JP2007325197A - Image forming apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and method for performing copying and printing with high quality even when a device that prints an original in which data of a document or a photograph are printed on a medium such as paper is different from a device for copying and printing the original. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 6-1, 6-n forms a copied document of a document based on the document printed on a paper sheet, the document being added with document data and digital watermark information including storage place information indicating a storage place, in a storage device, of printing control information of the document data, wherein the image forming apparatus 6-1, 6-n is fully provided with: a reading means 29 for reading image information and the digital watermark information from the document when it is instructed to copy the document; an acquisition means for acquiring the document data of the document and printing control information from the storage device based on the storage place information included in the digital watermark information read by the reading means; and an image formation control means for controlling the formation of a copied image of the document based on the document data and the printing control information acquired by the acquisition means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and method, and in particular, high quality even when an apparatus that prints a document in which data such as documents and photographs are printed on a medium such as paper is different from an apparatus that copies and prints the document. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and method capable of copying and printing.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of scanners and printing apparatuses, it has become easy to read data such as documents and photographs printed on a medium such as paper with a scanner and print the read data with a printing apparatus.

  Along with the digitization of documents, document management tools and the like that read data on a medium with a scanner and electronically manage the data have become widespread.

  Due to recent developments in scanner and printing device technology, the print data read by the scanner and the read data printed by the printing device are closer to the printed material (for example, images and shades). Compared with the printed matter from which the data is read, it is inevitable that the printing result through the scanner and the printing apparatus deteriorates the print image quality.

  In addition, when data of a printed matter is read by a scanner, the data of the printed matter may not be read faithfully due to a platen glass or a stain on the printed matter when the printed matter is scanned by the scanner.

  Therefore, it is desired to propose an apparatus and a method capable of copying and printing with high quality without losing the image of the data on the medium such as paper or degrading the image quality.

  Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 obtains a high-quality photo as if a photo printed on a medium such as paper was copied by a copying machine, and used to suppress the unlimited acquisition of a good-quality photo using the photo obtained there. Photo printing control devices have been proposed.

  Patent Document 2 proposes an image processing system and a control method therefor that can realize the same color reproducibility between different output devices.

Patent Document 3 proposes a printing system capable of improving the efficiency of the printing process while performing printing in which the same color expression is performed in a plurality of printing machines.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-066950 JP 2002-118759 A JP 2002-229964 A

  The proposal disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document 1 stores photo data in its own apparatus or server when printing a photo, and associates the permission level for printing the photo data with the identification information assigned in advance to the medium and the storage location. At the time of saving and copying a photo, the photo data is read out from the storage location of the photo data and printed in accordance with the permission level specified from the identification information attached to the medium.

  According to the proposal shown in Patent Document 1, it is possible to copy and print a photograph without being affected by image loss or image quality deterioration due to secular change, but a printing apparatus that prints the original photograph, If the printing apparatus for copying a photograph is different, color reproduction may be different.

  Further, the proposal disclosed in Patent Document 2 is based on the image data output for the printing apparatus A based on the profile of the image processing system in which the printing apparatus A and the printing apparatus B are connected and the profile for the printing apparatus A. After the conversion to the device-independent color space that does not depend on the color space, the color space for the printing device B is determined by the user-specified profile for the printing device B and the matching option based on the difference in the color reproduction range between the printing device A and the printing device B. And output to the printing apparatus B.

  However, in the proposal shown in Patent Document 2, the server holds color space information (profiles) for the number of types of printing apparatuses connected to the image processing system and the color conversion system (file converter), and the server performs color conversion processing. As a result, the server system becomes enormous.

  Further, the proposal shown in Patent Document 3 is that the server of the printing system acquires the color space information of each of the plurality of printing apparatuses, and makes the color expression common to each printing apparatus based on the acquired color space information. Color conversion information is generated, and print data to which the generated color conversion information is attached is transmitted to each printing apparatus.

  However, in the proposal shown in Patent Document 3, color conversion is performed in a common part of the color space of a plurality of printing apparatuses, and the color conversion process of the printing apparatus B is matched with the color conversion result of the printing apparatus A. Is not configured.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image that can be copied and printed with high quality even when a device that prints a document in which data such as documents and photographs are printed on a medium such as paper is different from a device that copies and prints a document. It is an object to provide a forming apparatus and method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a document printed on a sheet to which electronic watermark information including storage location information indicating storage location in a storage device of document data and print control information of the document data is added. In the image forming apparatus for forming a duplicate document of the document based on the document, when the document is instructed to be copied, a reading unit that reads the image information and the digital watermark information of the document from the document, and the digital watermark information read by the reading unit Acquisition means for acquiring the document data and the print control information of the document from the storage device based on the storage location information included in the storage device, and a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information acquired by the acquisition means And image formation control means for controlling the formation of the image.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the digital watermark information includes information indicating whether or not copying of the document is prohibited, and the image formation control unit reads the document by the reading unit. When the electronic watermark information includes information prohibiting copying of the document, the electronic watermark information includes a copy prohibiting control unit that prohibits formation of a duplicate image of the document.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the digital watermark information includes information as to whether or not copying of the document by high-quality copying is permitted, and the image formation control means includes: When the digital watermark information includes information that permits copying by high-quality copying of the document, a duplicate image of the document is formed based on the document data acquired by the acquiring unit and the print control information. High-quality copy printing control means is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the digital watermark information includes device identification information for identifying a device that has printed the document, and the high-quality copy printing control means includes: A device discriminating unit for discriminating whether the device identified from the device identification information is identical to the device itself when the device identification information is included in the digital watermark information read by the reading unit; If it is determined by the apparatus determination means that the same, the first high-quality copy printing control means for forming a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means, and the apparatus determination means A second high-quality copy printing control means for forming a duplicate image of the document based on the document data obtained by the obtaining means and the print control information when it is determined that they are not the same. Characterized in that it.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the print control information includes information on a color reproduction area of an apparatus that has printed the document, and the second high-quality copy print control means includes: Selection means for selecting whether to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means or to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information; Color conversion means for performing color conversion processing on the data based on the color reproduction area included in the print control information and the color reproduction area of the device itself, and the document data and the print control information in the selection means When the formation of the duplicate image of the document is selected based on the above, the color conversion processing of the document data is performed by the color conversion means to form the duplicate image of the document. To.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the print control information includes CMYK data of the document after color conversion processing based on a color reproduction region of the apparatus at the time of document printing, and the color A converting unit that determines whether or not the color reproduction area of the own apparatus includes a color reproduction area included in the print control information; a color reproduction area of the own apparatus; and the print control information A common color reproduction area specifying means for specifying a common area with the color reproduction area included in the image, and a coefficient for converting the color reproduction area included in the print control information into the common area specified by the common color reproduction area specifying means Is included in the print control information when the determination unit determines that the color reproduction area of the device includes the color reproduction area included in the print control information. Said sentence If the determination means determines that the color reproduction area of the device does not include the color reproduction area included in the print control information, the conversion coefficient calculated by the coefficient calculation means is used. A color conversion process is performed on the document data acquired by the acquisition unit to form a duplicate image of the document.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instruction for printing in an image forming apparatus for forming on a sheet digital watermark information including document data for which printing is instructed and permission information relating to copying of the document on which the document data is printed. Storage means for storing the document data instructed to print based on the permission information and print control information relating to printing of the document data, the permission information based on the permission information instructed to print, and stored in the storage means. And printing means for adding digital watermark information including the document data and storage location information indicating a storage location of the print control information of the document data to the document data and printing on the paper. .

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein the permission information includes information that prohibits copying of the document, information that permits copying of the document by normal copying, and high copying of the document. And the storage means stores the document data instructed to print if the permission information instructed to print includes information to permit copying of the document in high quality copying. And print control information relating to printing of the document data, and the printing unit stores the permission information, the document data stored in the storage unit, and a storage location of the print control information of the document data Digital watermark information including location information is added to the document data and printed on paper.

  According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the eighth aspect of the invention, the print control information includes information on a color reproduction area of the apparatus itself and CMYK data after color conversion processing of the document data based on the color reproduction area. If the permission information that is instructed to print includes information that permits copying of the document by high-quality copying, the storage means stores the document data that has been instructed to print and information on the color reproduction area of the device itself And CMYK data after color conversion processing of the document data.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the document data and the digital watermark information including the storage location information indicating the storage location in the storage device of the print control information of the document data are added to the document based on the document printed on the paper. In the image forming method for forming a duplicate document, when the document is instructed to be duplicated, the image information and the digital watermark information of the document are read from the document by the reading unit, and the storage location included in the digital watermark information read by the reading unit The document data of the document and the print control information are acquired from the storage device based on the information by the acquisition unit, and the formation control of the duplicate image of the document is performed based on the document data and the print control information acquired by the acquisition unit. It is characterized by being performed by the formation control means.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the invention, in the tenth aspect of the invention, the digital watermark information includes information indicating whether or not copying of the document is prohibited, and the image formation control unit reads the document by the reading unit. When the electronic watermark information includes information prohibiting the copying of the document, control is performed to prohibit the formation of a duplicate image of the document.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the tenth or eleventh aspect, the digital watermark information includes information as to whether or not copying of the document by high-quality copying is permitted, and the image formation control means includes: When the digital watermark information includes information that permits duplication of the document by high-quality copying, formation control of a duplicate image of the document is performed based on the document data obtained by the obtaining unit and the print control information. It is characterized in that it is performed by high-quality copy printing control means.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the digital watermark information includes device identification information for identifying a device that has printed the document, and the high-quality copy printing control means includes: When the device identification information is included in the digital watermark information read by the reading means, the device identification means determines whether the device identified from the device identification information is the same as the device itself, When it is determined that the same is determined by the apparatus determining means, a duplicate image of the document is formed based on the document data acquired by the acquiring means, and when it is determined that the apparatus determining means is not the same, The second high-quality copy printing control means controls the formation of a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means and the print control information.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the print control information includes information on a color reproduction area of an apparatus that printed the document, and the second high-quality copy print control means includes The selection means selects whether to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means or to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information, and the selection When the method is selected to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information, the color reproduction area included in the print control information and the color of the device itself are selected for the document data. A color conversion process based on the reproduction area is performed by a color conversion unit to form a duplicate image of the document.

  The invention according to claim 15 is the invention according to claim 14, wherein the print control information includes CMYK data of the document after color conversion processing based on a color reproduction region of the apparatus at the time of document printing, and the color The converting means determines whether or not the color reproduction area of the own apparatus includes the color reproduction area included in the print control information, and determines whether the color reproduction area of the own apparatus is determined by the determining means. When it is determined that the color reproduction area included in the print control information is included, the CMYK data of the document included in the print control information is used, and the color reproduction area of the device itself is determined as the print control by the determination unit. If it is determined that the color reproduction area included in the information is not included, the common color reproduction area specifying unit specifies a common area between the color reproduction area of the device and the color reproduction area included in the print control information, The mark A coefficient for converting a color reproduction area included in the control information into the common area specified by the common color reproduction area specifying unit is calculated by a coefficient calculating unit, and the document acquired by the acquiring unit with the calculated conversion coefficient A data color conversion process is performed to form a duplicate image of the document.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method in which electronic watermark information including document data for which printing is instructed and permission information relating to duplication of a document on which the document data is printed is formed on a sheet. The document data instructed to be printed based on the permission information and the print control information related to the printing of the document data are stored in a storage unit, and the permission information and the storage unit in the printing unit based on the permission information instructed to print. The electronic watermark information including the document data stored in step S1 and storage location information indicating the storage location of the print control information of the document data is added to the document data and printed on paper.

  The invention of claim 17 is the invention of claim 16, wherein the permission information includes information prohibiting copying of the document, information permitting copying of the document by normal copying, and high copying of the document. And the storage means stores the document data instructed to print if the permission information instructed to print includes information to permit copying of the document in high quality copying. And print control information relating to printing of the document data, and the printing unit stores the permission information, the document data stored in the storage unit, and a storage location of the print control information of the document data Digital watermark information including location information is added to the document data and printed on paper.

  The invention according to claim 18 is the invention according to claim 17, wherein the print control information includes CMYK data after color conversion processing of the document data based on the information on the color reproduction area of the apparatus and the color reproduction area. If the permission information that is instructed to print includes information that permits copying of the document by high-quality copying, the storage means stores the document data that has been instructed to print and information on the color reproduction area of the device itself And CMYK data after color conversion processing of the document data.

  According to the image forming apparatus and method of the present invention, even when the platen glass of the scanner or the dirt on the original is contaminated, it is possible to prevent the image from being lost due to these influences, and to reproduce the original original image faithfully. Quality printing results can be obtained.

  In addition, even if the image forming apparatus that prints the original and the image forming apparatus that copies the original are different, it is possible to obtain a high-quality print result that minimizes the difference in color between the original and the original. .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus 2 according to the present invention and a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 including the image forming apparatus 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 1 includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “personal computer”) 4, an image forming apparatus 2, a server 3, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 6-1,. An apparatus 6-n (hereinafter referred to as “image forming apparatus 6-n”) is connected to a network 5 such as a LAN (= Local Area Network).

  The personal computer 4 and the server 3 are generally used personal computers including devices such as an input / output device, a storage device, a central processing unit, and a network I / F (= interface).

  The personal computer 4 allows the user to instruct the image forming apparatus 2 or the image forming apparatus 6-n to print desired image data.

  The server 3 manages the network 5 and stores and holds print data and various data instructed by the user from the personal computer 4.

  The image forming apparatus 2 includes a display / operation unit 21, a scanner unit 22, a printing unit 23, a storage unit 24, a control unit 25, a network I / F (= interface) unit 26, and a digital watermark information generation unit. 27, an electronic watermark information embedding unit 28, an electronic watermark information reading unit 29, a color conversion processing unit 30, and a data reading / processing unit 31.

  The display / operation unit 21 includes a touch panel that includes a screen (not shown) for displaying the operation status of the image forming apparatus 2 and various operation instruction guidance, an operation button for the user to instruct the image forming apparatus 2, and the like. Notify the user of various information and accept instructions from the user.

  The scanner unit 22 optically scans a document placed on a platen (not shown) and reads image data of the document.

  The printing unit 23 generates image data read by the scanner unit 22 based on an instruction from the control unit 25, image data received by the image forming apparatus 2, or image data read from the storage unit 32 of the server 3, and the like by color conversion processing. The output image data thus formed is formed on a medium such as paper and printed out.

  The storage unit 24 controls storage devices such as a RAM, a ROM, and a hard disk and writing and reading of data to these storage devices.

  The network I / F unit 26 controls transmission / reception of data signals, control signals, and the like between the image forming apparatus 2 and the personal computer 4 connected to the network 5, the image forming apparatus 6-n, the server 3 and other apparatuses. Do.

  The digital watermark information generation unit 27 generates digital watermark data corresponding to various types of information to form a camouflaged dot pattern so that it cannot be visually recognized in a printed document image.

  This dot pattern can be recognized as a dot pattern that is intentionally embedded in a printed document image, and a black dot pattern is formed in a low-density area in the document image. Before or after the formation of the dot pattern in the image, such as by forming a fine dot pattern in the image, or by forming a complementary color dot pattern in the same color area over a predetermined range in the image. Various methods known in the art can be applied as long as they cannot be detected by human eyes but can be detected at the time of copying and printing.

In this embodiment, digital watermark data generated corresponding to various types of information is referred to as digital watermark information, and the digital watermark information can be used for prohibiting copy printing and prohibiting normal copy printing. Information indicating that normal copy printing is possible and high-quality copy printing is permitted (hereinafter referred to as “printing permission information”), and image formation connected to the network 5 Identification information (hereinafter referred to as “device identification information”) for identifying a unique device of each of the device 2 and the image forming device 6-n, an input password (hereinafter referred to as “input password”), and a print instruction. There are data storage location information indicating the storage location of the image data (original image data) and the storage location of the data of the color conversion method when generating the output image data from the original image data.
As the data storage location, a desired storage location is set in advance by a user or a system administrator, and the storage unit 32 of the server 3 or the storage unit 24 of the own device 2 is set.

  As the data storage location, a desired storage location may be designated when the user instructs printing of original image data.

  Further, when the storage location is the storage unit 24 of the own device 2, information such as a directory and a file in the own device 2 is set as the data storage location information, and when the storage location is the storage unit 32 of the server 3, the URL (= Information such as Uniform Resource Locator is set so that the server 3 (storage unit 32) can be identified.

  The color conversion method data includes color reproduction area data included in a printing apparatus that has printed an original at the time of original printing, and color printing processing performed after the printing apparatus performs color conversion processing on original image data of the original based on the color reproduction area. This is CMYK data.

  The digital watermark information embedding unit 28 adds the digital watermark information generated by the digital watermark information generation unit 27 to the output image data.

  The digital watermark information reading unit 29 analyzes the image data read from the document by the scanner unit 21 to determine whether the digital watermark data is included. If the digital watermark data is included, the digital watermark information reading unit 29 Are separated into digital watermark data and image data not including the digital watermark data, and various information indicated by the digital watermark data is recognized.

  The color conversion processing unit 30 performs color conversion processing on image data (original image data) instructed for printing or image data read by the scanner unit 22 from an original (hereinafter referred to as “image data (original)”). Print image data is generated.

  The data reading processing unit 31 stores various data such as original image data and color conversion method data in a predetermined storage location (for example, the storage unit 32 of the server 3 in this embodiment) or stored in a predetermined storage location. Processing to read various data.

  The control unit 25 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 2 and performs overall control of the entire image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 6-n is configured in the same manner as the image forming apparatus 2, but may not have a function corresponding to the scanner unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2.

  The image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 6-n are image forming apparatuses capable of color printing.

  The image forming apparatus 2 configured as described above forms the above-described digital watermark information on a document on which original image data is printed. When copying and printing a document, the image forming apparatus 2 is based on the digital watermark information formed on the document. It is possible to perform processing of prohibiting copy printing of the original document, normal copy printing, or high-quality copy printing.

  In the image forming system 1 configured by the image forming apparatus 2, processing operations when the original image data is printed out by the image forming apparatus 2 and copying based on the digital watermark information formed on the document by the image forming apparatus 2 The operations of printing prohibition, normal copy printing, and high-quality copy printing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the main part of the present invention when the image forming apparatus 2 prints out original image data instructed to be printed from the personal computer 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when printing out the original image data, the user wants to print out the original image data (original image data) on the print instruction screen displayed on the screen (not shown) of the personal computer 4, and the original image. When the print permission information to be added to the data, the password that is required to be input according to the print permission information, and the image forming apparatus 2 as the output destination are input and set to print (step S201), the original image data and the print permission information are displayed. And the password are transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 via the network 5 and received by the image forming apparatus 2 (YES in step S202).

  As described above, the print permission information includes copy prohibition that prohibits copy printing of a document on which the original image data is printed, normal copy printing that allows normal copy printing, and high-quality copy printing. When the user instructs to print the original image data, the desired print permission information is selected and set from the print permission information selection items displayed on the print instruction screen. .

  In addition, when selecting high-quality copy printing when selecting the print permission information, the password must be entered, and in other cases, it may or may not be entered.

  The input password here identifies whether the user who instructed copy printing is a user who is permitted to perform high-quality copy printing when performing high-quality copy printing of a document on which original image data is printed out. (Details will be described later).

  Original image data instructed to be printed by the user, print permission information selected and set, and password (required if the print permission information is high-quality copy printable) are transmitted from the personal computer 4 to the network 5 and the network interface of the image forming apparatus 2 The data is stored in the storage unit 24 via the unit 26 and the control unit 25.

  Note that a printer driver corresponding to the image forming apparatus 2 is provided in advance for each processing operation such as display of the print instruction screen, print permission information, input password, and transmission of the original image data to the output destination. Installed.

  When the original image data, the print permission information, and the password are stored in the storage unit 24, the color conversion processing unit 30 performs a color conversion process based on the characteristics of the color reproduction area of the own apparatus 2 on the original image data (Step S1). S203), output image data (hereinafter referred to as “output image data (original image)”) is generated (step S204).

  Specifically, the original image data expressed in the RGB color space for monitor display is converted into a CMYK color space based on the color reproduction area characteristics of the device 2 and output image data (printable by the printing unit 23) ( Original image).

  The characteristics of the color reproduction area have their own color reproduction area characteristics depending on the type and model of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus 2 and the image forming apparatus 6-n constituting the image forming system 1. Each color reproduction region may be different or the same.

  When the output image data (original image) is generated, the digital watermark information generation unit 27 recognizes and discriminates the content indicated by the print permission information (step S205), and generates digital watermark information corresponding to the print permission information.

  Specifically, when the digital watermark information generating unit 27 recognizes that the print permission information is copy printing prohibited or normal copy printing is possible (YES in step S206 or NO in step S206, YES in step S208), these pieces of information are included. Corresponding digital watermark information is generated (step S207 or step S209).

  As described above, the digital watermark information generated by the digital watermark information generation unit 27 in step S207 or step S209 corresponds to the content indicating that copy printing is prohibited or normal copy printing is possible. Digital watermark data is generated such that a camouflaged dot pattern is formed in the image so that it cannot be visually recognized.

  When the digital watermark information generation unit 27 generates digital watermark information indicating that copy printing is prohibited or normal copy printing is possible, the digital watermark information embedding unit 28 sets the digital watermark information corresponding to each digital watermark information. It is added to the output image data (original image) generated in step S204 and transferred to the printing unit 23 (step S213).

  The printing unit 23 forms output image data (original image) including the transferred digital watermark information on a medium such as paper and prints it out (step S214).

  In step S205, if the digital watermark information generation unit 27 recognizes that the print permission information is high-quality copy printing (NO in step S206, NO in step S208, YES in step S210), the data reading / processing unit 31 Are the original image data and the data of the color conversion method of the color conversion process performed on the original image data in step S203 described above (the color reproduction region of the image forming apparatus 2 and the CMYK data of the original image data after the color conversion process). The information is stored in the storage unit 32 of the server 3 which is a storage location that is set in advance by a user or a system administrator (step S211), and information on these storage locations (for example, original image data and color conversion method data is stored in the server). Address information, etc.), the password entered in step S201, and the own apparatus (in this case, the image forming apparatus 2) Each of the digital watermark information corresponding to the identification information (device identification information) for generating the electronic watermark information generating unit 27 (step S212).

  When each digital watermark information corresponding to each data storage location information, password, and device identification information storing original image data and color conversion method data is generated, the digital watermark information is embedded in the digital watermark information embedding unit 28 adds the output image data (original image) generated in the above-described step S204 and transfers it to the printing unit 23 (step S213), and the printing unit 23 outputs the output image data (original image) including the digital watermark information to paper. Or the like and printed out (step S214).

  In step S210, if the print permission information is not acceptable for high-quality copy printing (NO in step S210), the control unit 25 determines that the print permission information is not set, and performs normal printing processing.

  Specifically, the output image data (original image) generated in step S204 described above is transferred to the printing unit 23, and the printing unit 23 forms the output image data (original image) on a medium such as paper and prints it out. (Step S214).

  In this case, digital watermark information is not formed on a printed material copied and printed from a document.

  The operation control of each part of the image forming apparatus 2 described above operates based on the control of the control unit 25.

  Here, each data storage location of the original image data and the color conversion method data is the storage unit 32 of the server 3, but each data storage location is a storage unit of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus) 2 as described above. 24, or the user may specify a desired storage location when instructing printing of original image data.

  When the data storage location is the storage unit 24 of the own apparatus (image forming apparatus) 2, when the image forming apparatus that prints the original and the image forming apparatus that copies and prints the original are not the same apparatus, Copy printing is performed, and in the case of the same apparatus, a printed matter copied and printed from a document always obtains the same print result as the document.

  Next, operations of copy prohibition, normal copy printing, and high-quality copy printing based on digital watermark information formed on a document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the user places a document on a platen (not shown) of the scanner unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 and instructs copy printing using an operation button (not shown) of the display / operation unit 21, the scanner unit 22 The original is optically scanned and an image of the original is read (step S301).

  Document image data (image data (document)) read by the scanner unit 22 is stored and held in the storage unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 2 under the control of the control unit 25.

  When the image data (original) is stored in the storage unit 24, the digital watermark data reading unit 29 analyzes the image data (original), and if the image data (original) includes digital watermark information, the image data The digital watermark data corresponding to the digital watermark information in the (original) is separated into the image data not including the digital watermark data, and the information (digital watermark information) indicated by the digital watermark data is identified (step S302).

  When the digital watermark information reading unit 29 identifies the information indicated by the digital watermark data included in the image data (original) as copy printing prohibited (YES in step S303), the control unit 25 performs a print prohibition process (step S304). .

  Specifically, the image data (original) read by the scanner unit 22 is discarded, and the operation of the printing unit 23 is stopped so that printing processing is not performed.

  If the digital watermark information reading unit 29 identifies that the information indicated by the digital watermark data is normal copy printing (NO in step S303, YES in step S305), the image data (original) read by the scanner unit 22 is normally set. Print out with copy printing.

  Specifically, color conversion is performed on image data that does not include digital watermark data separated from the image data (original) by the digital watermark data reading unit 29 (hereinafter referred to as “image data (digital watermark data removal)”). The processing unit 30 performs color conversion processing based on the color reproduction region characteristics of the device 2 (step S306), and generates output image data (step S315).

  Specifically, the image data (digital watermark data removal) is converted into a CMYK color space based on the color reproduction area characteristics of the apparatus 2 and converted into output image data that can be printed out by the printing unit 23.

  When the output image data is generated, the digital watermark information generation unit 27 generates digital watermark information indicating that normal copy printing is possible, and the digital watermark information embedding unit 28 generates the digital watermark information in the above-described step S315. It is added to the output image data and transferred to the printing unit 23 (step S316).

  The printing unit 23 forms output image data including the transferred digital watermark information on a medium such as paper and prints it out (step S317).

  In this case, if the platen or the original is dirty when the scanner unit 22 scans the original, the read image may have an image defect or the like, and the printed result of copying and printing is higher in image quality than the original. May deteriorate.

  In step S305, when the digital watermark information reading unit 29 identifies the information indicated by the digital watermark data as being capable of high-quality copy printing (NO in step S305), the display / operation unit 21 displays a password input screen (not shown). The user is prompted to input a password, and the password input by the control unit 25 is compared with the password read from the digital watermark information in the image data (original) by the digital watermark information reading unit 29 (step S307). If the two passwords do not match (NO in step S308), the normal copy printing control shown in steps S306 and S315 to S317 is performed in the same manner as the normal copy printing processing operation described above.

  Each screen data of a password input screen displayed by the display / operation unit 21 and a color conversion method selection screen described later is created and stored in advance in the storage unit 24 of the image forming apparatus 2, and the display / operation unit 21 is read out from the timely storage unit 24 and displayed on a screen (not shown) of the display / operation unit 21.

  In the above-described step S308, if both passwords match (YES in step S308), the device identification information read from the digital watermark information in the image data (original) by the electronic watermark information reading unit 29 (the original is printed out) It is determined whether the image forming apparatus indicated by the image forming apparatus) and the own apparatus 2 are the same apparatus (step S309).

  In step S309, if the image forming apparatus having the apparatus identification information and the apparatus 2 are the same apparatus (YES in step S309), the data reading / processing section 31 uses the electronic watermark information reading section 29 to read the electronic data in the image data (original). The original image data is read from the storage location of the original image data read from the watermark information (the storage unit 32 of the server 3) (step S310), and the color conversion processing unit 30 applies the color of the device 2 to the read original image data. A color conversion process for converting to the CMYK color space based on the reproduction area characteristics is performed (step S311), and output image data is generated (step S315).

  When the output image data is generated, the digital watermark information generating unit 27 generates digital watermark information indicating that high-quality copy printing is possible, and the digital watermark information embedding unit 28 adds the digital watermark information to the output image data. The data is transferred to the printing unit 23 (step S316), and the printing unit 23 forms output image data including digital watermark information on a medium such as paper and prints it out (step S317).

  In this case, the printed matter copied and printed from the original can obtain the same print result as the original.

  In step S309, if the image forming apparatus of the apparatus identification information and the self apparatus 2 are not the same apparatus (NO in step S309), the display / operation unit 21 displays a color conversion method selection screen (not shown) and displays the original. The user is prompted to select a color conversion method for the image data, and the color conversion processing unit 30 performs color conversion processing based on the selected color conversion method on the original image data (step S312).

  The color conversion method is selected by performing color conversion processing based on the color reproduction area characteristics of the own apparatus 2 (hereinafter referred to as “color conversion processing (color reproduction area characteristics of the own apparatus)”) on the original image data. Color conversion processing based on the color reproduction area characteristics of the image forming apparatus on which the original is printed and the color reproduction area characteristics of the own apparatus 2 (hereinafter referred to as “color conversion processing (original color conversion method + color reproduction area characteristics of the own apparatus)”. ”Is selected.

  In step S312, when the user selects color conversion processing (color reproduction area characteristics of the own apparatus) (NO in step S312), the image forming apparatus indicated by the apparatus identification information and the own apparatus 2 are the same apparatus. Similar to the processing operation in this case, the original image data is read from the storage location of the original image data of the original (the storage unit 32 of the server 3) (step S310), and the color reproduction area of the apparatus 2 is read from the read original image data. After performing color conversion processing based on characteristics (step S311) and generating output image data (step S315), digital watermark information indicating that high-quality copy printing is possible is added to the output image data (step S316). Is output on a medium such as paper and printed out (step S317).

  In this case, the printed matter copied and printed from the document is slightly different from the color of the document, but a print result in which optimum color conversion suitable for the color reproduction area characteristics of the apparatus 2 is obtained.

  In step S312, when the user selects color conversion processing (original color conversion method + color reproduction area characteristics of own apparatus) (YES in step S312), the data reading / processing unit 31 uses the digital watermark information reading unit 29 to perform the process. Storage location of original image data read from digital watermark information in image data (original) and storage of color conversion method data (hereinafter referred to as “color conversion method data (original)”) at the time of print output of the original. Original image data and color conversion method data (original) are read from each location (step S313), and the read original image data is least uncomfortable based on the color conversion method data (original) and the color reproduction area characteristics of the apparatus 2 itself. Color conversion processing is performed by selecting a color (step S314), and output image data is generated (step S315).

  Details of this color conversion process (color conversion method of original document + color reproduction area characteristic of own apparatus) will be described later.

  When the output image data is generated, the digital watermark information generating unit 27 generates digital watermark information indicating that high-quality copy printing is possible, and the digital watermark information embedding unit 28 adds the digital watermark information to the output image data. The data is transferred to the printing unit 23 (step S316), and the printing unit 23 forms output image data including digital watermark information on a medium such as paper and prints it out (step S317).

  In this case, the printed matter copied and printed from the original can obtain a printing result in which the difference in hue from the original is minimized.

  Here, the processing operation of the above-described color conversion process (original color conversion method + color reproduction area characteristic of own apparatus) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the conceptual diagram of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the color conversion processing data (original color conversion method + color reproduction area characteristics of the apparatus itself) is processed by the data reading / processing unit 31 from the storage unit 32 of the server 3 as shown in FIG. Among the (original), the color reproduction area of the image forming apparatus at the time of printing the original (referred to as color reproduction area A for convenience) and (step S401), the color reproduction area of the apparatus 2 (for convenience of explanation, color reproduction area). B)) (step S402). If the color reproduction area B of the apparatus 2 includes the color reproduction area A of the image forming apparatus at the time of document printing (YES in step S403), data reading is performed. Of the color conversion method data (original) read from the storage unit 32 of the server 3 by the processing unit 31, color conversion processing using the CMYK data after color conversion processing at the time of original printing is performed as it is (step S408).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, the color reproduction region A501 of the image forming apparatus at the time of original printing and the color reproduction of the image forming apparatus (in this case, the apparatus 2 in this case) at the time of copying and printing the original. Compared with the area B502, when the color reproduction area B502 of the device 2 includes the color reproduction area A501 (503 in the figure), it is read from the storage section 32 of the server 3 by the data reading / processing section 31. The CMYK data (CMYK data corresponding to the color conversion method data (original)) after color conversion processing at the time of original printing is used as it is.

  In step S403, if the color reproduction area B of the apparatus 2 does not include the color reproduction area A (NO in step S403), the color reproduction area A of the image forming apparatus during document printing is the color reproduction area A. And a coefficient (hereinafter referred to as “conversion coefficient”) that is a common color reproduction region C between the device 2 and the color reproduction region B of the device 2 is calculated (step S404), and stored in the server 3 by the data reading / processing unit 31. The CMYK data corresponding to the target pixel of the original image data read from the unit 32 is sequentially read (step S405), and the read CMYK data is converted with the conversion coefficient (step S406). A similar conversion process is performed on all CMYK data corresponding to the pixels (YES in step S407).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, the color reproduction area A 504 of the image forming apparatus at the time of original printing is compared with the color reproduction area B 505 of the own apparatus 2 at the time of copy printing of the original. When the second color reproduction area B505 does not include the color reproduction area A504 of the image forming apparatus at the time of document printing (507 in the figure), the color reproduction area A504 is common to the color reproduction area A and the color reproduction area B. A conversion coefficient to be stored in the color reproduction region C506 is calculated, and all CMYK data of the original image data is converted with the calculated conversion coefficient.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus 2 according to the present invention and a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system 1 including the image forming apparatus 2. A flowchart showing the processing operation of the main part of the present invention when the image forming apparatus 2 prints out the original image data instructed to be printed. Flow chart showing copy printing prohibition, normal copy printing, and high-quality copy printing processing operations based on digital watermark information formed on a document Flow chart showing processing operation of color conversion processing (color conversion method of original document + color reproduction area characteristic of own apparatus) Conceptual diagram of processing operation of color conversion processing (original color conversion method + color reproduction area characteristics of own apparatus)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 2, 6-1, 6-n Image forming apparatus 3 Server 4 Personal computer 5 Network 21 Display / operation part 22 Scanner part 23 Printing part 24 Storage part (Image forming apparatus 2)
25 control unit 26 network I / F (= interface) unit 27 digital watermark information generation unit 28 digital watermark information embedding unit 29 digital watermark information reading unit 30 color conversion processing unit 31 data reading processing units 501 and 504 Color reproduction area A of the forming device
502, 505 Color reproduction area B of own device when copying and printing original document

Claims (18)

In an image forming apparatus that forms a duplicate document of a document based on a document printed on a sheet to which electronic watermark information including storage location information indicating a storage location in a storage device of document data and print control information of the document data is added ,
A reading unit that reads image information and digital watermark information of the document from the document when the document is instructed to be copied;
Obtaining means for obtaining document data of the document and the print control information from the storage device based on storage location information included in the digital watermark information read by the reading means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming control means for controlling formation of a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquiring means and the print control information. The watermark information is
Including information indicating whether or not copying of the document is prohibited;
The image formation control means
The copy prohibiting control means for prohibiting the formation of a duplicate image of the document when the electronic watermark information read by the reading means includes information prohibiting the copy of the document. The image forming apparatus according to 1. The watermark information is
Including information on whether or not to permit high-quality copying of the document,
The image formation control means
When the digital watermark information includes information that permits copying by high-quality copying of the document, a duplicate image of the document is formed based on the document data acquired by the acquiring unit and the print control information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a high-quality copy printing control unit. The watermark information is
Device identification information identifying the device that printed the document,
The high-quality copy printing control means includes:
Device discrimination means for discriminating whether the device identified from the device identification information and the device itself are the same when the device identification information is included in the digital watermark information read by the reading means;
A first high-quality copy printing control unit that forms a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition unit;
A second high-quality copy printing control unit that forms a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition unit and the print control information when the device determination unit determines that the two are not the same; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The print control information is
Including information on the color reproduction area of the device that printed the document,
The second high-quality copy printing control means is
Selecting means for selecting whether to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means or to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information;
Color conversion means for performing color conversion processing on the document data based on the color reproduction area included in the print control information and the color reproduction area of the device itself;
When the selection unit forms the duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information, the color conversion unit performs a color conversion process on the document data when the selection unit selects the duplicate image of the document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus is formed. The print control information is
Including CMYK data of the document after color conversion processing based on the color reproduction area of the apparatus at the time of printing the document,
The color conversion means includes
Determining means for determining whether or not the color reproduction area of the device itself includes a color reproduction area included in the print control information;
Common color reproduction area specifying means for specifying a common area between the color reproduction area of the device itself and the color reproduction area included in the print control information;
Coefficient calculating means for calculating a coefficient for converting the color reproduction area included in the print control information into the common area specified by the common color reproduction area specifying means; and
If it is determined by the determination means that the color reproduction area of the device includes the color reproduction area included in the print control information, the determination means uses CMYK data of the document included in the print control information. If it is determined that the color reproduction area of the device does not include the color reproduction area included in the print control information, the document data acquired by the acquisition means using the conversion coefficient calculated by the coefficient calculation means. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein color conversion processing is performed to form a duplicate image of the document. In an image forming apparatus for forming electronic watermark information on a sheet including document data instructed for printing and permission information relating to copying of a document on which the document data is printed,
Storage means for storing the document data for which printing has been instructed based on the permission information for which printing has been instructed, and print control information relating to printing of the document data;
Electronic watermark information including the permission information based on the permission information instructed for printing, storage location information indicating a storage location of the document data stored in the storage unit and the print control information of the document data, and the document An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit that adds data to print on paper. The permission information is
Information that prohibits copying of the document, information that permits copying of the document by normal copying, and information that allows copying of the document by high-quality copying,
The storage means
If the permission information that is instructed to print includes information that permits copying of the document by high-quality copying, the document data that has been instructed to print and print control information relating to the printing of the document data are stored,
The printing means includes
Digital watermark information including the permission information, the document data stored in the storage means, and storage location information indicating the storage location of the print control information of the document data is added to the document data and printed on a sheet. Do
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7. The print control information is
Including CMYK data after color conversion processing of the document data based on the color reproduction area information of the own device and the color reproduction area;
The storage means
If the permission information that is instructed to print includes information that permits copying of the document by high-quality copying, the document data that has been instructed to print, information on the color reproduction area of the device itself, and the color of the document data The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the CMYK data after the conversion process is stored. In an image forming method for forming a duplicate document of a document based on a document printed on paper with electronic watermark information including storage location information indicating a storage location in a storage device of document data and print control information of the document data ,
When instructing to copy the document, the image information of the document and the digital watermark information are read from the document by a reading unit,
The document data of the document and the print control information are acquired by the acquisition unit from the storage device based on the storage location information included in the digital watermark information read by the reading unit,
An image forming method, wherein the image forming control unit controls the formation of a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information acquired by the acquiring unit. The watermark information is
Including information indicating whether or not copying of the document is prohibited;
The image formation control means
11. The image according to claim 10, wherein when the electronic watermark information read by the reading unit includes information prohibiting copying of the document, control is performed to prohibit the formation of a copied image of the document. Forming method. The watermark information is
Including information on whether or not to permit high-quality copying of the document,
The image formation control means
When the digital watermark information includes information that permits copying by high-quality copying of the document, the formation control of the duplicate image of the document is performed based on the document data acquired by the acquisition unit and the print control information. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein the image forming method is performed by high quality copy printing control means. The watermark information is
Device identification information identifying the device that printed the document,
The high-quality copy printing control means includes:
When the device identification information is included in the digital watermark information read by the reading means, the device identification means determines whether the device identified from the device identification information is the same as the device itself,
When it is determined by the device determination means that they are the same, the duplicate image of the document is formed based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means, and when the device determination means determines that they are not the same, 13. The second high-quality copy printing control unit controls the formation of a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquiring unit and the print control information. The image forming method described. The print control information is
Including information on the color reproduction area of the device that printed the document,
The second high-quality copy printing control means is
The selection means selects whether to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data acquired by the acquisition means or to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information,
When the selection unit is selected to form a duplicate image of the document based on the document data and the print control information, the color reproduction area included in the print control information and the device itself are selected for the document data. The image forming method according to claim 13, wherein color conversion processing based on the color reproduction area is performed by a color conversion unit to form a duplicate image of the document. The print control information is
Including CMYK data of the document after color conversion processing based on the color reproduction area of the apparatus at the time of printing the document,
The color conversion means includes
Judging whether the color reproduction area of the device itself includes the color reproduction area included in the print control information by comparing with a judging means,
If it is determined by the determination means that the color reproduction area of the device includes the color reproduction area included in the print control information, the determination means uses CMYK data of the document included in the print control information. If it is determined that the color reproduction area of the self apparatus does not include the color reproduction area included in the print control information, the color reproduction area of the self apparatus and the color reproduction area included in the print control information are common. A region is specified by a common color reproduction region specifying unit, a coefficient for converting a color reproduction region included in the print control information into the common region specified by the common color reproduction region specifying unit is calculated by a coefficient calculation unit, The image forming method according to claim 14, wherein a color conversion process is performed on the document data acquired by the acquisition unit with the calculated conversion coefficient to form a duplicate image of the document. In an image forming method for forming electronic watermark information including document data instructed to be printed and permission information relating to duplication of a document on which the document data is printed on a sheet,
Storing the document data instructed to print based on the permission information instructed to print and the print control information related to printing of the document data in a storage means;
Electronic watermark information including the permission information by a printing unit based on the permission information instructed for printing, and storage location information indicating the storage location of the document data and the print control information of the document data stored in the storage unit Is added to the document data and printed on paper. The permission information is
Information that prohibits copying of the document, information that permits copying of the document by normal copying, and information that allows copying of the document by high-quality copying,
The storage means
If the permission information that is instructed to print includes information that permits copying of the document by high-quality copying, the document data that has been instructed to print and print control information relating to the printing of the document data are stored,
The printing means includes
Digital watermark information including the permission information, the document data stored in the storage means, and storage location information indicating the storage location of the print control information of the document data is added to the document data and printed on a sheet. Do
The image forming method according to claim 16. The print control information is
Including CMYK data after color conversion processing of the document data based on the color reproduction area information of the own device and the color reproduction area;
The storage means
If the permission information that is instructed to print includes information that permits copying of the document by high-quality copying, the document data that has been instructed to print, information on the color reproduction area of the device itself, and the color of the document data The image forming method according to claim 17, wherein the CMYK data after the conversion process is stored.

Images