a 9 × 9 matrix operation. Reference numeral 2605 denotes a process for performing gamma correction in accordance with the characteristics of the printer unit to be output, and is usually composed of a one-dimensional LUT. A processing unit 2606 performs arbitrary halftone processing in accordance with the number of gradations of the output printer unit, and is a halftone processing unit that performs arbitrary screen processing such as binarization and binarization and error diffusion processing. is there. Each process can be switched by a character / photo determination signal (not shown). The inter-drum delay memory 2607 is a memory for superimposing CMYK images by shifting the CMYK printing timing by an amount between the drums in a color printer having CMYK drums. In a color printer having four drums for each color of CMYK, it can be delayed to align the position of the image.

  An image input / output device is shown in FIG. The scanner unit 2015, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper serving as a document and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown), thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The user of the original paper apparatus sets the original paper on the tray 2702 of the original feeder 2701. The controller CPU 2001 gives an instruction to the scanner 2015 when the apparatus user issues a reading start instruction from the operation unit 2006. Then, original sheets are fed one by one from the tray 2702 of the feeder 2071, and an original image reading operation is performed.

  The printer unit 2017 that is an image output device is a part that converts raster image data into an image on paper. The method includes an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an ink jet method in which ink is ejected from a micro nozzle array and an image is directly printed on a sheet, and any method may be used. Activation of the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller CPU 2001. The printer unit 2095 has a plurality of paper feed stages so that different paper sizes or different paper orientations can be selected, and there are paper cassettes 2703, 2704, and 2705 corresponding thereto. A paper discharge tray 2706 is a paper discharge tray for receiving the printed paper.

  The configuration of the operation unit 2006 is shown in FIG. The LCD display unit 2801 has a touch panel sheet 2802 pasted on the LCD, displays a system operation screen and soft keys, and transmits the position information to the controller CPU 2001 when the displayed keys are pressed. A start key 2014 is used to start a document image reading operation. There is a green and red two-color LED 2804 in the center of the start key 2803, and indicates whether or not the start key 2803 can be used depending on the color. A stop key 2805 functions to stop an operation in operation. An ID key 2806 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. A reset key 2807 is used when initializing settings from the operation unit.

  FIG. 20 shows an example of the display screen of the operation unit of the present embodiment. 3101 performs screen switching for performing copy settings. 3102 performs screen switching for setting to send the scanned image by fax or electronic mail. A screen 3103 stores a scan image and a PDL image in the built-in HDD, or performs screen switching for setting the print, transmission, or editing of the stored scan image and PDL image.

  FIG. 20 shows a screen when the transmission tab 3102 is pressed. Reference numeral 3104 denotes a window for displaying settings at the time of image reading set in 3105. In 3105, resolution, density, and the like at the time of image reading are set. Reference numeral 3106 denotes a timer setting at the time of timer transmission and a setting for printing on the HDD or printer. 3107 displays the transmission destination designated by 3108. 3109 displays detailed information of one destination displayed in 3107. 3110 deletes one destination displayed in 3107.

  FIG. 21 is a pop-up window displayed when 3105 is pressed. In 3201, the read original size is selected and input from the pop-up, and the set read size is displayed in 3202. Reference numeral 3203 denotes a selection of a document reading mode. When pressed, three types of color / black / automatic (ACS) can be selected. The color mode can be selected in the same way for copy and box. If the measurement result of the counter 2507 is smaller than a predetermined value, it is determined as a black and white document, and if it is larger, it is determined as a color document. If it is color, a color image is displayed, if it is black, a monochrome image is displayed. Accumulate the result of determining whether it is color or black and white. 3204 is a selection input from a pop-up in order to specify the resolution of reading. Reference numeral 3205 denotes a slider for adjusting the reading density of the original, and can be adjusted in nine steps. 3206 is for automatically determining the density when reading an image with a background such as a newspaper. For 3206, the same setting can be made by copying.

  FIG. 22 shows a screen when the copy tab 3101 is pressed. Reference numeral 3301 denotes whether or not copying is possible, and the number of copies set at the same time is also displayed. A function 3302 is equivalent to the function 3206, and is a button for selecting whether to automatically remove the background. Reference numeral 3303 denotes a slider having a function equivalent to that of 3205 and capable of nine levels of density adjustment. In 3304, the type of the original is selected, and a character / photo / map, text, a photographic paper photo, and a printed photo can be selected. Reference numeral 3305 denotes an application mode button which can set a reduced layout (a function for reducing and printing a plurality of originals on one sheet), a color balance (CMYK color fine adjustment), and the like. Reference numeral 3306 denotes a button for performing settings relating to various finishings, and shift sort, staple sort, and group sort can be set. Reference numeral 3307 denotes a button for performing settings relating to duplex reading and duplex printing.

  FIG. 23 shows a screen when the box tab 3103 is pressed. Reference numeral 3401 denotes each folder logically divided into HDDs. Folder numbers are assigned to the folders in advance, and 3401 becomes the 0th folder. Next to the folder number, the percentage of disk space used by the folder is displayed. Folders can be given any name, and the name is displayed here. 3402 displays the usage amount of the entire HDD.

  FIG. 24 shows a screen when 3401 is pressed. Reference numerals 3501 and 3502 denote documents stored in folders. A document is composed of a plurality of pages. Reference numeral 3501 denotes a scanned document, which displays an icon display indicating a scanned document, an HDD usage amount, and a document name display that can be arbitrarily set by the user. An icon 3502 is a PDL document stored from the PDL. By depressing the icon, it is shown in reverse video that the document has been selected. Reference numeral 3503 denotes a button for transmitting the selected document. Reference numeral 3504 denotes a button for reading a document from the scanner and generating a document. Reference numeral 3505 denotes a button for selecting all the documents in the folder. Reference numeral 3506 denotes a button for deleting the selected document. Reference numeral 3507 denotes a button for printing the selected document. Reference numeral 3508 denotes a button for operating the page of the selected document. It has a function to delete all pages of a document or individually selected pages. Reference numeral 3509 denotes a button for combining and saving selected documents. For example, two documents can be selected and combined, and saved as one document. Reference numeral 3510 denotes a button for moving / duplicating a document. Move or copy the selected document to a box other than the box that contains the document. Reference numeral 3512 denotes a button for displaying detailed information of the last selected document. In addition to the document name, information such as resolution, document size, and color can be viewed. Reference numeral 3511 denotes a button for closing the screen shown in FIG. 24, and the display screen is the screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 25 shows a pop-up window when 3507 is pressed. Reference numeral 3601 designates the number of output copies. Reference numeral 3602 designates a print color at the time of output. When pressed, either auto or black can be selected. When automatic is selected, printing is performed in a mode that conforms to the color mode specified at the time of saving. In other words, if the document is color-specified at the time of saving, the document is printed in color, and if the document is specified in black-and-white, it is printed in black and white. On the other hand, when black is selected, black and white are printed regardless of the designation at the time of document storage. Black and white color images are realized by making appropriate settings in the printer image processing 2016 described above. Reference numeral 3603 denotes a slider for adjusting the print density at the time of output, and nine stages of adjustment can be performed. By pressing 3604, the start of printing is instructed.

  FIG. 26 shows a software configuration diagram. A UI control unit 4010 controls the display operation unit, and receives instructions from the UI control unit. Further, there are a copy application unit 4020, a transmission application unit 4021, and a BOX application unit 4022, which execute a copy operation, a transmission operation, scanning from a box screen, and printing. There is also a PDL application unit 4023 that receives PDL print data from the network application 4120 and inputs a PDL print job. Reference numeral 4030 denotes a common interface part for absorbing a device-dependent part of the device control part, and 4040 denotes a job manager that organizes job information received from the common interface and transmits the job information to a lower-level document processing unit. If the document processing unit is a local copy, a scan manager 4050 and a print manager 4090 are used. If it is a remote copy transmission job or a transmission job, a scan manager 4050 and a file store manager 4100 are used. If the received job is a remote copy job, a file read manager 4060 and a print manager 4090 are used. In PDL printing such as LIPS and PostScript, a PDL manager 4070 and a print manager 4090 are used. An image processing request to the image manager 4110 that performs synchronization between the document managers and performs various image processing is performed via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 performs image processing and image file storage during scanning and printing.

  First, local copy software processing will be described with reference to a copy flowchart shown in FIG. A copy setting is transmitted from the UI control unit 4010 together with a copy instruction to the copy application unit 4020 in accordance with a user instruction (S4202). The copy application unit 4020 transmits information from the UI control unit 4010 to the job manager 4040 that performs device control via the common interface 4030. The job manager 4040 transmits job information to the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090. The scan manager 4050 issues a scan request to the scanner 2070 via a device I / F (not shown) (the device I / F is a serial I / F connecting the controller 2000 and the scanner 2015 and the controller 2000 and the printer 2017). At the same time, an image processing request for scanning is issued to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 sets the scanner image processing unit 2014 according to the instruction of the scan manager 4050 (S4203). When the setting is completed, a scan preparation completion is notified via the sync manager 4080. Thereafter, the scan manager 4050 instructs the scanner 2070 to scan (S4204). The completion of scan image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receiving the scan completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the scan manager 4050 and the print manager 4090 of the scan completion. At the same time, the sync manager 4080 instructs the image manager 4110 to file the compressed image stored in the RAM 2002 into the HDD 2004. The image manager 4110 stores the image (including the character / photo determination signal) on the memory in the HDD 2004 according to the instruction. At this time, if necessary, image conversion is performed using the image conversion unit 2030 according to the copy setting (S4205), and the image on the memory is stored in the HDD 2004 (S4206). A color determination / monochrome determination result, a background skip level for performing background skip, a scanned image, and a color space RGB as an image input source are also stored in an SRAM (not shown) as accompanying information of the image. When the storage in the HDD 2004 is completed and the scan completion from the scanner 2070 is received, the scan manager 4050 is notified of the completion of file formation via the sync manager 4080. The scan manager 4050 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns it to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The print manager 4090 issues a print request to the printer 2095 via the device I / F when an image is stored in the memory. At the same time, the print manager 4090 makes a print image processing request to the sync manager 4080. When this print image processing request is made, printer-side processing is started (print-side processing is shown in FIG. 34). Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 for image processing settings. The image manager 4110 sets the printer image processing unit 2015 according to the accompanying information of the image (S4802). Further, the image manager 4110 performs image conversion on the image on the memory (or the image read from the HDD 2004 (S4803)) (S4804). Further, the image manager 4110 notifies the print manager 4090 of the completion of print preparation via the sync manager 4080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer (S4805). The completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). In response to the print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the print manager 4090 of the print completion. The print manager 4090 receives the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit, returns an end notification to the job manager 4040, and the job manager 4040 returns it to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. The copy application unit 4020 notifies the UI control unit of the end of the job when scanning and printing are completed.

  In the case of a remote copy scan job and transmission job (the flowcharts of which are shown in FIGS. 29 and 35), the store manager 4100 receives a request from the job manager 4040 in place of the print manager 4090. When the scan image has been stored in the HDD (S4301 to S4306), the storage manager 4080 receives a storage completion notification. Then, it is notified via the common interface 4030 to the copy application unit 4020 if it is a remote copy, and to the transmission application unit 4021 if it is a transmission job. After this notification, the copy application unit 4020 and the transmission application 4021 request the network application 4420 to transmit the file stored in the HDD, and the transmission process is started (S4307). Upon receiving the request, the network application 4420 reads the file from the HDD (S4902), performs necessary image processing on the image to be transmitted (S4903), and transmits it (S4904). The network application 4420 receives setting information relating to copying from the copy application unit 4020 at the start of the job, and also notifies the remote device of the setting information (S4308). In the case of remote copy, the network application 4420 performs transmission using a device-specific communication protocol. In the case of a transmission job, a standard file transfer protocol such as FTP or SMB is used.

  In the case of fax transmission (the flowchart is shown in FIG. 30), after the file is stored, the transmission application 4021 instructs the FAX manager 4041 to transmit via the common interface 4030 and the job manager 4040. The FAX manager 4041 negotiates with the counterpart device via the Modem 2050 (S4402), and reads the file stored in the HDD into the memory (S4403). Then, the image manager 4110 is requested to perform necessary image processing (color-> black and white conversion, multi-value binary conversion, rotation, scaling) for the image (S4404), and the converted image is transmitted using Modem. (S4406).

  If there is a printer at the transmission destination, the transmission application issues a print instruction as a print job via the common interface 4000. The operation at that time is the same as that of the remote copy print job described below. When the transmission destination is a box destination in the device, the file store manager 4100 stores it in the file system in the device.

  At the time of FAX reception (the flowchart is shown in FIG. 31), the FAX manager receives an image using Modem (S4502), and stores it in the HDD 2004 as an image file (S4503). When the box application 4021 is notified after the HDD 2004 is stored, a reception print instruction is issued from the box application 4021 to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Thereafter, since the operation is the same as that of a normal box print job, the description is omitted (S4504).

  In a remote copy print job, the network application 4420 saves the image from the transmission side in the HDD 2004 (S4602 to S4603) and issues a job to the copy application unit 4020. In the box print job, an image is stored in the HDD 2004 in the device by the transmission job described above, and the job is issued to the box application 4022 according to an instruction from the UI control unit 4010. Upon receiving the job issuance instruction, the application unit inputs a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030 (S4604). Unlike local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. A request for expanding the received image from the HDD to the memory is sent to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The image manager 4110 expands the image in the memory. When the development is completed, the image manager 4110 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the completion of the development via the sync manager 4080. When an image is stored in the memory, the print manager 4090 selects a paper feed stage instructed by the job manager or a stage having the paper size via the device I / F, and issues a print request. In the case of automatic paper, the paper feed stage is determined from the image size and a print request is issued. At the same time, a print image processing request is sent to the sync manager 4080. Upon receiving a request from the print manager 4090, the sync manager 4080 requests the image manager 4110 to set print image processing. (At this time, for example, if the optimum size paper runs out and rotation is necessary, a rotation instruction is also requested. If there is a rotation instruction, the image manager uses the image rotation 2019 to rotate the image.) Image manager 4110 The printer image processing unit 2090 is set, and the print manager 4090 is notified of completion of print preparation via the sync manager 4080. The print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer. The completion of print image transfer is transmitted to the image manager 4110 by an interrupt signal from hardware (not shown). Upon receiving the print completion from the image manager 4110, the sync manager 4080 notifies the file read manager 4060 and the print manager 4090 of the print completion. The file read manager 4060 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. In response to the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit, the print manager 4090 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040. The job manager 4040 returns an end notification to the copy application unit 4020 via the common interface 4030. When printing is completed, the application unit notifies the UI control unit of the job end.

  In the case of a PDL data development storage job (the flowchart is shown in FIG. 33), a request from the host PC that has input the PDL print is transmitted to the PDL application 4023 via the network application 4120. The PDL application instructs the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030 for a PDL data development storage job. At this time, the PDL manager 4070 and the store manager 4100 receive a request from the job manager 4040. An image input portion after RIP (S4702) of the image is the same as the above scan job. The image on the memory (including the image area flag such as the character / photo determination signal) is stored in the HDD 2004 (S4703). Color / monochrome information is stored in an SRAM (not shown) as accompanying information of an image, and a PDL image, a color space CMYK or RGB is also stored as an image input source. When the storage of the PDL image in the HDD 2004 is completed, a storage completion notification is received from the sync manager 4080 and is notified to the PDL application 4023 via the common interface 4030. After this notification, the PDL application 4023 notifies the network application 4420 of completion of storage in the HDD, and this information is transmitted to the host PC that has entered the PDL print. In the case of a PDL print job, the image developed on the memory is printed by the PDL manager 4070 and the print manager (S4704).

  To print an image stored in the PDL format, a stored document instructed to be printed by the UI is issued as a print job to the BOX application. The BOX application unit 4022 inputs a print job to the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030. Unlike local copy, the file read manager 4060 receives a request from the job manager 4040 instead of the scan manager 4050. A request for expanding an image instructed to be printed from the HDD to the memory is made to the image manager 4110 via the sync manager 4080. The subsequent operation is the same as that described in the remote copy print job, and is therefore omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a logical usage method of the HDD 2004 in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the storage area of the image memory such as a hard disk is logically divided into a temporary area 501 and a box area 502 according to the usage. The temporary area 501 is a memory that temporarily stores PDL development data and image data from a scanner in order to change the output order of image data or to output a plurality of copies in a single scan. It is an area. The entire box area 502 is a storage area for using the box function, and is divided into a small number of registered storage areas like 503 to 507. For example, the box 503 corresponds to the box name “meeting material 1” indicated by 3401 of the box number 0 shown in FIG. The user can input a PDL job or a scan job in each box by designating the box, and can also view the inside of the box, change settings, or perform print output.

  FIG. 36 shows in detail the logical structure of an image stored in the HDD 2004. The box indicates a logical partition where a plurality of scanned documents and PDL documents can be stored together. There are two types of documents: scan and PDL. A document consists of a plurality of pages (image files). Each document has a document attribute, and stores a document name, an input source, a color space, and information on the presence / absence of a tint block. Each page also has a page attribute, and color attribute, page number, resolution, image size, document size, paper size, compression method, file format, and the like are stored as information. In this embodiment, “Gray” in the color space of the document attribute indicates a luminance level of 1 pixel 8 bits 1 plane, and “binary” indicates a density level (1 1 pixel 1 bit 1 plane). Is black and 0 is white).

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the PC 240 in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, a PC 240 includes a CPU 1 that controls execution of document processing and printing processing based on the document processing program stored in the ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11. The CPU 1 summarizes the control of each device connected to the system bus 4. The ROM 3 program ROM or the external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS) which is a control program for the CPU 1. The font ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores font data used for the document processing. Further, the data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores various data used when the document processing is performed. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 1.

  A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). A CRT controller (CRTC) 6 controls display on a CRT display (CRT) 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a disk controller (DKC). This 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) for storing each program. A network interface controller (NIC) 8 is connected to the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 and executes communication control processing.

  The CPU 1 opens various windows registered in advance based on commands instructed with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the CRT 10 and executes various data processing. When executing printing, the user can open a window related to print settings and set the print processing method for the printer driver, including printer settings and print mode selection.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration for print processing in the PC 240 shown in FIG. The application 201, graphic engine 202, printer driver 203, and system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external memory 11. These are program modules that are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS and modules that use the modules.

  Further, the application 201 and the printer driver 203 can be added to the HD of the external memory 11 via the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or the LAN 2063. The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed. When printing is performed from the application 201 to the image forming apparatus 200, output (rendering) is similarly performed using the graphic engine 202 loaded into the RAM 2 and executable.

  The graphic engine 202 loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each printing apparatus from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and sets the output of the application 201 in the printer driver 203. The graphic engine 202 converts a GDI (Graphic Device Interface) function received from the application 201 into a DDI (Device Driver Interface) function, and outputs the function to the printer driver 203. Based on the DDI function received from the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203 converts it into a control command that can be recognized by the printer, for example, a PDL (Page Description Language). The converted printer control command is output as print data to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS.

  The software configuration of the present embodiment includes a tint block processing unit 205 in the printer driver 203. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing unit 205 may be a built-in module of the printer driver 203, or a library module added by individual installation. In addition, the printer driver 203 performs processing such as drawing of a tint block image, which will be described later, by executing the tint block processing unit 205 regarding printing of the tint block image.

  Hereinafter, a method for forming an image with a tint block on the PC 240 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an initial screen of a user interface related to a tint block print arranged in the printer driver 203. In this example, a setting related to copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing can be performed on the property sheet 2101 in the dialog.

  Reference numeral 2102 denotes a check box for designating whether to perform copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing (printing including a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, hereinafter the same). The content specified in the check box 2102 is stored as additional print information that holds print setting information relating to print data (original data). Reference numeral 2103 denotes style information for making it possible to designate a plurality of pieces of setting information for a tint block print with one identifier (style). The printer driver 203 can select a plurality of styles, and the relationship between each style and predetermined information regarding the tint block print is registered in the registry. In addition, when a button 2104 is pressed, a style editing dialog 2201 shown in FIG. 4A is displayed.

  FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog for editing individual detailed settings of a tint block print.

  In the figure, reference numeral 2201 denotes the entire tint block information editing dialog, and the result of the tint block image generated by individual tint block information described later is displayed for preview in the same area. Reference numeral 2202 denotes an area for displaying a list of styles that can be selected in 2103 of FIG. Further, by using the buttons 2203 and 2204, the style can be newly added or deleted. Reference numeral 2205 denotes an area in which the currently designated style name is displayed.

  Reference numeral 2206 denotes a radio button for selecting the type of drawing object used for copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing. In 2206, when the user selects “character string”, the text object can be used. When the user selects “image”, image data represented by BMP or the like can be used. In FIG. 4A, since “character string” is selected, setting information related to text objects indicated by reference numerals 2207 to 2209 is displayed in the dialog 2201 and can be edited. On the other hand, when “image” is selected in the area 2206, the information 2207 to 2209 is not displayed, but instead, an image file name display 2215 and a file selection dialog (not shown) shown in FIG. 4B are displayed. Button 2216 is displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the types of drawing objects used for copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing performed by the PC 240 are “character string” and “image”, and either one is selected. However, the type of drawing object is not limited to this. Further, a plurality of types of drawing objects may be used at the same time.

  Reference numeral 2207 denotes an area for displaying and editing a character string used as a tint block image. Reference numeral 2208 denotes an area for displaying and editing font information of a character string. In the present embodiment, only the font name selection screen is used, but the typeface family information (bold, italic, etc.), decorative character information, etc. may be expanded to be selectable.

  An area 2209 displays and sets the font size of the character string used as the tint block pattern. In this embodiment, a format that can be designated in three stages of “large”, “medium”, and “small” is assumed, but a commonly used font size designation method such as direct input of the number of points may be adopted. .

  Reference numeral 2210 denotes a radio button for setting the printing order of the tint block pattern and the document data. When “watermark printing” is designated by this radio button, the original pattern data is drawn after the background pattern is drawn. On the other hand, when “overlapping printing” is designated, the background pattern is drawn after drawing the document data. The drawing procedure will be described later.

  Reference numeral 2211 denotes a radio button for designating the arrangement angle of the tint block pattern. In this embodiment, three types of selection, “upward to the right”, “downward to the right”, and “horizontal” are possible. However, the angle designation method may be expanded by providing a numerical value input area in which an angle can be arbitrarily designated, an intuitively designated slider bar, and the like.

  Reference numeral 2212 denotes an area for displaying and specifying a color used for the tint block pattern (foreground pattern, background pattern). Reference numeral 2213 denotes a check box for exchanging the foreground pattern and the background pattern. If the check box is not checked, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image that generates a foreground pattern on the copy is generated. That is, it indicates that the foreground pattern is set to be reproducible on the copy. On the other hand, if the check box 2213 is not checked, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated such that the background pattern is visualized on the copy. That is, it indicates that the background pattern is set to be reproducible on the copy. At this time, the text information and image information specified in the foreground pattern can be recognized on the copy in a whitened state.

  Reference numeral 2214 denotes an area for designating a camouflage image for making it difficult for the human eye to recognize that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to the printed output to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added. The camouflage image can be selected from a plurality of patterns. An option of not using camouflage images is also provided.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the flow of the drawing process in the tint block print. This flowchart shows the flow of drawing processing corresponding to “watermark printing” and “overlapping printing” described with reference to FIG. Further, these processes are performed in a printing process using a general printer driver. The following processing is performed by the CPU 1 that controls and executes printing processing. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are assigned to the steps for executing the same processing.

  First, the case of “watermark printing”, that is, the case of drawing a tint block pattern before drawing of document data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 1901, the CPU 1 draws a background pattern according to the detailed information on the background pattern set individually. The detailed process will be described later with reference to FIG. Next, the drawing process is performed on the document data. First, in step 1902, the CPU 1 initializes a counter that counts the number of logical pages per physical page (one side of printing paper).

  In step 1903, the CPU 1 determines whether the counter has reached a preset number of logical pages per physical page. If it is determined that the determination result is equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1908. If the determination result is not equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1904.

  Next, at step 1904, the CPU 1 increments the counter by one. In step 1905, the CPU 1 calculates an effective print area for a logical page to be drawn based on the number of logical pages per page and the counter value. Next, in step 1906, the CPU 1 reads the current logical page number from print setting information (not shown) regarding the physical page using the counter value as an index. Then, the CPU 1 draws the corresponding logical page in a reduced size so as to be within the effective print area. Of course, there is no need to reduce the size when multiple logical page layout printing is not designated.

  The above is the procedure of the drawing process related to “watermark printing”.

  Next, “overlapping printing”, that is, a case of drawing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern after drawing document data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step 1902, the CPU 1 initializes a counter that counts the number of logical pages per physical page (one side of the printing paper).

  In step 1903, the CPU 1 determines whether the counter has reached a preset number of logical pages per physical page. If the determination result is equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1908. If the determination result is not equal to the number of logical pages, the process proceeds to step 1904.

  Next, at step 1904, the CPU 1 increments the counter by one. In step 1905, the CPU 1 calculates an effective print area for a logical page to be drawn based on the number of logical pages per page and the counter value. Next, in step 1906, the CPU 1 reads the current logical page number from print setting information (not shown) regarding the physical page using the counter value as an index. Then, the CPU 1 draws the corresponding logical page in a reduced size so as to be within the effective print area. Of course, there is no need for reduction when multiple logical page layout printing is not designated.

  When the development of a predetermined number of logical pages as one physical page is completed, the process proceeds to step 1908. In step 1908, the CPU 1 draws a background pattern according to the detailed information on the background pattern set for each effective print area of the physical page acquired from the application.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the tint block pattern drawing process of S1901 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the tint block pattern drawing process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, a tint block pattern drawing process is started in step S2701 via a user interface or the like. Next, in step S2702, the CPU 1 acquires various types of information necessary for drawing a tint block pattern, such as an input background image, a background threshold pattern, a foreground threshold pattern, a foreground / background area designation image, and a camouflage area designation image. In step S2703, the CPU 1 determines an initial pixel for generating a tint block pattern image. For example, when a tint block image is arranged by performing image processing on the entire input image from the upper left to the lower right in the raster scan order, the upper left pixel is set as the initial pixel.

  In step S2704, the CPU 1 arranges the background threshold pattern, the foreground threshold pattern, the foreground / background region designation image, and the camouflage image on the tile from the initial pixel of the input background image. And CPU1 performs the calculation based on the following formula | equation (1) with respect to the pixel of the input background image used as a process target. From the calculation result, the CPU 1 determines whether or not to write the pixel value corresponding to the dot at the time of printing in the memory area. The pixel value at this time corresponds to the input color information.

Here, the background threshold pattern and the foreground threshold pattern are pattern data composed of “1” and “0” corresponding to writing / non-writing of dots. These pattern data are data patterned by respective dither matrices suitable for creating a foreground (latent image) and a background image.
(Equation 1)
nWriteDotOn = nCamouflage ×
(NSmallDotOn × nHiddenMark + nLargeDotOn × nHiddenMark) Formula (1)

The definition of the components of this formula is shown below.
nComouflage: 0 if the target pixel is a pixel in the camouflage area in the camouflage area designation image, 1 otherwise.
nSmallDotOn: 1 if the pixel value of the background threshold pattern is black, 0 if it is white (color is not limited to this)
nLargeDotOn: 1 if the pixel value of the foreground threshold pattern is black, 0 if it is white (color is not limited to this)
NHiddenMark: 1 in the foreground / background area designation image, if the target pixel is a pixel corresponding to the latent image portion, 0 if the target pixel is a pixel corresponding to the background portion.
nHiddenMark: Denial of nHiddenMark. 0 in the foreground part and 1 in the background part.

  Note that it is not necessary to calculate using all the elements of Expression (1) for each processing target pixel. The processing can be speeded up by eliminating unnecessary calculations.

  For example, if nHiddenMark = 1, nHiddenMark = 0, and if nHiddenMark = 0, nHiddenMark = 1. Therefore, if nHiddenMark = 1, the value of the following equation (2) may be the value of nLargeDotOn, and if nHiddenMark = 0, the value of equation (2) may be the value of nSmallDotOn.

Further, the value of nCamouflage is an integration over the whole as shown in Expression (1). Therefore, if nCamouflage = 0, nWriteDotOn = 0. Therefore, when nCamouflage = 0, the calculation of the following formula (2) can be omitted.
(Equation 2)
(NSmallDotOn × nHiddenMark + nLargeDotOn × nHiddenMark) Formula (2)

  An image having a size composed of the least common multiple of the vertical and horizontal lengths of the background threshold pattern, the foreground threshold pattern, the foreground / background region designation image, and the camouflage region designation image is the minimum unit of repetition. For this reason, the tint block pattern drawing unit generates only a part of the tint block image, which is the minimum repeating unit, and repeatedly arranges it in a tile shape so as to have the size of the image to generate a part of the tint block image. As a result, the processing time required to generate the tint block image can be reduced.

  Next, in step S2705, the CPU 1 determines the calculation result (value of nWriteDotOn) in step S2704. That is, if nWriteDotOn = 1, the process proceeds to step S2706, and if nWriteDotOn = 0, the process proceeds to step S2707.

In step S2706, the CPU 1 performs a process of setting a pixel value corresponding to a dot at the time of printing. Here, the pixel value can be changed depending on the color of the tint block image. When it is desired to create a black background pattern, the processing target pixel of the background pattern image is set to black. In addition, a color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be created by setting cyan, magenta, and yellow according to the color of toner or ink of the printer. Furthermore, when the image is image data of 1 to several bits per pixel, the pixel value can be expressed using the index color. The index color is a method for expressing image data. Specifically, color information that frequently appears in the target color image is set as a table of contents (for example, index 0 is white, index 1 is cyan, etc.), and the value of each pixel is a table of contents describing the color information. It is expressed by a number. (For example, the first pixel value is expressed as index 1, the second pixel value is expressed as index 2, and so on.)
In step S2707, processing for setting an image area flag corresponding to the dot is also performed. Here, it is assumed that the image area flag is forcibly set to a character when it is a dot in the foreground portion of the tint block and to a photograph when it is a dot in the background portion of the tint block.

  In step S2707, the CPU 1 determines whether all the pixels in the processing target area have been processed. If all the pixels in the processing target area have not been processed, the process proceeds to step S2708, an unprocessed pixel is selected, and the processes in steps S2704 to S2706 are executed again. If processing for all the pixels in the processing target area is completed, the process advances to step S2709.

  A tint block image can be generated by the above processing. Note that this processing may cause a disadvantage that the effect of the forgery-preventing copy-forgery-inhibiting pattern is reduced due to the formation of dots in the foreground / background switching portion in the foreground / background region designation image, and the outline of the foreground being conspicuous. Therefore, a process (boundary process) for preventing dot clumps from occurring in the foreground / background switching portion in the foreground / background area designation image may also be performed. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a generation example of a tint block image that has been subjected to the boundary processing.

  Again referring to FIG. A tint block pattern image is generated by the above processing. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation processing is common to step S1901 in FIG. 6 and step S1908 in FIG. 7, but the generated method for drawing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and document data is different.

  In the process of step S1901 in FIG. 6, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is the background, the watermark drawing process of step S2710 is executed. In step S2710, processing is performed for rendering characters or the like created by application software after rendering the tint block image (normal data after rendering the tint block image). That is, no special processing is performed for drawing a tint block image.

  On the other hand, in the process of step S1908 in FIG. 7, since the tint block pattern is drawn with the already drawn normal data as a background, the overlay drawing process of step S2711 is executed. In this case, since the tint block pattern is drawn on a character or the like created by application software, if the tint block pattern is simply drawn, the background is overwritten and cannot be seen. Therefore, it is avoided to completely overwrite by using logical drawing such as AND or OR. For example, when the underlying pixel is white (that is, the pixel value is zero), logical drawing such as drawing a pixel of the tint block pattern corresponding to the pixel is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S2712, and the drawing of the tint block image is finished.

  Hereinafter, characteristic control in the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Note that each process in the flowchart of FIG. 37 is comprehensively controlled by a CPU 2001 in a controller (image processing unit) in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  FIG. 37 shows a print permission determination process performed when 3604 in FIG. 25 is pressed, that is, when a print instruction for a document in the box is issued.

  When printing of the document in the box is instructed according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 23, 24, and 25 (S7000), the color mode instructed by the user in 3602 in FIG. 21 is first determined (S7001). This color mode is normally performed for a document image to be printed out. However, when the original image is set to be combined with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, this color mode can be regarded as being performed (set) on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

  As a result of the determination, if the color mode (print output setting) is automatic setting or color setting, printing is permitted (S7006). As a result of the determination, if the instructed color mode is black and white, the attribute of the color space of the document is determined (S7003).

  As a result of the determination, if the attribute of the color space is not color (for example, if it is Gray or binary), control information for performing printing is generated (print permission... S7006). On the other hand, if the attribute of the color space is color as a result of the determination, the attribute of the background pattern of the document is determined (S7004). That is, it is determined whether or not any of the following conditions is satisfied (when any of the following conditions is satisfied, the attribute of the background pattern is determined to be “with background pattern”): ) The following conditions are set such that the document is a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image itself, a condition that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is a synthesized image, and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be synthesized before image formation. It is a condition that the image is.

  As a result of the determination, if the attribute of the background pattern of the document is “no background pattern”, printing is permitted (S7006). If the result of the determination is that the attribute of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is “with copy-forgery-inhibited pattern”, control information that does not print the document (and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image) is generated, and a warning shown in FIG. The display pops up. That is, the printing of the document is prohibited, and a message to that effect is displayed. Thus, the print permission determination process that is performed when an instruction to print the document in the box is issued (S7007).

  When the above-described print permission determination process is completed and the print permission is obtained (S7006), that is, when the control information for performing the print output is generated, the print output is performed.

  With this control, when a monochrome print output setting is instructed for a color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (or for an original image to be combined with the color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image), the brightness of the latent image portion and the background portion is adjusted. It is possible to prevent the black and white copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having a difference from being printed out. More specifically, when a color tint block image is stored in the HDD (or when it is combined with a color tint block image, or when it is set to be combined with a color tint block image. In other words, even if monochrome printing is instructed for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, it is possible to prevent a monochrome copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having a difference in brightness between the latent image portion and the background portion from being output.

(Other examples)
In the first embodiment, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is a color (chromatic color) and monochrome print setting is instructed, the print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is prohibited in step 7005 and this is displayed on the display screen.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is color and monochrome printing is instructed, first, in step 7005, a warning display shown in FIG. FIG. 39 shows an area 38001 that warns that a black and white copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having a difference in brightness between the latent image portion and the background portion will be output, a black and white print button 38002, a stop button 38003, and color printing. There is a button 38004. That is, the user is inquired about whether to perform black and white printing, cancel, or color printing.

  In step 7005, after the warning is displayed, it is determined whether or not to permit printing based on a user instruction made in response to the inquiry. That is, when the print button 38002 is pressed, the color copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is converted into black and white and then printed out. Also, when a color print button 38004 is pressed, control is performed so that a color tint block image is printed and output in color. Further, when a cancel button 38003 is pressed, control is performed so as not to print out the tint block image.

  Although the embodiment has been described by taking the case of document printing in a box as an example, the present invention is not limited to the case of document printing in a box. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a tint block image color setting is performed on a host computer using a printer driver screen as shown in FIG. 4 and a grayscale printing setting is performed on a known driver screen. Note that the grayscale print setting is a setting for converting all data to be printed into achromatic colors regardless of whether they are chromatic colors or not.

  Further, in the present invention, the description has been given on the assumption that a print output apparatus (also referred to as an image forming apparatus) having a box can perform chromatic color printing. However, the present invention can also be applied to a print output apparatus that cannot perform chromatic color printing (only monochrome printing). In this case, the processing in step 7002 in FIG. 37 is unnecessary. This is because the print output apparatus can always print only in black and white, so the determination in step 7002 is not performed and the process proceeds to step 7003.

  Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc.) consisting of a single device even if it is applied to a system consisting of a plurality of devices (eg, computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). May be.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by the CPU reading and executing the program code from the storage medium storing the program code for realizing the procedure of the flowchart shown in the above-described embodiment.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  In addition, the functions of the above-described embodiments are not only realized by executing the program code read by the computer. That is, based on the instruction of the program code, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, the following cases are also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Then, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing. And the case where the function of embodiment mentioned above is implement | achieved by the process is also included in this invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows one structure for the printing process in the computer 3000 The figure which shows an example of the initial screen of the user interface regarding a tint block print The figure which shows an example of the dialog for editing each detailed setting of a tint block print Diagram showing logical usage of HDD Flowchart showing the flow of drawing processing in watermark printing Flow chart showing the flow of drawing processing in overprinting Flow chart showing details of tint block pattern drawing process The figure which shows the example of the generation | occurrence | production of the tint block image which performed even the boundary process The figure which shows the state of the dot in a tint block image The figure which shows the state where a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image becomes visible at the time of copying Diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming system The figure which shows the whole structure of an image forming apparatus Relationship between packet image and whole image Diagram showing structure of packet image Block diagram of scanner image processing of the present invention Block diagram of printer image processing of the present invention External view of input / output device of image forming apparatus External view of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus Explanatory drawing of the transmission screen of the operation part of this invention Detailed explanatory diagram of the transmission screen of the operation unit of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the copy screen of the operation unit of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the box screen of the operation unit of the present invention Detailed explanatory diagram of the box screen of the operation unit of the present invention Detailed explanatory diagram of box printing screen of operation unit of the present invention Software configuration diagram showing the software configuration of the present invention The figure explaining the embossing / whitening of the tint block of the present invention Flowchart for local copy of the present invention Flowchart for remote copy scan job and transmission job of the present invention Flowchart for fax transmission of the present invention Flowchart for fax reception of the present invention Flowchart for a remote copy print job of the present invention Flowchart for PDL data development and storage job of the present invention Flowchart for print processing of the present invention Flowchart for transmission processing of the present invention Logical structure diagram of the image stored in the box Flowchart for explaining color mode change instruction permission / denial processing at the time of printing according to the present invention Figure showing the color mode change printing prohibition warning screen Figure showing the color mode change warning screen

Claims (12)

First determination means for determining whether the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting;
Second determination means for determining whether the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color;
When the first determination unit determines that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, and the second determination unit determines that the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color, Control not to print,
When the first determination unit does not determine that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, or when the second determination unit does not determine that the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color, A print output apparatus comprising: a print control unit that controls to perform print output of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The second determination means includes
When the first determination means determines that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, determines whether the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color;
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the first determination unit does not determine that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, it does not determine whether the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color. The print output device described. The print control means, when controlling to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, combines the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the document image, and controls to print out the combined image after the composition;
The print output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print output setting is a print output setting made by a user for the document image. The print control means includes
When the first determination unit determines that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, and the second determination unit determines that the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color, Inquiry means for inquiring the user whether or not to perform print output;
Third determination means for determining whether or not to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on an instruction from the user in response to the inquiry in the inquiry means;
When it is determined by the third determination means to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, control is performed to perform print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image
And a second print control unit configured to perform control so that printing of the tint block image is not performed when the third determination unit determines that printing of the tint block image is not performed. Item 4. The print output device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The inquiry means inquires of the user whether to perform print output of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in black and white, non-black and white,
The third determination unit determines whether to perform print output of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in monochrome, non-monochrome, or not based on an instruction from the user in response to the inquiry in the inquiry unit;
The second print control means includes:
When the third determining means determines that the printout of the tint block image is to be performed in black and white, the control is performed so that the printout of the tint block image is performed in black and white;
When it is determined by the third determination means that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is printed out in black and white, the print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is controlled based on the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
5. The print output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the third determination unit determines not to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the print-out apparatus performs control so that the print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not performed. A first determination step of determining whether the print output setting is a black and white print output setting;
A second determination step of determining whether or not the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color;
If it is determined in the first determination step that the print output setting is a black and white print output setting, and the second determination step determines that the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is chromatic, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image Control not to print,
When it is not determined that the print output setting is the black and white print output setting in the first determination step, or when the color of the tint block image is not determined to be a chromatic color in the second determination step, And a print control step for controlling to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The second determination step includes
If it is determined in the first determination step that the print output setting is a monochrome print output setting, it is determined whether the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color;
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein if the print output setting is not determined to be a monochrome print output setting in the first determination step, it is not determined whether or not the color of the tint block image is a chromatic color. A method for controlling the print output device according to claim. The print control step, when controlling to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, combines the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the document image, and controls to print out the combined image after the composition,
The method for controlling a print output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the print output setting is a print output setting made by a user for the document image. The printing control step includes
If it is determined in the first determination step that the print output setting is a black and white print output setting, and the second determination step determines that the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is chromatic, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image An inquiry process for inquiring the user whether or not to perform print output; and
A third determination step of determining whether or not to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on an instruction from the user in response to the inquiry in the inquiry step;
When it is determined in the third determination step that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is printed out, control is performed so as to print out the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image
And a second print control step of controlling not to print the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when it is determined in the third determination step that print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not performed. Item 9. The method for controlling a print output apparatus according to any one of Items 6 to 8. The inquiry step inquires of the user whether to perform print output of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in black and white, non-black and white,
The third determination step determines whether to perform print output of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in monochrome, non-monochrome, or not based on an instruction from the user in response to the inquiry in the inquiry step;
The second printing control step includes
If it is determined in the third determination step that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is printed out in black and white, the print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is controlled to be performed in black and white;
When it is determined in the third determination step that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is printed out in black and white, the print-out of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is controlled based on the color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image;
10. The print output apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when it is determined in the third determination step that printing of a tint block image is not performed, control is performed so that printing of the tint block image is not performed. Control method.   The program for making a computer perform each process of the method of Claim 6 thru | or 10.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 11.

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