JP2007251400A - Image processing system and image forming apparatus, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system and an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus capable of always outputting an image developing a proper ground tint pattern effect by adjusting ground tint pattern density when variation in the density of a ground tint pattern image takes place. <P>SOLUTION: The ground tint pattern image generation attaching section 200b of the image forming apparatus 200 generates ground tint pattern image information and attaches the information to image information received from a terminal 240. An image information output section 200c outputs the image information with the ground tint pattern image information attached thereto generated by the ground tint pattern image generation attaching section 200b to a recording medium. A ground tint pattern latent image background density determining section 200d determines the density of a latent image part and the density of a background part of the ground tint pattern image based on the ground tint pattern image informationr, respectively. A ground tint pattern density variation detection section 200f detects variations in the respective densities of the latent image part and the background part of the ground tint pattern image determined by the ground tint pattern latent image background density determining section 200d. When the ground tint pattern density variation detection section 200f detects the variation, a control section 200a cancels a ground tint pattern print instruction instructed from the terminal 240. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image forming apparatus, and an information processing apparatus. More specifically, a terminal device such as a personal computer, an image input unit such as a scanner, an image output unit such as a printer, and an image forming unit that generates an image including a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image for clearly distinguishing a copy and an original The present invention relates to an image processing system comprising: The present invention also relates to an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus for that purpose.

  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 multifunction 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.

  In accordance with such a situation, attention has been paid to a technique for generating image data itself for preventing forgery using a computer and a printer (see, for example, 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 the forgery prevention paper mentioned above. This is possible due to a dramatic improvement in printer performance.

  In addition, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image created using a computer is output by being superimposed on content data, it is naturally possible to output the image using normal printing paper, etc. There are advantages in terms of cost. 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 an image similar to the original remains in the copy and an image existing in the original in the copy disappears or the remaining area described above. It is composed of two areas that are thinner than the image. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image composed of these two areas is preferably set to have substantially the same density in the two areas described above in a state in which this 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 such 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. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state of dots in an image with a background pattern. As shown in FIG. 1, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is composed of a background portion in which dots are dispersed and arranged 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 concentration type 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 multi-function peripheral have a limit level of reproducibility depending on input resolution for reading minute dots on an original and 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 the dots that can be reproduced by the MFP, and the dots in the latent image portion are formed larger than the limit level, the dots in the latent image portion are displayed 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.

  FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a state where an image with a tint block is visualized during copying. FIGS. 2A and 2B conceptually show 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 tint block printing is not limited to the above-described configuration, and it is sufficient that the character string or the like can be reproduced on the copied material 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. FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams showing the embossed image / whitened image of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is an image with a tint block, and FIG. 3B is a raised image. FIG. 3C shows white images.

  Further, although Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 do not describe the background pattern, a technique of allowing a user to determine a patch that appears to be equal in density to a predetermined patch after outputting a test sheet having a plurality of patches. Is disclosed. Similarly, for a tint block image, the tint block image density can be automatically and optimally determined by outputting a patch of the tint block image onto a sheet and reading the density of the patch with an image reading device such as a scanner. A concentration determination method has been proposed.

JP 2001-197297 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-160076 JP 2000-196879 A JP 2001-103473 A

  In the above-described conventional technology, even if the background pattern density is optimally determined, the density of the latent image portion and the background portion of the background pattern image that has been adjusted will fluctuate due to environmental changes and secular changes. As a result, there is a problem in that a background pattern that does not show the background pattern effect on the copy may be printed.

  In order to avoid this, the density of the tint block must be frequently adjusted before a density fluctuation exceeding a certain level occurs. However, the work is very inefficient, and depending on the degree of security, it is considered that the effect of preventing unauthorized use can be obtained by adding the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image itself even if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern effect does not appear. Therefore, in some cases, it is important to perform the process of adding a tint block regardless of the density fluctuation. In that case, there is also a problem that it is difficult to properly distinguish from the former.

  Furthermore, even if an instruction to add a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is issued from the host computer side, appropriate copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition processing cannot be performed due to the memory capacity of the printer and the image processing capability required to add the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. As a result, there is a problem that only an inappropriate output that does not reveal the latent image portion on the copy can be obtained.

  On the other hand, a printer (or a so-called digital multifunction machine) having a forced tint block printing function for forcibly adding and printing a tint block image on the entire surface of an original document with administrator authority regardless of the user's intention is also known. In this case, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction is issued from the host computer to a printer for which the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print function is set, the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction set for the printer with administrator authority and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern received from the host computer There is a conflict with the print instructions. As a result, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is added to image data received in the printer, resulting in an abnormal image in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern portion is broken.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of always outputting an image that provides an appropriate background pattern effect by prompting the user to adjust the background pattern density when it is considered that the background pattern image density fluctuation occurs. And an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made to achieve such an object, and the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an image processing system comprising a terminal device connected to a network and an image forming apparatus, wherein the terminal device Comprises a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instructing unit for performing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction in which copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is added to image information to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information in the image information received from the terminal device. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation / addition unit, an image information output unit for outputting the image information with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation / addition unit onto a recording medium, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image A tint block latent image background density determining unit that determines the densities of the latent image portion and the background portion of the tint block image based on the information, and a background determined by the tint block latent image background density determining unit. A tint block density fluctuation detecting means for detecting density fluctuations of the latent image portion and the background portion of the tint block image, the tint block image generation adding unit, the image information output unit, the tint block latent image background density determining unit, and the tint block density Control means for controlling the fluctuation detection means, and when the fluctuation is detected by the tint block density fluctuation detection means, the control means cancels the tint block printing instruction instructed from the terminal device. To do.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is directed to the terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is instructed by the terminal device when a change is detected by the tint block density fluctuation detecting means. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction is cancelled, or a selection unit for selecting whether to print as it is is provided so that the user can select.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device is in a state of forcibly adding copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information to image information received by the image forming device. A forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode determining unit for determining whether or not the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction unit determines that the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode determining unit forcibly adds the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information to the image forming apparatus; This is characterized by notifying the user of that fact.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, or third aspect of the invention, the tint block density fluctuation detecting unit is configured such that the tint block latent image background density determining unit causes the tint block image latent image portion and background The density variation detection is performed based on the number of prints of the recording medium output from the image forming apparatus after the density of the portion is determined.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the image forming apparatus includes an ambient environment measuring unit that measures ambient temperature and humidity, and the tint block density variation. The detecting means detects density fluctuation based on the fluctuation amount of the result measured by the surrounding environment measuring means after the density of the latent image portion and background portion of the tint block image is determined by the tint block latent image background density determining means. It is characterized by performing.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and includes a determination unit that determines whether to stop image formation of a tint block image, The image forming unit determines that the image forming of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped and the determination unit does not stop the image forming of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image when the determination unit determines that image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped. In that case, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is formed.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, further comprising density adjusting means for adjusting the density of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, wherein the determining means is density adjusted by the density adjusting means. The image forming unit determines whether to stop image formation of the tint block image based on the number of prints of the recording medium on which the image is formed later.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus having an image formation instructing unit that instructs the image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is recorded by the image formation instructing unit. Determining means for determining whether or not to cancel the image formation instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus based on information received from the image forming apparatus instructed to form an image on a medium; If it is determined, the image forming instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus is canceled.

  The invention according to claim 9 is an image forming method including an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium, and includes a determination step of determining whether or not to stop the image formation of the tint block image, The image forming step determines that image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped when the determination step determines that image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped, and that the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not canceled in the determination step. In that case, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is formed.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 9, further comprising a density adjustment step for adjusting the density of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, wherein the density adjustment is performed in the determination step. The image forming step determines whether or not to stop the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the number of prints of the recording medium on which the image is formed later.

  The invention according to claim 11 is an information processing method having an image formation instruction step for instructing the image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is recorded in the image formation instruction step. A determination step for determining whether or not to cancel the image formation instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus based on information received from the image forming apparatus instructed to form an image on a medium, and canceling in the determination step If it is determined, the image forming instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus is canceled.

  The invention described in claim 12 is a program for causing a computer to execute the steps recited in claim 9 or 10.

  The invention described in claim 13 is a program for causing a computer to execute the steps recited in claim 11.

  The invention described in claim 14 is a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing each step described in claim 9 or 10 is recorded.

  The invention described in claim 15 is a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the steps described in claim 11.

  In other words, according to the image processing capability and memory capacity of the printer, if the appropriate copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printout cannot be obtained by the printer, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction instructed from the terminal device is canceled.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction means can designate an area to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is added, and the control means receives the first copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation / addition means based on an instruction from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction means. Add to the indicated area. Further, the second copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generating and adding unit is added to a region other than the region to which the first copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is added based on an instruction from the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern instruction unit.

  In addition, the terminal device includes a forced tint block mode determining unit that determines whether or not the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is forcibly added to the image information received by the image forming apparatus. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instructing unit notifies the user when the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode determining unit determines that the image forming apparatus is in a state to forcibly add copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information. Then, there is provided selection means for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform the background pattern printing based on the instruction of the background pattern printing instruction means. Further, the selection unit can allow the user to select whether to perform the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing based on an instruction from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction unit. The control unit generates and adds a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information based on an instruction from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction unit to the received image information when the user selects to perform copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print based on an instruction from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction unit. And

  In addition, the selection unit is characterized in that the user selects whether to stop the tint block printing in the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when it is considered that the density variation of the tint block image occurs, an image that can provide an appropriate tint block effect can be always output by prompting the user to perform adjustment after the tint block ability. Further, even if a density variation is detected, the user can select whether to output the tint block image as it is, so that the tint block image output can be appropriately used depending on the degree of security. In addition, it is possible to prevent a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction from being given to a printer that has insufficient capability for adding a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, resulting in inappropriate output.

  When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction is issued from the host computer to a printer with the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print function set, the received copy of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print function is received. Append to different areas of data. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a conflict between the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction set in the printer and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction received from the host computer, and to prevent the occurrence of an abnormal image in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern portion is broken.

  Furthermore, by allowing the user to select an optimal printing method in advance before issuing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction from the host computer, an image with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern intended by the user can be obtained as a printed matter output by a printer.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
In the embodiments 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. A region 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.

  4A and 4B are configuration diagrams of the image processing system of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a block diagram showing the overall configuration, and FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram showing the functional configuration. is there. 4A, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a scanner unit 2015 as an image input device, a printer unit 2017 as an image output device, a controller unit (Controller Unit) 2000, and an operation unit 2006 as a user interface. Has been. The scanner unit 2015, the printer unit 2017, and the operation unit 2006 are each connected to a controller unit 2000. 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 are connected to the LAN 2063. A terminal device 240 is connected to the LAN 2063, 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, respectively, which are connected to the controller units 2200 and 2300.

  In FIG. 4B, the image processing system includes a terminal device 240 and an image forming apparatus 200 connected to a network. The terminal device 240 includes a tint block print instruction unit 240a that instructs the image forming apparatus 200 to perform a tint block print instruction by adding tint block image information to image information.

  On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 200 generates a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information and adds the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information to the image information received from the terminal device 240 (corresponding to a composition unit 2023 in FIG. 5 described later and step 4706 in FIG. 13). It has. The image information output unit 200c outputs the image information to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation / addition unit 200b is added onto a recording medium (printing paper). Further, a background pattern latent image background density determination unit 200d (corresponding to step 1612 in FIG. 26 and step 2301 in FIG. 33 described later) for determining the densities of the latent image portion and background portion of the background pattern image based on the background pattern image information is provided. Yes. Further, a tint block density fluctuation detecting unit 200f (corresponding to step 6004 in FIG. 39 described later) for detecting the density fluctuations of the latent image part and the background part of the tint block image determined by the tint block latent image background density determining unit 200d. I have.

  The image forming apparatus 200 includes a control unit 200a (corresponding to a CPU 2001 in FIG. 5 described later). The control unit 200a controls the tint block image generation / addition unit 200b, the image information output unit 200c, the tint block latent image background density determination unit 200d, and the tint block density fluctuation detection unit 200f. Further, the control unit 200a is configured to cancel the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction instructed from the terminal device 240 when the fluctuation is detected by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern density detection unit 200f.

  On the other hand, the terminal device 240 includes a forced background pattern mode determination unit 240a that determines whether the background image information is forcibly added to the image information received by the image forming apparatus 200. When the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode determination unit 240a determines that the image forming apparatus 200 is in a state of forcibly adding copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction unit 240b notifies the user. Further, in the terminal device 240, when the control unit 200a detects a change by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern density change detection unit 200f, the terminal unit 240 selects a selection unit 240c (to be described later) that cancels the designated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction or prints as it is. Equivalent to step 6308 in FIG.

  The background pattern density fluctuation detection unit 200f detects density fluctuations based on the number of print sheets output by the image forming apparatus 200 after the density is determined by the background pattern latent image background density determination unit 200d. . Further, the image forming apparatus 200 includes an ambient environment measuring unit 200e (corresponding to step 6200 in FIG. 41 described later) that measures ambient temperature and humidity. The tint block density fluctuation detecting unit 200f performs density fluctuation detection based on the fluctuation amount of the result measured by the surrounding environment measuring unit 200e after the density is determined by the tint block latent image background density determining unit 200d. is there.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and is an overall configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). The controller unit 2000 is connected to a color scanner 2015 that is an image input device and a color printer 2017 that is an image output device. Further, the controller is connected to a LAN 2008 or a public line (WAN) 2051 to input / output image information and device information. A CPU 2001 is a controller that controls the entire system. A RAM 2002 is a system work memory for operating 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. The SRAM 2060 is a memory that is backed up by a battery in order to prevent the stored data from being lost due to power shutdown. An operation unit I / F 2005 is an interface unit with an operation unit (UI) 2006 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. The binary image rotation unit 2052 and the binary image compression / decompression unit 2053 convert the direction of the image before transmitting the binary image by the modem 2050, or convert the image to a predetermined resolution or a resolution suitable for the other party's ability. Is to do. The binary image compression / decompression unit 2053 supports 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 an image bus I / F 2011. Alternatively, the image from the image bus I / F 2011 is written into the RAM 2002 without going through the CPU 2001. The above devices are connected to the system bus 2008.

  An image bus I / F 2011 is an interface for controlling high-speed image input / output via the image bus 2010. The compression unit 2012 is a compression for JPEG compression in units of 32 × 32 pixels before sending an image to the image bus 2010. The decompression unit 2013 is decompression for decompressing an image sent via the image bus 2010.

  The raster image processor (RIP) 2018 receives the PDL code from the terminal device 240 via the network 2007, and the CPU 2001 stores the PDL code 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). The scanner image processing unit 2014 performs appropriate various 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 various appropriate image processing (for example, correction, processing, editing) on the printer 2017. At the time of printing, binary multilevel conversion is performed by the decompression unit 2013, so that binary and multilevel output is possible. The image conversion unit 2030 has various image conversion functions used when converting an image on the RAM 2002 and writing it back into the RAM 2002 again. The rotation unit 2019 can rotate an image of 32 × 32 pixel units at a specified angle, and supports binary and multi-value input / output.

  The scaling unit 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) or scaling. Before scaling, the image of 32 × 32 pixels is rearranged into an image in units of 32 lines. The color space conversion unit 2021 converts, for example, a YUV image on the RAM 2002 into a Lab image by matrix operation and LUT, and stores the multi-value input image on the RAM 2002. The color space conversion unit 2021 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.

  The binary multi-value conversion unit 2022 converts a 1-bit binary image into multi-value 8 bits and 256 gradations. On the other hand, the multi-level binary conversion unit 2026 converts, for example, an 8-bit, 256-gradation image on the RAM 2002 into 1-bit, 2-gradation using a technique such as error diffusion processing, and stores it on the RAM 2002. The synthesizing unit 2023 has a function of synthesizing two multi-value images (or binary images) on the RAM 2002 into one multi-value image (or binary image). For example, by combining a company logo image on the RAM 2002 with a document image, the company logo can be easily attached to 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 unit 2024 is a unit that performs resolution conversion by thinning out pixels of the multi-valued image, and can output 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 multi-valued images. By using it together with the zoom unit 2020, a wider range of enlargement / reduction can be performed.

  The moving unit 2025 can output the input binary image or multi-valued image by adding a margin portion or deleting the margin portion. The rotation unit 2019, the scaling unit 2020, the color space conversion unit 2021, the binary multi-value unit 2022, the synthesis unit 2023, the thinning unit 2024, the moving unit 2025, and the multi-value binary conversion unit 2026 operate in conjunction with each other. Is possible. For example, when image rotation and resolution conversion are performed on a multi-valued image on the RAM 2002, both processes can be performed by connecting them without using the RAM 2002.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the packet image and the entire image. The image format used in the present invention uses, for example, the image packet structure disclosed in Patent Document 4. In compression 2012, raster format images are rearranged as packets of 32 × 32 pixel units as shown in FIG. 2101 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 as a header. Binary data (image area flag) indicating characters and photographs is similarly compressed and attached after JPEG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a packet image. 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 when the image is rotated, and by changing the position of the packet ID, it can be partially rotated by decompression and compression, which is very efficient. Good. All images flowing through the image bus 2010 are packet images. When a raster image is necessary for FAX transmission, binary image rotation 2052, binary image compression / decompression 2053, etc., conversion from a packet image to a raster image is performed by software.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the scanner image processing of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and is for explaining the scanner image processing unit 2014 in detail. 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 removal 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 RAM 2002 or HDD 2004 together with the image as the background removal level. Used for image processing.

  In the gamma unit 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, and a 1-bit determination signal is output from the comparator 2506 as a chromatic color if it is equal to or higher than a predetermined level in the comparator 2506 and otherwise as an achromatic color.

  The counter 2507 measures the output from the comparator 2506. A character / photo determination unit 2508 has a function of extracting a character edge from an image and separating the image into a character and a photo. As an output, a character photograph determination signal is obtained. This signal is also stored in the RAM 2002 and HDD 2004 together with the image, and is used during printing. The specific document determination unit 2509 can compare the input image signal and how much the pattern held in the determination unit matches, and can read the determination result of matching or mismatching as shown in the figure. The image is processed according to the determination result to prevent counterfeiting of banknotes and securities.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the printer image processing of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and is for explaining the printer image processing unit 2016 in detail. The background removal unit 2601 removes the background color of the image data and removes unnecessary background fog. For example, background removal is performed by a 3 × 8 matrix operation or a one-dimensional LUT. A monochrome generation unit 2602 converts color image data into monochrome data and converts color image data, for example, RGB data into Gray single color when printing 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 is composed of processing by 4 × 8 matrix calculation or direct mapping. The filter processing unit 2604 is a filter processing unit that arbitrarily corrects the spatial frequency of the image data, and includes, for example, a process of performing a 9 × 9 matrix operation.

  The gamma correction unit 2605 performs gamma correction in accordance with the characteristics of the printer unit to be output, and is usually composed of a one-dimensional LUT. A halftone correction unit 2606 performs arbitrary halftone processing in accordance with the number of gradations of the output printer unit, and performs arbitrary screen processing such as binarization and multi-value processing and error diffusion processing. 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 the inter-drum 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.

  FIG. 10 is an external view of an input / output device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. The scanner unit 2015, which is an image input device, illuminates an image on paper as a document, and scans a CCD line sensor (not shown), thereby converting it into an electrical signal as raster image data. The original paper is set on the tray 2702 of the original feeder 2701, and 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 2701, 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. As the method, there are an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, an ink jet method in which an ink is ejected from a minute 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 2017 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.

  FIG. 11 is an external view of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 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 2803 is used when starting a document image reading operation. At the center of the start key 2803, there is a two-color LED 2804 of green and red, which indicates whether or not the start key 2803 can be pressed. A stop key 2805 functions to stop an operation in progress. An ID key 2806 is used when inputting the user ID of the user. A reset key 2807 is used to initialize settings from the operation unit 2006.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a software configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. Reference numeral 4010 denotes a UI control unit that controls the display operation unit. There is a copy application unit 4020 that receives an instruction from the UI control unit 4010 and executes a copy operation. There is also a PDL application unit 4023 that receives PDL print data from the network application unit 4120 and inputs a PDL print job. Reference numeral 4030 denotes a common interface portion for absorbing the device-dependent portion of the device control portion. Reference numeral 4040 denotes a job manager that organizes job information received from the common interface 4030 and transmits the job information to a lower-level document processing unit.

  In the document processing unit, a scan manager 4050 and a print manager 4090 are operated for copy jobs, and a PDL manager 4070 and a print manager 4090 are operated for PDL print jobs such as LIPS and PostScript. 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.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for a PDL print job according to the present invention, and shows a flowchart for a PDL print job regarding software processing when PDL data is received. A request from the terminal device 240 that has entered the PDL data is transmitted to the PDL application unit 4023 via the network application unit 4120. The PDL application unit 4023 instructs the job manager 4040 via the common interface 4030 for a PDL print job. At this time, the PDL manager 4070 and the print manager 4090 receive a request from the job manager 4040. When a RIP image is generated on the RAM 2002 from the received PDL data (S4702), the RIP image (including the character / photo determination signal) on the RAM 2002 is stored in the HDD 2004 (S4703).

  As image accompanying information, color / monochrome information is stored in the SRAM 2060, and a PDL image, a color space CMYK, or RGB is stored as an image input source. When an image is stored in the HDD 2004, the print manager 4090 issues a print request to the printer 2017 via the device I / F, and at the same time, issues a print image processing request to the sync manager 4080, thereby starting the print processing. The After receiving the 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 2016 according to the accompanying information of the image (S4704), and performs image conversion on the image read from the HDD 2004 (S4705) (S4706). Thereafter, the print manager 4090 is notified of completion of print preparation via the sync manager 4080.

  The generation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the process of adding the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image read from the HDD 2004, which are characteristic in the present invention, are performed in S4706. Thereafter, the print manager 4090 issues a print instruction to the printer 2017 (S4707). 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 print manager 4090 of the print completion. In response to the completion of paper discharge from the printer unit 2017, the print manager 4090 returns an end notification to the job manager 4040.

  The job manager 4040 returns it to the PDL application unit 4023 via the common interface 4030. When the printing is completed, the PDL application unit 4023 notifies the UI control unit 4010 of the job end, notifies the network application 4120 of the job end, and transmits the job end information to the terminal device 240 that has input the PDL data.

<Image formation processing of image data with tint block>
In the following, based on FIG. 5, a process until the image is formed on the output paper after the PDL image data is combined with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data will be described. In executing each process, the CPU 2001 performs overall control. The RAM 2002 functions as a main memory or work area for the CPU 2001.

  First, PDL image data expanded by the RIP 2018 is sent to the compression unit 2012 and compressed. The compressed PDL image data is sent to the RAM 2002 and stored together with the image area data attached to the PDL image data. The document image data stored in the RAM 2002 is composed of a plurality of tile data.

  Thereafter, the PDL image data stored in the RAM 2002 is sent to the decompression unit 2013. The decompressing unit 2013 decompresses the PDL image data. The expanded PDL image data is sent to the color space conversion unit 2021. The color space conversion unit 2021 performs background removal processing, monochrome generation processing, and output color correction processing on the PDL image data as necessary. Note that these processes correspond to the processes performed by the background removal processing unit 2601, the monochrome generation unit 2602, and the output color correction unit 2603 in FIG.

  The PDL image data subjected to the above processing is sent to the compression unit 2012. The compression unit 2012 compresses the PDL image data that has been subjected to image processing by the color space conversion unit 2021. The compressed PDL image data is sent to the RAM 2002 and stored therein. On the other hand, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generated by the processing described later is stored in the RAM 2002 as uncompressed image data. Note that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data stored in the RAM 2002 is composed of a plurality of tile data like the PDL image data.

  Subsequently, the PDL image data stored in the RAM 2002 is sent to the decompression unit 2013. The decompressing unit 2013 decompresses the PDL image data. The expanded document image data is sent to the composition unit 2023. Similarly, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data is sent to the synthesis unit 2023 via the decompression unit 2013. The decompressing unit 2013 does not decompress the tint block image data. This is because the tint block image data is not originally compressed. The synthesizer 2023 synthesizes these two image data. Since the two image data are both composed of a plurality of tile data, the combined image data is also composed of a plurality of tile data. The composite image data is sent to the compression unit 2012. The compression unit 2012 compresses the composite image data. The compressed composite image data is sent to the RAM 2002 and stored therein. Further, the composite image data stored in the RAM 2002 is sent to the decompression unit 2013. The decompressing unit 2013 decompresses the composite image data. Furthermore, the expanded composite image data is rasterized. The rasterized composite image data is sent to the printer image processing unit 2016.

  Subsequently, the printer image processing unit 2016 performs output side gamma correction processing and halftone correction processing on the composite image data. Note that these processes correspond to the processes performed by the output-side gamma correction unit 2605 and the halftone correction unit 2606 in FIG. On the other hand, background removal processing, monochrome generation processing, and output color correction processing are not performed. Note that these processes correspond to the processes performed by the background removal processing unit 2601, the monochrome generation unit 2602, and the output color correction unit 2603 in FIG. The reason why the background removal process and the output color correction process are not performed on the composite image data is to prevent the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image from being destroyed by performing these processes. As described above, these processes are performed in advance by the color space conversion unit 2021 on the PDL image data.

  The composite image data subjected to the above processing in the printer image processing unit 2016 is sent to the printer unit 2017. The printer unit 2017 forms an image of the composite image data on output paper. The above is the procedure of the image forming process for the image with a tint block (composite image).

  Although omitted in the above description, it goes without saying that the processing stored in the ROM 2003 and the HDD 2004 and the image data stored in the ROM 2003 and the HDD 2004 may be taken out as necessary.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a copy screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. A copy tab 3308 switches screens for performing copy settings. A print tab 3309 performs screen switching for performing print settings. The status display window 3301 is a window indicating whether or not copying is possible, and the number of copies set at the same time is also displayed. The automatic density key 3302 is for automatically determining the density when reading an image with a background such as a newspaper. A density adjustment slider 3303 is a slider for adjusting the reading density of the original, and can be adjusted in nine levels. A document type selection key 3304 is used to select a document type, and can select characters / photos / maps, characters, photographic paper photos, and printed photos. An application mode key 3305 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. A sort selection key 3306 is used to make settings related to various finishings, and shift sort, staple sort, and group sort can be set. A double-sided selection key 3307 performs settings related to double-sided reading and double-sided printing.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the terminal device. The terminal device 240 includes a CPU 1. This CPU 1 is based on a document processing program or the like stored in the program ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11, and includes graphics, images, characters, tables (including spreadsheets, etc.) including the processing of the embodiments of the present invention described later. And the like to control the document processing and the printing processing. 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. In addition, the font ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores font data used for the above-described document processing. Further, the data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores various data used when performing the above-described document processing or the like.

  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 by a CRT display (CRT) 10 including display of a tint block image. Reference numeral 7 denotes a disk controller (DKC). Controls access to a hard disk (HD) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, editing files, a printer control command generation program (hereinafter referred to as a printer driver), and the like. Further, it controls access to the external memory 11 such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD). 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. 16 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the terminal device, and is a diagram illustrating a software configuration for print processing in the terminal device 240 illustrated in FIG. 15. The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203, and the 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. However, when printing is performed from the application 201 to the image forming apparatus 200, output (rendering) is performed using the graphic engine 202 that is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and can be executed.

  The graphic engine 202 loads the printer driver 203 prepared for each image forming 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, PDL. The converted printer control command is output as print data to the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 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 may be in the form of a library module added by individual installation.

  In response to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition instruction to the printer driver 203, the printer driver also uses the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image addition region, which is a characteristic of the present invention, as the developed image attribute information as part of the print data. Will tell.

Hereinafter, the tint block printing instruction method in the terminal device 240 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17, 18 and 20.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen of a user interface related to tint block printing, and illustrates an example of an initial screen of a user interface regarding tint block printing 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 for a print job. The content specified in the check box 2102 is stored in the external memory 11 as additional print information that holds print setting information related to print data (original data). By pressing a button 2103, a printer selection dialog shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog for selecting a printer that performs tint block printing. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 2111 denotes the entire printer selection dialog, and a list of printers that can be selected from the printer driver 203 is displayed in the area 2112. When a check box 2102 is checked and a printer is selected and a button 2113 is pressed, a dialog for editing individual detailed settings of tint block printing shown in FIG. 20 is displayed.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog for editing individual detailed settings for tint block printing. In FIG. 20, reference numeral 2201 denotes the entire tint block information editing dialog, and the result of the tint block image generated by the individual tint block information described later is displayed in the same area as shown in the preview 2214. Reference numeral 2202 denotes an area for displaying a list of selectable latent image portion patterns. Further, by using the buttons 2203 and 2204, it is possible to newly add to or delete from the list of latent image portion patterns.

  An area 2205 displays and sets the angle of the character string used as the latent image portion pattern. In this embodiment, a format that can be specified in two stages of “horizontal” and “vertical” is assumed. However, a numerical input area in which an angle can be arbitrarily specified, a slider bar that can be intuitively specified, and the like are provided. The angle designation method may be extended. Reference numeral 2206 denotes an area for displaying and setting font information of a character string used as a latent image portion pattern. In this embodiment, the selection screen includes only font names, but the font family information (bold, italic, etc.), decorative character information, and the like may be expanded.

  An area 2207 displays and sets the font size of the character string used as the latent image portion 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 is adopted. May be. Reference numeral 2208 denotes an area for displaying and specifying the color used for the tint block pattern (latent image portion pattern and background portion pattern). Reference numeral 2209 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.

  Reference numeral 2210 denotes a check box for exchanging the latent image portion pattern and the background portion pattern. When the check box is not checked, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated so that the latent image portion pattern is visualized on the copy. That is, it indicates that the latent image portion pattern is set to be reproducible on the copy. On the other hand, when the check box 2210 is checked, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated so 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 characters and symbols designated in the latent image portion pattern can be recognized on the copy in a state where they are outlined.

  Reference numeral 2211 denotes a radio button for selecting an arrangement method of character strings used as the latent image portion pattern. In 2211, when the user selects “entire surface”, character strings are arranged on the entire surface of the document size without any gaps. On the other hand, when “designated area” is selected in 2211, the character string is arranged without a gap in the rectangular area determined from the numerical values designated in 2212 and 2213. When the button 2215 is pressed, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing based on the setting of the terminal device 240 is stored in the external memory 11 as additional print information that holds print setting information related to print data. At the same time, the content specified in the dialog 2201 is stored in the external memory 11 as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information, and input of a print job to the image forming apparatus 200 is started.

<Flow of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data generation processing>
FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a method for generating an image with a tint block according to the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a flow of processing when tint block image data is generated. First, bitmap data is generated based on latent image information (confidential, copy prohibition, symbol information, etc.) designated by the user. A symbol pattern 5001 is a conceptual diagram of bitmap data generated based on symbol information. Subsequently, a latent image pattern 5002 and a background pattern 5003 (both bitmap data) are generated by dither processing.

  Although the dither processing is a known technique, the case where both the dot concentration type dither matrix and the dot dispersion type matrix are 4 × 4 (FIGS. 22 and 23) is taken as an example and is simple using FIGS. Give an explanation. FIG. 24 shows a centralized dither pattern. This is a dot pattern generated by applying density signal values 3, 6, and 9 to the dot concentration type dither matrix shown in FIG. When FIG. 22 is compared with FIG. 24, a dot is put (on) at a pixel position where the numerical value in the dot concentration type dither matrix (FIG. 22) is equal to or less than the density signal value. You can see that Similarly, FIG. 25 shows dot patterns generated by applying density signal values 2, 4, and 5 to the dot dispersion type dither matrix shown in FIG. Here, comparing FIG. 14 with FIG. 15, it can be seen that the dot pattern in FIG. 24 is a concentrated dot pattern, whereas the dot pattern in FIG. 25 is a distributed dot pattern.

  This is the end of the description of the dither processing, and the description returns to the generation processing of the latent image pattern 5002 and background pattern 5003.

  The HDD 2004 stores in advance a latent image portion generation dither matrix (hereinafter referred to as a latent image matrix) and latent image portion generation density signal values to be applied to the dither matrix. In addition, a background portion generation dither matrix (hereinafter referred to as a background matrix) and background portion generation density signal values to be applied to the dither matrix are stored.

  In generating the latent image pattern 5002, the latent image matrix and the latent image portion generation density signal value are read from the HDD 2004. The read latent image portion generation density signal value is applied to the latent image matrix. Then, a latent image pattern 5002 is generated. Similarly, a background pattern 5003 is generated.

  Subsequently, a pattern in which the latent image pattern 5002 and the background pattern 5003 are repeated a predetermined number of times (referred to as a latent image repeating pattern 5011 and a background repeating pattern 5021) is generated. Thereafter, latent image data 5013 is generated from the latent image repetition pattern 5011 and the symbol pattern 5001. Similarly, background image data 5023 is generated. Reference numeral 5030 denotes a camouflage image, which is an image obtained by developing a camouflage pattern 5004 in the RAM 2002. This image may not be generated.

  After the image generation processing 5010 and 5020 is completed, the latent image 5013 and the background image 5023 are simply combined using the combining unit 2023, and a tint block image as indicated by 5050 is generated in the RAM 2002. When there is an instruction to generate a camouflage image 5030, the background pattern image 5050 is further combined to generate a background pattern image indicated by 5060 in the RAM 2002. At this time, composition is performed so that the camouflage image is outlined.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data 5060 generated as described above is binary bitmap data. This bitmap data is accompanied by any color information of CMK. The color information may be determined by user settings or may be determined based on the color information of the document image data. After the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated, the original image 5040 and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 5060 are combined to generate an image with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern as indicated by 5070 in the RAM 2002.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data is generated using the dither processing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an error diffusion method or an average density method may be used to create a background pattern.

<Density adjustment of tint block image>
The reflection density of the tint block image in the original depends on the density signal value used in the above-described tint block image generation. That is, the reflection density of the latent image portion increases as the latent image portion generation density signal value increases (a latent image print image having a high density value). In addition, the reflection density of the background portion also increases as the background portion generation density signal value increases (the printed image of the background has a high density value).

  By the way, as described above, the tint block image needs to be formed such that the reflection density of the latent image portion and the background portion is substantially equal in the output product. However, in practice, the reflection density of the output image changes due to external factors such as the characteristics of the image forming process, environmental changes, and secular changes. For this reason, it is very difficult to adjust the reflection density of the latent image portion and the background portion to be equal. Further, there is a problem that even if the reflection density of the latent image portion and the background portion in the original is equal, the reflection density must be such that the readability of the original synthesized with the background pattern is not impaired. In addition, when the original is copied, if the latent image is not readable in the copy, there is a problem that the effectiveness obtained by combining the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with the original is lost.

Below, the technique which solves such a problem is demonstrated.
<Detailed description of density adjustment method for tint block image>
A processing flow for adjusting the density of the tint block image will be described. The following processing is centrally controlled by the CPU 2001. The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 26 and 33 are preferred embodiments of the present invention. First, the processing flow of the first half in the density adjustment of a tint block image will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step 1601, a screen (not shown) for accepting the start of test sheet output is displayed on the operation unit 2006. When the operation unit 2006 is instructed to start outputting a test sheet (details of the test sheet will be described later), the instruction information is received from the operation unit 2006 and the process proceeds to step 1602.

  Subsequently, in step 1602, test sheet data 1 is generated. At the same time, the patch number information, the patch position information, and the density signal value information used to generate the patch are associated with each other. These pieces of information are stored in the RAM 2002. When associating each information, the table shown in FIG. 29 is created (test sheet data 1, patch number information, patch position information, density signal value information used to generate the patch, and FIG. 29). Details of the table shown will be described later). Thereafter, the test sheet data 1 is read from the RAM 2002, and the test sheet data 1 is output to the printer unit 14 via the decompression unit 2013, the printer image processing unit 2016, and the printer I / F 314.

  Here, processing performed by the decompressing unit 2013 will be described. Before being sent to the decompression unit 2013, the test sheet data 1 is stored in the RAM 2002 without being compressed. Therefore, the decompression unit 2013 does not perform decompression processing on the test sheet data 1.

  Next, processing performed by the printer image processing unit 2016 will be described. The printer image processing unit 2016 performs output side gamma correction processing and halftone correction processing on the test sheet data 1 received from the expansion unit 2013. Note that these processes correspond to the processes performed by the output-side gamma correction unit 605 and the halftone correction unit 606 in FIG. On the other hand, background removal processing, monochrome generation processing, and output color correction processing are not performed. Note that these processes correspond to the processes performed by the background removal processing unit 2601, the monochrome generation unit 2602, and the output color correction unit 2603 in FIG. Note that the processing that the printer image processing unit 2016 performs and does not perform on the test sheet data 1 in step 1602 is the processing that the printer image processing unit 2016 performs on the image data with the tint block when outputting the image with the tint block pattern. This is consistent with the processing that is not performed. Please refer to <Image formation processing of image data with background pattern> for this. When the latent image patch (background patch) of the test sheet and the latent image portion (background portion) in the background pattern image are generated using the same density signal value, the latent image portion (background portion) on the output sheet is generated. The reflection density value matches the reflection density value of the latent image patch (background patch).

  Here, details of the test sheet and the test sheet data 1 will be described. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a test sheet, and also conceptually shows test sheet data 1 generated for outputting the test sheet. The test sheet (and test sheet data 1) shown in FIG. 27 has a plurality of latent image patches and background patches each generated using different density signal values. Each density signal value may be changed stepwise at regular intervals or may be changed randomly. Further, the density signal value used when generating these may be arbitrarily set from the operation unit 2006.

  Reference numeral 1704 denotes a latent image patch group, and 1705 denotes a background patch group. Further, the number of patches of the latent image patch group and the number of patches of the background patch group are equal in FIG. 17 and both are n (an integer of 2 or more), but the number of patches of the latent image patch group and the background patch group are not equal. May be. The number of patches may be set on the operation screen or may be determined automatically. Reference numeral 1707 denotes a latent image patch number, and 1708 denotes a background patch number. This patch number is assigned to each patch of the latent image patch group and each patch of the background patch group, and is a numerical value from 1 to n corresponding to the number of patches.

  The test sheet further includes position patches 1702 and 1703 for determining whether or not the test sheet is correctly placed on the document table. The normal orientation of the test sheet can be known from the location where the position patches 1702 and 1703 are formed and the difference in shape between them. Further, device identification information (ID or serial number indicating the device that has been output, network IP address) that is information for identifying the device that has output the test sheet or the device that has generated the test sheet data 1 is embedded in the barcode 1706. . The barcode may be a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code (registered trademark) instead of a one-dimensional barcode. The test sheet data 1 before output is accompanied by any color information of CMK, but the present invention is not limited to these colors.

  Here, the patch number information, the patch position information, the density signal value information used for generating the patch, and the details of the table shown in FIG. 29 will be described.

  The patch number information is a number shown in 1707 or 1708. The patch position information is the coordinate position of the patch in the test sheet and the coordinate position of the patch in the test sheet data 1. The density signal value information used for generating the patch is the density signal value applied to the dither matrix (latent image matrix and background matrix) when generating each patch included in the patch groups 1704 and 1705. That is. In the table shown in FIG. 29, these pieces of information are associated with each patch. That is, in the table shown in FIG. 29, the number information of a certain patch, the position information of the patch, and the information of the density signal value used when generating the patch are arranged in the same line and associated with each other. Henceforth, when expressing that each information is linked | related, it means that the various information regarding one patch is linked | related for every patch.

  When the test sheet output is completed, a display for prompting the user to give an instruction to start reading the output test sheet is performed on an operation screen (not shown) (step 1603). When the user places a test sheet on the platen and instructs to start reading the test sheet, the information is received from the operation unit 2006. Then, the process proceeds to step 1604. In step 1604, the scanner unit 2015 performs a test sheet reading operation. The read image data is sent to the scanner image processing unit 2014.

  The scanner image processing unit 2014 does not perform masking processing, filter processing, and input side gamma correction processing on the image data. These processes correspond to the processes performed by the masking processing unit 2501, the filter processing unit 2502, and the input-side gamma correction unit 2504. Note that the histogram generation process, the color space conversion process, and the character photograph determination process may or may not be performed. Thereafter, the image data output from the scanner image processing unit 2014 is sent to the compression unit 329. The compression unit 329 generates tile data by dividing the image data into blocks of 32 pixels × 32 pixels. Further, the image data composed of the plurality of tile data (hereinafter, this image data is referred to as test sheet data 2. FIG. 37 shows the test sheet 2) is compressed. The image data compressed by the compression unit 2012 is sent to the RAM 2002 and stored therein. Note that step 1605 is from the time the image data obtained by scanning is received by the scanner image processing unit 2014 until it is stored in the RAM 2002 via the compression unit 329.

  Note that the image data stored in step 1605 is composed of a plurality of tile data as described above. By the way, this tile image is sufficiently smaller than the size of the patch. FIG. 28 shows the relationship between patches and tile images. An area 1801 shows one tile image. An area 1802 shows one patch. An area 1803 shows nine tile images located at the center of the patch.

  In step 1606, it is determined whether the position patches 1702, 1703 and the barcode can be read. If it is determined that reading is impossible, the process proceeds to step 1607. If it is determined that reading is possible, the process proceeds to step 1608.

  In step 1607, an error is displayed on the operation screen. This error display is a display prompting the user to correctly place a correct test sheet and give a reading start instruction again. Subsequently, when the test sheet is replaced by the user and a start key (not shown) is depressed, the process proceeds to step 1604.

  On the other hand, in step 1608, the device specifying information embedded in the barcode 1706 is read, and it is determined whether or not the device specifying information belongs to the image forming apparatus 200 itself. If it is determined that it is not the image forming apparatus 200 itself, the process proceeds to step 1609, and an error is displayed on the operation screen. This error display is the same as the error display displayed in step 1607. When the test sheet is replaced by the user and a start key (not shown) is pressed, the process proceeds to step 1604. If it is determined in step 1608 that the device identification information read is that of the image forming apparatus 10 itself, the process proceeds to step 1610.

  In step 1610, the position information of each tile data constituting the image data of the test sheet and the position information of each patch on the test sheet are acquired from the RAM 2002, and it is determined whether or not each tile image exists in the patch. Then, an average value of average luminance values of tile data related to the tile image determined to be present in the patch is obtained. This average value is stored in the RAM 2002 as the luminance value of the patch. As described above, the position information (coordinate position on the document) of each tile image is added to each tile data as header information. Further, the position information of each patch generated when the test sheet data is formed exists in the table shown in FIG. Note that the position information in the table shown in FIG. 29 is not the position information of the tile data generated from the read image data, but information indicating the patch formation position on the test sheet data when the test sheet data is generated. . The average luminance value of each tile data (average luminance information in a block of 32 × 32 pixels) is generated when image data obtained by reading a test sheet is divided into a plurality of tile data and added as header information. ing.

  Subsequently, in step 1611, the brightness value of each patch and the table shown in FIG. 29 are read from the RAM 2002, and the test sheet is obtained by reading each patch information (patch number and density signal value) when the test sheet data 1 is formed. Associate the brightness value of each patch. The association is performed based on the position information of each patch stored when the test sheet data 1 is formed and the position information of the tile data described above. Then, a table including number information, density signal value, and luminance value information for each patch is generated. This table is shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the luminance reflection density conversion table (FIG. 31) stored in advance in the HDD 2004 is read. In Step 1612, the reflection density value is obtained from the luminance value in the table shown in FIG. 30 stored in the RAM 2002 with reference to the luminance density reflection conversion table.

  Subsequently, in step 1613, the obtained reflection density value and the table shown in FIG. 30 are read from the RAM 2002, and the patch reflection density value is associated with the patch number and density signal value instead of the patch luminance value. This association is stored in the RAM 2002. In the table shown in FIG. 32, the number information, reflection density value, and density signal value information used when generating the patch are associated with each patch.

  In step 1612, the reflection density value is obtained from the brightness value of the patch using a table, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reflection density value may be obtained by calculation using a matrix. Further, a configuration having two tables (or matrices) (one for the latent image and one for the background) may be used. Furthermore, a configuration having a table (or matrix) for each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow may be employed.

<First Density Signal Value Determination Method>
The first density signal value determination method is intended to determine an appropriate density signal value used for generation of a tint block image in order to output a tint block image whose reflection density value is close to a predetermined value. The first density signal value determination method will be described with reference to FIG. In determining the density signal value, the processing shown in FIG. 34, FIG. 35, or FIG. 36 may be performed instead of the processing shown in FIG. 34, 35, and 36 will be described later.

  In step 2301, the reflection density value of each latent image patch is compared with the reflection density value of each background patch. As a result of the comparison, a latent image patch and a background patch whose reflection density value is closest to 0.150 are extracted. In the extraction, if there are a plurality of latent image patches having the same difference from 0.150, either patch may be selected. The same applies to the background patch.

  The reflection density value of 0.150 is the optimum reflection density value of the tint block image obtained empirically. As described above, the optimum copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image needs to make it difficult to read characters, line drawings, and the like of a document on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is synthesized as a first condition. At the same time, as a second condition, it is necessary to make the latent image portion reproduced on the copied material and the background portion difficult to reproduce on the copied material in the copied material obtained by copying the output material synthesized with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The reflection density value of 0.150 is a value empirically obtained to satisfy these two conditions. For example, in the case of the table shown in FIG. 32, the reflection density values of the latent image patches are 0.134, 0.145, 0.160, 0.172,. Of these, the value closest to 0.150 is 0.145. Therefore, patch 2 is extracted as a latent image patch. Similarly, patch 2 is extracted as a background patch.

  In step 2302, density signal values corresponding to the extracted latent image patch and background patch numbers are stored in the HDD 2004. That is, in the case of FIG. 32, N + 1 is stored in the HDD 2004 as a latent image portion density signal value and M + 1 is stored as a background portion density signal value in this step.

  If there are a plurality of combinations of finally extracted latent image patches and background patches, it is necessary to provide some rules and select one combination. As long as one combination can be selected, any rule may be used. For example, the following can be cited. A combination with the smallest reflection density difference is selected. A combination is selected in which the reflection density of the latent image patch is smaller (or greater) than the reflection density of the background patch. In the following examples and density determination methods, when there are finally a plurality of combinations, a certain rule may be provided as in this example to select one combination.

  This is the end of the density adjustment of the tint block image. A background pattern image generated after execution of this process uses these density signal values, and is an optimal background pattern image that satisfies the above two conditions. Note that all the above processing is performed by the image forming apparatus 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, information is transferred to the server or the terminal device 240, each processing (for example, processing corresponding to steps 1610 to 1613 and step 2301) is performed on its behalf, and the processing result is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 10. It may be an embodiment.

  Although omitted in the above description, it goes without saying that processing stored in the ROM 2003 and HDD 2004 and image data stored in the ROM 2003 and HDD 2004 may be taken out as necessary. The same applies to the following embodiments.

  As described above, according to the first density signal value determination method described above, in order to output a tint block image whose reflection density value is close to a predetermined value, an appropriate density signal value used for generating the tint block image is surely and automatically determined. Can be determined. Further, when the appropriate density signal value is determined, evaluation by the user's eyes is not required. Therefore, the same density signal value can be determined even if an arbitrary person adjusts the density of the tint block image. Further, it is not necessary for the user to input a patch number when determining an appropriate density signal value. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a non-optimal density signal value from being determined due to an input error or the like.

  As described above, the processing shown in FIG. 34, FIG. 35, or FIG. 36 may be performed instead of the processing shown in FIG. FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a table 4 showing the association of parameters included in each patch.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart for explaining the density adjustment method (No. 2). First, it is checked whether there is a patch having a reflection density value of 0.15 + α (step 2401). If there is no patch, an error display for α adjustment is performed and the process returns to step 2401 (step 2402). If there is a patch, a patch corresponding to the condition of step 2401 is extracted (step 2403), a combination having the smallest difference in reflection density value is extracted (step 2404), and the density signal value is stored (step 2405).

  FIG. 35 is a diagram (part 3) of the flowchart for explaining the density adjustment method. First, it is checked whether there is a combination of reflection density value of latent image patch−reflection density value of background patch = β (step 2501). If there is no combination, an error display for β adjustment is performed and the process returns to step 2501 (step 2502). If there is a combination, a combination satisfying step 2501 is extracted (step 2503), a combination having a latent image patch whose reflection density value is closest to 0.15 is extracted (step 2404), and the reflection density value is set to 0.15. The closest background patch is extracted (step 2505), and the density signal value is stored (step 2506).

  FIG. 36 is a diagram (part 4) of the flowchart for explaining the density adjustment method. First, a latent image patch having a reflection density value closest to 0.15 is extracted (step 2601). Next, the latent image portion generation density signal value is stored (step 2602). Next, a background patch whose reflection density value is closest to the reflection density value of the latent image patch is extracted (step 2603). Next, the density signal value for background portion generation is stored (step 2604).

  By the way, in the embodiment described above, after calculating the reflection density value from the luminance value of each patch, the patch having the smallest difference from the predetermined value (the reflection density value of 0.150) is extracted, and the extracted patch Based on the above, an appropriate density signal value to be used for generation of a tint block image is determined. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an appropriate density signal value used for generating a tint block image can be determined without calculating a reflection density value. As an example, a patch having the smallest difference from a predetermined value (luminance value corresponding to a reflection density value of 0.150) is extracted, and an appropriate density signal value used for generation of a tint block image is determined based on the extracted patch. The method of doing is mentioned.

  By the above-described method, the output density can be adjusted so that the reflection densities of the latent image portion and the background portion are equal to each other with a reflection density that does not impair the readability of the original synthesized with the background pattern. In addition, when copying the original, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is appropriately and easily prevented from losing the effectiveness obtained by synthesizing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with the original so that the latent image becomes readable in the copy. The density of the latent image portion and the background portion can be adjusted.

  However, the reflection density of the output image changes due to external factors such as characteristics of the image forming process, environmental changes, and secular changes. A printer having a mechanism for automatically correcting such a density fluctuation with time has also been proposed. However, in the case of an image with a low reflection density such as a tint block, it is greatly affected by the density fluctuation. Cheap. For this reason, it is very difficult to maintain a state where the reflection density of the latent image portion and the background portion of the tint block image is equal, and a state where the latent image is readable in the copy. As a result, even if the reflection density of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is adjusted by the above-described method, the adjustment becomes invalid due to a change over time, and it is likely that an inappropriate image is printed as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. It will be. Even if the density variation is not a problem in normal image printing, when printing an important image that adds a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern may not provide an appropriate effect from the viewpoint of security. Regardless, it must be avoided that it is printed.

  In order to avoid this, the density of the latent image portion and the background portion of the tint block image is adjusted by the above-described method as frequently as possible following external factors such as environmental changes and secular changes. Also, an image with a background pattern added until the adjustment is made by detecting a change in density based on changes in the surrounding environment such as temperature and humidity, or the time elapsed since the previous adjustment. The only control is to not print.

The operation for canceling the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction received from the terminal device 240 according to the state of the image forming apparatus 200, which is characteristic control in the present invention, will be described below.
FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating the tint block printing operation of the image processing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. On the terminal device 240, the initial screen for tint block printing shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the CRT 10 (step 6000). When the button 2103 is pressed while the check box 2102 is checked, the image forming apparatus selection screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the CRT 10 (step 6001). Next, when the image forming apparatus 200 is selected from 2112 and then the button 2113 is pressed, the terminal apparatus 240 confirms the tint block printable state to the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 (step 6002).

  When receiving confirmation of the tint block printable state from the terminal device 240 (S6003), the image forming apparatus 200 confirms the tint block printable state of the image forming apparatus 200 itself (step 6004). The flow itself for checking the tint block printable state will be described later. Next, the terminal device 240 is notified of the tint block printable state of the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 (step 6005). The terminal device 240 receives the tint block printable state from the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6006). Then, the terminal device 240 determines whether or not to stop the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing in the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6007). If it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing is to be stopped, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern shown in FIG. A print cancel screen is displayed (step 6013), and the print processing is stopped.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog indicating cancellation of tint block printing. Reference numeral 51 denotes the entire copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing display dialog, in which an area 52 for displaying a message indicating the cancellation of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing and a button 53 for canceling the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print job are arranged. In the message area 52, a word prompting to perform the tint block density adjustment is displayed again. In this embodiment, by performing the tint block density adjustment, the value of the counter that counts the number of printed sheets after the tint block density adjustment is zero, and is counted again.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing in the image forming apparatus 200 is not canceled in S6007, the detailed screen for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing information shown in FIG. 20 is displayed, and the user is made to select detailed information (step 6008). When the print key indicated by reference numeral 2215 in FIG. 20 is pressed and the user issues a print job input instruction, the terminal apparatus 240 notifies the image forming apparatus 200 of the start of the background pattern print job input via the LAN 2063. (Step 6009). When it is confirmed in step 6010 that the image forming apparatus 200 has received the job input start, the terminal apparatus 240 transmits print setting information set using the printer driver 203 to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6011). In step 6012, the image forming apparatus 200 stores the received print information in the RAM 2002.

  The terminal device 240 transmits the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6014). In step 6015, the image forming apparatus 200 stores the received copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information in the RAM 2002. Thereafter, the terminal device 240 and the PDL data are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6016). The image forming apparatus 200 generates a RIP image from the received PDL data on the RAM 2002 (step 6017), and stores the generated RIP image in the HDD 2004 (step 6018).

  Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 200 receives the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing job input completion notified from the terminal device 240 in step 6019 (step 6020). Then, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information received from the terminal device 240 is read, and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print process is performed based on the setting of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information (step 6022). When the print processing is completed, the image forming apparatus 200 notifies the terminal device 240 of the end of the print job via the LAN 2063 (step 6023), and ends a series of processing (step 6025). Also, the terminal device 240 receives the end of the print job from the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6024), and ends the series of processing (step 6026).

  FIG. 40 is a flowchart for explaining the tint block printable state confirmation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Step 6004 in FIG. 39 shows a tint block printable state confirmation method of the image forming apparatus 200. Is shown. First, in step 6100, the number of printed sheets after the previous tint block density adjustment is confirmed. This number is counted by the CPU 2001 and held in the SRAM 2060. In step 6101, if this number is greater than the predetermined number, the tint block printable state is set to NG (step 6102), and if not, the tint block printable state is set to OK (step 6103). The process ends (step 6104).

  By such control, an operation of canceling the tint block printing received from the terminal device 240 can be performed depending on the state of the image forming apparatus 200.

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the number of prints printed after the tint block density adjustment is used as an index for determining whether the density of the tint block image has changed since the adjustment was made. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Absent. In the second embodiment, an environmental change from the time when the tint block density adjustment is performed is used as the index.

  FIG. 41 is a flowchart for explaining a method for confirming a tint block printable state according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a method for confirming a tint block printable state of the image forming apparatus 200. First, in step 6200, environmental fluctuations after the previous tint block density adjustment is confirmed. This environmental variation consists of temperature and humidity values measured by an environmental sensor (not shown). The value held in the SRAM 2060 when the previous tint block density adjustment was performed, and the temperature and humidity values at that time. It is calculated by comparison. In step 6201, if the fluctuation amount is larger than the predetermined amount, the tint block printable state is set to NG (step 6202), and otherwise, the tint block printable state is set to OK (step 6203). The process ends (step 6204).

  By such control, an operation of canceling the tint block printing received from the terminal device 240 can be performed depending on the state of the image forming apparatus 200. In the second embodiment, when the tint block density adjustment is performed, measured values such as temperature and humidity by an environmental sensor (not shown) are newly stored in the SRAM 2060.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, the number of prints printed after the background pattern density adjustment and the amount of environmental variation are used as indices for determining whether the density of the background pattern image has changed since the adjustment was made. The invention is not limited thereto.

  Whether the memory capacity installed in the image forming apparatus 200 is sufficient to perform tint block printing may be used as the index. Further, whether or not the image forming apparatus 200 has an image processing function sufficient to perform copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing may be used as the index. Even in these cases, the method for confirming the tint block printable state is the same as that in the first and second embodiments, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, if it is determined that the density of the tint block image has fluctuated since the adjustment was performed, the tint block printing cannot be performed unless the tint block density adjustment is performed again unconditionally. It is supposed to be. However, the background pattern printing may be permitted by the user's judgment by indicating the density fluctuation factor.

  The operation for canceling the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction received from the terminal device 240 according to the state of the image forming apparatus 200, which is characteristic control in the present invention, will be described below.

  FIG. 42 is a flowchart for explaining the tint block printing operation of the image processing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The terminal device 240 displays the initial screen for tint block printing shown in FIG. 17 on the CRT 10 (step 6300). When the button 2103 is pressed while the check box 2102 is checked, the image forming apparatus selection screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the CRT 10 (step 6301). Next, when the image forming apparatus 200 is selected from 2112 and then the button 2113 is pressed, the terminal apparatus 240 confirms the tint block printable state to the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 (step 6302). When the image forming apparatus 200 receives confirmation of the tint block printable state from the terminal device 240 (step 6303), it checks the tint block printable state of the image forming apparatus 200 itself (step 6304). The flow itself for checking the tint block printable state will be described later. Next, the terminal device 240 is notified of the tint block printable state of the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 (step 6305). When the terminal device 240 receives the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printable state from the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6306), the terminal device 240 determines whether or not the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printable state is OK (step 6307). It is displayed (step 6308). If the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printable state is other than OK, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print continuation stop selection screen shown in FIG. 43 is displayed (step 6313).

  FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog for selecting a tint block printing method, and shows an example of a dialog for selecting whether to continue or cancel the tint block printing. 43, reference numeral 2121 denotes an entire background pattern printing method selection dialog, and radio buttons 2123 and 2124 for selecting a background pattern printing method are arranged in the same area. Reference numeral 2122 denotes an area in which a message corresponding to the tint block printable state of the printer selected in FIG. 18 is displayed. Depending on the content of the message displayed in 2122, the user can recognize what factors may cause the background pattern density adjustment to be shifted. Note that the phrase “environmental change” in the message indicates that the tint block printable state is NG and the cause is environmental change. When the cause of NG is that a predetermined number of printed sheets have been printed after adjustment, the corresponding wording is “mass printing”. The user selects radio button 2123 or 2124 to select whether to continue the question printing even when there is a possibility of density fluctuation, or to cancel the tint block printing (step 6321). If the user presses the button 2125 while the radio button 2123 is selected, the job is canceled (step 6327). If the user presses the button 2125 while the radio button 2124 is selected, a tint block information editing dialog 2201 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed (step 6308).

  If the tint block available state is OK in step 6307, or if it is determined in step 6321 that the tint block printing in the image forming apparatus 200 will not be stopped, the detailed screen for tint block printing information shown in FIG. 20 is displayed. Then, the user is made to select detailed information (step 6308). When the print key indicated by reference numeral 2215 in FIG. 20 is pressed and the user issues a print job input instruction, the terminal apparatus 240 notifies the image forming apparatus 200 of the start of the background pattern print job input via the LAN 2063. (Step 6309). When it is confirmed in step 6310 that the image forming apparatus 200 has received the job input start, the terminal apparatus 240 transmits print setting information set using the printer driver 203 to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6311). In step 6312, the image forming apparatus 200 stores the received print information in the RAM 2002.

  The terminal device 240 transmits the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6314). In step 6315, the image forming apparatus 200 stores the received copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information in the RAM 2002. Thereafter, the terminal device 240 transmits the PDL data to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6316). The image forming apparatus 200 generates a RIP image from the received PDL data on the RAM 2002 (step 6317), and stores the generated RIP image in the HDD 2004 (step 6318).

  Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 200 receives the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing job input completion notified from the terminal device 240 in step 6319 (step 6320). Then, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information received from the terminal device 240 is read, and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print process based on the setting of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is performed (step 6322). When the printing process is finished, the image forming apparatus 200 notifies the terminal device 240 of the end of the print job via the LAN 2063 (step 6323), and the series of processes is finished (step 6325). Also, the terminal device 240 receives the end of the print job from the image forming apparatus 200 (step 6324), and ends the series of processing (step 6326).

  FIG. 44 is a flowchart for explaining a method for confirming a tint block printable state according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Step 6304 in FIG. 42 shows a method for confirming the tint block printable state of the image forming apparatus 200. Show. First, in step 6400, the number of printed sheets after the previous adjustment of the background pattern density is confirmed. This number is counted by the CPU 2001 and held in the SRAM 2060. In step 6401, if this number is larger than the predetermined number, the tint block printable state is “mass print” (step 6402), and if not, the tint block printable state is OK (step 6403). Set. Next, in step 6404, the environmental change after the previous adjustment of the background pattern density is confirmed. This environmental variation consists of temperature and humidity values measured by an environmental sensor (not shown). The value held in the SRAM 2060 when the previous tint block density adjustment was performed, and the temperature and humidity values at that time. It is calculated by comparison. In step 6405, if the variation amount is larger than the predetermined amount, the tint block printable state is “environmental variation” (step 6406). Otherwise, the tint block printable state is OK (step 6207). And the process ends (step 6408).

  In the fourth embodiment, the tint block density adjustment is performed. As a result, the value of the counter that counts the number of printed sheets after the tint block density adjustment is zero, and is counted again, and the measured values of temperature, humidity, and the like by an environmental sensor (not shown) are newly displayed in the SRAM 2060. Shall be retained.

  By such control, the user can select to stop or continue the tint block printing received from the terminal device 240 depending on the state of the image forming apparatus 200.

(5th Example)
In the first to fourth embodiments, the background pattern addition instruction and setting are performed from the host computer. However, the background pattern addition instruction and setting may be performed on the image forming apparatus 200 side. In that case, a process for synthesizing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is set in both the host computer and the image forming apparatus 200, and control for avoiding a problem that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is doubled is necessary. .

  Hereinafter, an operation for avoiding a conflict between a forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction set in the image forming apparatus 200 and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction received from the terminal device 240, which is characteristic control in the present invention, will be described. .

  FIG. 45 to FIG. 51 are diagrams showing an example of a user interface for performing settings related to generation and addition of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image during forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing.

  FIG. 45 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the print setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and shows an example of the print setting screen displayed when the print tab 3309 is pressed. A forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode key 3401 performs screen switching for setting ON / OFF of the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode. A background pattern addition key 3402 performs screen switching for setting information to be added as a background pattern.

  FIG. 46 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a forced background pattern mode setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and shows an example of a screen displayed when the forced background pattern mode key 3401 is pressed. An ON key 3501 is for setting a forced background pattern mode in the image forming apparatus 200. The OFF key is for canceling the forced background pattern mode set in the image forming apparatus 200. A cancel key 3503 is for interrupting the setting switching of the forced background pattern mode. An OK key 3504 is for ending the setting switching of the forced background pattern mode. When this key is pressed, the setting of the forced background pattern mode selected on this screen is stored in the SRAM 2060. When a cancel key 3503 and an OK key 3504 are pressed, the screen changes to the print setting screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 47 is a schematic diagram (part 1) showing an example of a background pattern setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and shows an example of a screen displayed when the background pattern addition key 3402 is pressed. . Here, the information to be added as a background pattern can be selected from a stamp, a machine number, and a date. In the present embodiment, these will be described. For example, a number of copies or a user ID number may be selected. In addition, although any one is selected here, a plurality of information may be added as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information.

  FIG. 48 is a schematic diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a background pattern setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and illustrates an example of a screen displayed when the stamp key 4111 is pressed. Here, a stamp to be added as copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information is selected from six options of confidential, copy prohibited, invalid, CONFIDENTIAL, confidential, and COPY. For example, if the top secret is selected, if the key 4122 is pressed after the key 4121 is pressed, a transition is made to the next setting screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram (part 3) showing an example of a background pattern setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and shows an example of a screen displayed when the date key 4112 is pressed. Here, the date format is selected from the four choices of YY / MM / DD, MM / DD / YY, DD / MM / YY, and YY / MM / DD date as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information. For example, when selecting YY / MM / DD, when the key 4131 is pressed and then the key 4132 is pressed, the screen shifts to the next setting screen shown in FIG. When the machine number key 4113 is pressed, a transition is made to the next setting screen shown in FIG. As the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, the serial number of the machine body of each multifunction peripheral is added.

  FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram (part 4) illustrating an example of a background pattern setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and illustrates an example of a screen for setting items common to all background pattern information. On this screen, the font size and color to be added as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information are selected. The font size can be selected from large, medium, and small, and the color can be selected from black, magenta, and cyan. When the key 4143 is pressed after selecting the font size and color, the screen shifts to the next setting screen shown in FIG.

  FIG. 51 is a schematic diagram (part 5) showing an example of a background pattern setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and shows an example of a screen for setting items common to all background pattern information. On this screen, the camouflage pattern of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is selected and the embossed / outlined setting is performed. The camouflage pattern is intended to make it difficult for human eyes to recognize that a background pattern image is added to an image with a background pattern. As shown in FIG. 51, the camouflage pattern can be selected from a plurality of patterns such as fans and cherry blossoms. There is also the option of not using a camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern selected in the background pattern image shown in FIG. 52 is a fan.

  The embossed / outlined setting is for designating which portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information such as text information or the other portion is visualized in the image after copying the image with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern.

  In the screen shown in FIG. 51, after selecting a camouflage pattern, embossed / outlined, and pressing an OK key 4153, all the settings related to the addition of the tint block are confirmed and stored in the SRAM 2060.

  The series of settings related to the background pattern shown in FIGS. 47 to 51 has been described using the print setting screen, but it can be set in the same way for copying.

  FIG. 53 is a flowchart for explaining the tint block printing operation of the image processing system of the present invention, and is for explaining an example of tint block printing operation of the image processing system shown in FIG. is there. On the terminal device 240, the initial screen for tint block printing shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the CRT 10 (step 7000). When the button 2103 is pressed while the check box 2102 is checked, the image forming apparatus selection screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the CRT 10 (step 7001). Next, when the user presses the button 2113 after selecting the image forming apparatus 200 from 2112, the terminal apparatus 240 confirms the setting of the forced tint block mode with the image forming apparatus 200 via the LAN 2063 (step 7002). The image forming apparatus 200 receives the forced ground pattern mode setting confirmation from the terminal device 240 (step 7003). Then, the forced background pattern mode setting is read from the SRAM 2060 (step 7004), and the read forced background pattern mode setting is notified to the terminal device 240 via the LAN 2063 (step 7005). The terminal device 240 receives the forced background pattern mode setting from the image forming apparatus 200 (step 7006). Then, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing method selection screen shown in FIG. 54 is displayed on the CRT 10 (step 7007), and 2122 displays a message corresponding to the setting of the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode.

  FIG. 54 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog for selecting a tint block printing method in the fourth embodiment. This is a dialog instead of FIG. 19 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 54, reference numeral 2121 denotes the entire copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing method selection dialog, and radio buttons 2123, 2124 and 2125 for selecting a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing method are arranged in the same area. An area 2122 displays a message corresponding to the setting of the forced tint block mode of the printer selected in FIG. The user can recognize whether the forced tint block mode is set in the image forming apparatus 200 based on the content of the message displayed in 2122. If the forced tint block mode is not set in the image forming apparatus 200, the radio button 2125 cannot be selected. When the user presses the button 2126 while the radio button 2123 is selected, the initial screen dialog 2101 shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. In addition, the user presses the button 2126 while the radio button 2125 is selected. Performing copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing based on the setting of the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode of the image forming apparatus 200 is stored in the external memory 11 as additional print information that holds print setting information related to print data, and the print job is sent to the image forming apparatus 200. Start charging. On the other hand, when the user presses the button 2126 with the radio button 2124 selected, a tint block information editing dialog 2201 shown in FIG. 20 is displayed.

  Thereafter, the terminal device 240 determines whether or not to stop the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing in the image forming apparatus 200 (step 7008). If it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing is to be stopped, the process returns to S7000, and the process is performed on the CRT 10. The initial screen for tint block printing shown in FIG. 17 is displayed. On the other hand, it may be determined in step 7008 that the tint block printing in the image forming apparatus 200 is not stopped. In this case, at the timing when the user issues a print job input instruction, the terminal apparatus 240 notifies the image forming apparatus 200 of the start of the background pattern printing job input via the LAN 2063 (step 7009).

  If it is confirmed in step 7010 that the image forming apparatus 200 has received the job input start, the terminal apparatus 240 transmits the print setting information set using the printer driver 203 to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 7011). At this time, the print setting information received from the terminal device 240 determines whether to perform copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing based on the setting of the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode of the image forming apparatus 200 or to perform copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing based on the setting of the terminal device 240. Contains information to do. If it is confirmed in step 7012 that the image forming apparatus 200 has received the print setting information, the terminal apparatus 240 determines whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information set on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information editing screen shown in FIG. Is discriminated (step 7013). If it is determined in step 7013 that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is stored in the external memory 11, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is read from the external memory 11 and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 7014).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 7013 that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is not stored, the PDL data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 7016). The image forming apparatus 200 generates a RIP image from the received PDL data on the RAM 2002 (step 7017), and stores the generated RIP image in the HDD 2004 (step 7018). Thereafter, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing job input end is received from the terminal device 240 (step 7020), the print setting information is read from the SRAM 2060, and it is determined whether or not the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction of the terminal device 240 is adopted (step 7021). If it is determined in step 7021 that the terminal device 240 uses the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information received from the terminal device 240 is read from the SRAM 2060 and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print process is performed based on the setting of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information (step 7022). .

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 55, the latent image portion pattern set in the terminal device 240 and the latent image portion pattern set in the image forming apparatus 200, which are characteristic in the present invention, are arranged in different regions. An image with a background pattern is generated. Not only the latent image portion pattern set by the terminal device 240 is added. In this case, when the forced background pattern mode is designated on the image forming apparatus 200 side, the background pattern set here should also be added. In addition, in order to adopt the tint block printing instruction of the terminal device 240, this is realized by adding latent image portion patterns according to both instructions to different areas.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 7021 that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction of the terminal device 240 is not adopted, a tint block printing process based on the setting of the forced ground pattern mode of the image forming apparatus 200 is performed (step 7023). When the printing process is finished, the image forming apparatus 200 notifies the terminal device 240 of the end of the print job via the LAN 2063 (step 7024), and the series of processes is finished (step 7025). Also, the terminal device 240 receives the end of the print job from the image forming apparatus 200 (step 7026), and the series of processing ends (step 7027).

  By such control, it is possible to avoid the conflict between the forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction set in the digital multifunction peripheral and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction received from the host computer, and to prevent the occurrence of an abnormal image in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern portion is broken. . It is also possible to obtain an image with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern intended by the user as a printed matter output by a digital multifunction peripheral.

  Note that the present invention can be applied to a system (multifunction device, 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, scanner, printer, etc.). You may apply.

  In addition, by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium by the computer of the system or apparatus (or CPU or MPU), the storage medium storing the program code for realizing the procedure of the flowchart shown in the above-described embodiment Is also achieved. 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.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In some cases, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. included.

  Further, 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. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments may be realized by the processing. included.

(Sixth embodiment)
An image forming method comprising an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium, comprising: a determination step for determining whether or not to stop image formation of a tint block image, wherein the image forming step includes the step of determining If it is determined to stop the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped, and if it is determined in the determination step that the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not stopped, the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image It is characterized by performing.

  In the sixth embodiment, the recording medium includes a density adjustment step for adjusting a density of the tint block image, and the determination step forms an image after the density adjustment is performed in the density adjustment step. Whether to stop the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is determined on the basis of the number of prints.

  A program for causing a computer to execute each step described in the sixth embodiment. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing each step described in the sixth embodiment.

(Seventh embodiment)
An information processing method including an image formation instruction step for instructing an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium, wherein the image formation instruction step instructs to form a tint block image on the recording medium. A determination step for determining whether or not to cancel an image formation instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus based on information received from the image forming apparatus; and if it is determined to cancel in the determination step, the image forming apparatus The image forming instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is canceled.

  A program for causing a computer to execute each step described in the seventh embodiment. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing each step described in the seventh embodiment.

It is a figure which shows the state of the dot in an image with a background pattern. It is a figure which shows the state in which an image with a tint block is visualized at the time of copying. It is the figure which showed the embossing / whitening of the tint block of this invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the present invention, where (a) is a block diagram showing an overall configuration, and (b) is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between a packet image and the whole image. It is a figure which shows the structure of a packet image. It is a block diagram for explaining scanner image processing of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining printer image processing of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is an external view of an input / output device of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a PDL print job according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a copy screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a terminal device. It is a figure which shows the software structure of a terminal device. It is the figure which showed an example of the initial screen of the user interface regarding copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog for selecting a printer for performing copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing. It is the figure which showed an example of the dialog for canceling the printing of a background pattern. It is a figure showing an example of a dialog for editing individual detailed settings of tint block printing. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation method of the image with a tint block of this invention. It is a figure which shows a dot concentration type dither matrix. It is a figure which shows a dot dispersion type dither matrix. It is a figure which shows a concentrated dither pattern. It is a figure which shows a distributed dither pattern. It is a figure which shows the flowchart 1 explaining the density | concentration adjustment method (the first half). It is a figure which shows a test sheet | seat (the 1). It is a figure which shows the relationship between a patch and a tile image. It is a figure which shows the table 1 which shows the correlation of the parameter which each patch has. It is a figure which shows the table 2 which shows the correlation of the parameter which each patch has. It is a figure which shows a luminance reflection density conversion table. It is a figure which shows the table 3 which shows the correlation of the parameter which each patch has. It is a figure which shows the flowchart (the 1) for demonstrating the density adjustment method. It is a figure which shows the flowchart (the 2) for demonstrating a density adjustment method. It is a figure which shows the flowchart (the 3) for demonstrating a density adjustment method. It is a figure which shows the flowchart (the 4) for demonstrating the density adjustment method. It is a figure which shows a test sheet | seat (the 2). It is a figure which shows the table 4 which shows the correlation of the parameter which each patch has. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of tint block printing of the image processing system of 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the method of confirmation of the tint block printable state of 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the method of confirmation of the tint block printable state of 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of tint block printing of the image processing system of 4th Example of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the dialog for selecting the printing method of a tint block. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the method of confirmation of the tint block printable state of 4th Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a forced tint block mode setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram (part 1) illustrating an example of a screen pattern setting screen of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram (part 2) illustrating an example of a tint block setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram (part 3) illustrating an example of a tint block setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram (part 4) illustrating an example of a screen pattern setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram (part 5) illustrating an example of a tint block setting screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a production | generation of the image with a tint block which performed even the boundary process. It is a figure which shows the flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement of tint block printing of the image processing system of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the dialog for selecting the printing method of a tint block in 4th Example. It is the figure which showed the example of a production | generation of the image with a tint block of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 RAM
3 ROM
4 System bus 5 Keyboard controller (KBC)
6 CRT controller (CRTC)
7 Disk controller (DKC)
8 Network interface controller (NIC)
9 Keyboard 10 CRT display (CRT)
11 External memory 200, 220, 230 Image forming apparatus 201 Application 202 Graphic engine 203 Printer driver 204 System spooler 205 Background pattern processing unit 240 Terminal apparatus 2000 Controller unit 2001 CPU
2002 RAM
2003 ROM
2004 HDD
2005 Operation unit I / F
2006 Operation unit 2007 Network 2008 LAN
2009 DMAC
2010 Image bus 2011 Image bus I / F
2012 compression unit 2013 expansion unit 2014 scanner image processing unit 2015 scanner unit 2016 printer image processing unit 2017 printer unit 2018 raster image processor (RIP)
2019 Rotation unit 2020 Scaling unit 2021 Color space conversion unit 2022 Binary multi-value conversion unit 2023 Combining unit 2024 Thinning-out unit 2025 Moving unit 2026 Multi-value binary conversion unit 2030 Image conversion unit 2050 Modem 2051 Public line (WAN)
2052 Binary Image Rotation Unit 2053 Value Image Compression / Expansion Unit 2060 SRAM
2063 LAN
2200, 2300 Controller unit 2212, 2312 Operation unit 2270, 2370 Scanner unit 2295, 2395 Printer unit 2501 Masking 2502 Filter 2503 Histogram 2504 Gamma unit 2505 Color space conversion unit 2506 Comparator 2507 Counter 2508 Character / photo determination unit 2509 Specific document determination unit 2601 Background removal unit 2602 Monochrome generation unit 2603 Output color correction unit 2604 Filter processing unit 2605 Gamma correction unit 2606 Halftone correction unit 2607 Inter-drum delay memory 2701 Document feeder 2702 Tray 2703, 2704, 2705 Paper cassette 2706 Output tray 2801 LCD display 2802 Touch panel sheet 2803 Start key 2804 2-color LED
2805 Stop key 2806 ID key 2807 Reset key 3063 LAN
3301 Status display window 3302 Density automatic key 3303 Density adjustment slider 3304 Original type selection key 3305 Application mode key 3306 Sort selection key 3307 Duplex selection key 3308 Copy tab 3309 Print tab 4010 UI control unit 4020 Copy application unit 4023 PDL application unit 4030 Common interface 4050 Scan manager 4070 PDL manager 4080 Sink manager 4090 Print manager 4110 Image manager 4120 Network application section

Claims (15)

In an image processing system composed of a terminal device and an image forming apparatus connected to a network,
The terminal device includes a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instructing unit that issues a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction in which copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is added to image information to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes:
A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation / addition unit for generating and adding the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information to the image information received from the terminal device;
Image information output means for outputting the image information to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information generated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image addition means is added to a recording medium;
A tint block latent image background density determining means for determining the density of the latent image part and the background part of the tint block image based on the tint block image information;
A tint block density variation detecting unit for detecting a variation in density of each of the latent image portion and the background portion of the tint block image determined by the tint block latent image background density determining unit;
Control means for controlling the tint block image generation adding unit, the image information output unit, the tint block latent image background density determining unit, and the tint block density variation detecting unit;
The control means cancels the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing instruction instructed from the terminal device when a change is detected by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern density change detecting means.   The terminal device includes a selection unit that selects whether the control unit cancels the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern print instruction instructed from the terminal device or prints the print as it is when the variation is detected by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern density variation detection unit. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a user selectable.   The terminal device includes a forced copy-forgery-inhibited pattern mode determining unit that determines whether or not the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information is forcibly added to the image information received by the image forming apparatus. 3. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined by the mode determination unit that the image forming apparatus is in a state forcibly adding the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image information, the user is notified of the fact. system.   The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern density detecting means is based on the number of prints of the recording medium output by the image forming apparatus after the density of the latent image portion and the background portion of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is determined by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern background image density determining unit. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein density fluctuation detection is performed.   The image forming apparatus includes an ambient environment measurement unit that measures ambient temperature and humidity, and the tint block density variation detection unit detects the density of the latent image portion and the background portion of the tint block image by the tint block latent image background density determination unit. 5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein density fluctuation detection is performed based on a fluctuation amount of a result measured by the ambient environment measuring unit after the determination of the ambient temperature. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium,
Determining means for determining whether or not to stop the image formation of the tint block image;
The image forming unit includes:
When it is determined by the determination means to stop image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped, and when the determination means determines that image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not canceled, An image forming apparatus that forms an image of a tint block image.   Density adjustment means for adjusting the density of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, and the determination means based on the number of prints of the recording medium on which the image forming means has formed an image after density adjustment is performed by the density adjustment means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein it is determined whether or not to stop the image formation of the tint block image. An information processing apparatus having image formation instruction means for instructing an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium,
It is determined whether or not to cancel the image formation instruction of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus based on the information received from the image forming apparatus that has instructed the image formation instruction unit to form a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image on the recording medium. Determination means to perform,
An information processing apparatus that cancels an image formation instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus when the determination unit determines to cancel. An image forming method comprising an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium,
A determination step for determining whether or not to stop image formation of the tint block image;
The image forming step includes
When it is determined in the determination step that image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is to be stopped, image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is stopped, and when it is determined in the determination step that image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not to be stopped, An image forming method comprising forming an image of a tint block image.   A density adjustment step for adjusting the density of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, wherein the determination step is based on the number of prints of the recording medium on which the image formation step has formed an image after the density adjustment is performed in the density adjustment step; The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein it is determined whether or not to stop the image formation of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. An information processing method comprising an image formation instruction step for instructing an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium,
It is determined whether to cancel the image formation instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus based on the information received from the image forming apparatus that has instructed to form the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image on the recording medium in the image formation instruction step. A determination step to:
An information processing method comprising canceling an image formation instruction for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the image forming apparatus when it is determined to cancel in the determination step.   The program for performing each step of Claim 9 or 10 using a computer.   The program for performing each step of Claim 11 using a computer.   The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program for performing each step of Claim 9 or 10. The computer-readable recording medium which recorded the program for performing each step of Claim 11.

Images