JP2008066786A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which can be easily used by a user by changing contents of restrictions on processing according to the contents of the processing when a document including a specified image is processed. <P>SOLUTION: An image read unit 2 reads images of the document. A specified image decision unit 63 decides whether image data input from the image read unit 2 includes the specified image. When the specified image is included, a control unit 7 restricts processing to be executed. When data transmission is performed, only the page including the specified image is not transmitted or transmitted as a blank page. When the document is copied, only the page including the specified image is not printed or output as a blank page. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that restricts processing such as copying, printing, and data transmission based on a specific image added to a document.

In order to prevent unauthorized use of confidential documents, a specific image representing restriction information such as copy prohibition is added to the document. For example, in the image processing apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when such a document is subjected to processing such as copying, facsimile communication, and data transmission, an image of the document is read by the image reading unit. When a specific image is detected from the input image data, copying and facsimile transmission are prohibited.
JP 2006-129212 A JP 2003-32485 A

  When a specific image is detected from a document, processing for that document is prohibited. If the user performs facsimile communication without noticing the document with the specific image added, the transmission is stopped. There arises a problem that the user resends the document and stops again. Therefore, even if another user wants to use the image processing apparatus, it cannot be used.

  Accordingly, in view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that is easy for a user to use when processing a document including a specific image, by changing the restriction content for the processing according to the content of the processing.

  The present invention includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a document, an image processing unit that processes and outputs input image data, a determination unit that determines whether a specific image is included in the input image data, And a control unit that controls a reading operation in the image reading unit in accordance with a process to be executed when an image is included.

  The specific image is restriction information such as copy prohibition. When the determination unit detects that the input image data includes a specific image, the control unit prohibits the process to be executed. However, depending on the content of the process, the process may be restricted rather than prohibited. Therefore, the control unit controls the image reading unit to execute limited processing.

  Specifically, the control unit stops reading of the document by the image reading unit when the specific image is included in the first document. This is suitable when there is only one document. Alternatively, when all of the plurality of documents are confidential documents, the specific image is added to the first page of the document. In this case, when a specific image is detected, it is preferable to immediately stop reading the document and prohibit the processing.

  When the specific image is included in the first document, the control unit prohibits input of the read image data, and continues the conveyance of the document by the image reading unit. In this case, processing to be performed on the document is prohibited. Even if the image of the first document is read, the image data is deleted. The image reading unit conveys the second and subsequent originals but does not read the image. Therefore, image data is not output.

  When performing the process of transmitting the image data of a plurality of documents, the control unit continues reading the document by the image reading unit when a specific image is included. In this case, the processing to be performed on the document is not prohibited, and a part of the processing is limited.

  For example, the control unit prohibits transmission of image data of a page including a specific image, and transmits image data of a page not including the specific image. As a result, the image data of the document including the specific image is not transmitted. Only document image data that does not include a specific image is transmitted. Therefore, it is impossible to see an image of a document that is classified.

  The control unit sets the image data of the page including the specific image as blank image data, and transmits the image data and the image data of the page not including the specific image. As a result, image data having the same number of pages as the original is transmitted. However, blank image data is transmitted to a document including a specific image. Therefore, it is impossible to see an image of a document that is classified.

  When performing the process of printing the image data of a plurality of documents, the control unit prohibits printing of the image data of the page including the specific image and prints the image data of the page not including the specific image. As a result, the image data of the document including the specific image is not printed. Only the image data of the original that does not include the specific image is printed. Therefore, only confidential documents are subject to copy prohibition.

  When performing the process of storing the image data of a plurality of documents, the control unit prohibits the storage of the image data of the page including the specific image, and stores the image data of the page not including the specific image. As a result, the image data of the document including the specific image is not stored. Only the image data of the document not including the specific image is stored. Therefore, when the stored image data is output, the image data of the confidential document is not output, and the image of the confidential document cannot be viewed.

  The control unit invalidates the image data of the page including the specific image among the input image data. The document image data read by the image reading unit is temporarily stored, and then the presence or absence of a specific image is determined. When the specific image is detected, the image data of the page including the specific image cannot be output by invalidating the image data of the original.

According to the present invention, when a document including a specific image is processed, the processing is not uniformly prohibited, but the processing is limited according to the number of documents and the type of processing to be performed. This makes it possible to perform necessary processing that can protect confidential documents without burdening the user. Therefore, an image processing apparatus that is easy for the user to use can be realized.

  An image processing apparatus of this embodiment is shown in FIG. The image processing apparatus is a multifunction machine that executes a copy mode, a print mode, a scanner mode, and a facsimile mode. The image processing apparatus 2 reads an original and inputs image data into a cabinet 1 and processes the image data. The image forming unit 3 for printing, the storage unit 4 for storing the image data, the communication unit 5 for communicating with the external device, the operation panel 6 for input operation, and the image processing unit are controlled to correspond to the mode. And a control unit 7 that executes image data processing. The image processing unit processes and outputs input image data. The image processing unit includes the image forming unit 3, the storage unit 4, and the communication unit 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading unit 2 is disposed above the cabinet 1 and includes a scanner unit 10 and an automatic document feeder 11. The automatic document feeder 11 is provided above the scanner unit 10 and automatically conveys a document in order to read image data of the document.

  A document table 12 made of platen glass is provided on the upper surface of the cabinet 1, and a document cover 13 that covers the document table 12 is provided. The automatic document feeder 11 is integrally mounted on the document cover 13. The document cover 13 can be freely opened and closed. When the document cover 13 is in a closed state, the document is conveyed by the automatic document conveyance unit 11. When the document cover 13 is open, the document can be placed on the document table 12. Opening / closing of the document cover 13 is detected by a cover opening / closing sensor. A document size detection sensor for detecting the size of the document placed on the document table 12 is also provided.

  When a document is set on the document set tray 15 of the automatic document feeder 11, the document detection sensor 16 detects that the document has been set. Then, on the operation panel 6, copy conditions such as the size of the sheet to be printed and the scaling ratio are input. Thereafter, reading of the image of the document is started by an input operation of the start key.

  In the automatic document feeder 11, each document on the document set tray 15 is pulled out one by one by the pickup roller 17. The document passes through between the separating plate 18 and the transport roller 19 and is sent to the document table 12. The document is transported in the sub-scanning direction on the document table 12 and discharged to the document discharge tray 20. The document discharge tray 20 is provided with a document discharge sensor to detect the presence or absence of a document on the document discharge tray 20.

  The scanner unit 10 includes a first reading unit 21 and a second reading unit 22. A reading area is formed on one side of the document table 12 and passes through the reading area when the document is conveyed on the document table 12. Below the reading area, the first scanning unit 23 of the first reading unit 21 is positioned, and the surface (lower side) of the document is read.

  When the document is transported to the document table 12 by the automatic document transport unit 11, the first scanning unit 23 is moved to the reading position and positioned, and the second scanning unit 24 is also positioned at a predetermined position. The surface of the document is irradiated from below the document table 12 by the exposure lamp of the first scanning unit 23. Reflected light from the document is guided to the imaging lens 25 by the respective reflection mirrors of the first and second scanning units 23 and 24. The reflected light of the document is condensed on the CCD 26 by the imaging lens 25. An image on the surface of the document is formed on the CCD 26. As a result, the image on the surface of the conveyed document is read.

  Further, the second reading unit 22 reads the back surface (upper side surface) of the document. The second reading unit 22 is disposed above the document table 12 and has an LED that irradiates the back side of the document, an exposure lamp array having a fluorescent lamp, a self-focal lens array that collects reflected light of the document for each pixel, and a cell. A contact image sensor (CIS) that photoelectrically converts reflected light from a document received through a fock lens array and outputs an analog image signal is provided. As a result, the image on the back side of the conveyed document is read.

  When a document is placed on the document table 12, the first reading unit 21 reads an image on the surface of the document. The first and second scanning units 23 and 24 move in the sub-scanning direction while maintaining a predetermined speed relationship with each other. The document on the document table 12 is exposed by the first scanning unit 23, and reflected light from the document is guided to the imaging lens 25 by the first and second scanning units 23 and 24. An image of the original is formed on the CCD 26 by the imaging lens 25.

  When the image on one or both sides of the document is read in this way, the image data on one or both sides of the document is input to the control unit 7. The control unit 7 includes an image data processing unit, and the image data processing unit performs various types of image processing on the image data. This image data is output to the image forming unit 3.

  The image forming unit 3 prints a color image or a monochrome image on the sheet based on the input image data. The image forming unit 3 includes a laser scanning unit 30, four image stations 31, an intermediate transfer belt unit 32, a fixing device 33, and a conveying device 34.

  Each image station 31 forms a color image corresponding to each color of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Each image station 31 includes a photosensitive drum 35, a developing device 36, a charging device 37, a cleaning device 38, and a charge eliminating device (not shown).

  The photosensitive drum 35 is rotationally driven in one direction, the cleaning device 38 cleans the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35, and the neutralization device neutralizes the surface of the photosensitive drum 35. The charging device 37 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 35.

  The laser scanning unit 30 modulates laser light based on image data input from an image reading unit or the like, and repeatedly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 in the main scanning direction with this laser light, thereby generating an electrostatic latent image. It is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35. The developing device 36 supplies toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 to develop the electrostatic latent image, and forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 32 includes an intermediate transfer belt 40, an intermediate transfer roller 41, a transfer belt cleaning device 42, and a tension mechanism 43. The intermediate transfer belt 41 is disposed above each photosensitive drum 35, is wound around the driving roller 44 and the driven roller 45, and rotates in the direction of arrow B.

  The intermediate transfer roller 41 is disposed to face the photosensitive drum 35 with the intermediate transfer belt 40 interposed therebetween, and a transfer bias voltage is applied thereto. The toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 35 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 40 by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner by the intermediate transfer roller 41. The toner images of the respective colors are laminated on the intermediate transfer belt 40, and a combined multi-color toner image is formed.

  The transfer roller 41 is disposed in pressure contact with the intermediate transfer belt 40, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 40 is transferred onto the sheet conveyed between the transfer roller 46 and the intermediate transfer belt 40 by the transfer roller 46. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 40 is removed by the transfer belt cleaning device 42.

  The toner image transferred to the sheet is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 33 and fixed on the sheet, and an image is formed on the sheet. The sheet on which the image is printed in this manner is discharged to a discharge tray 50 provided at the top of the cabinet 1.

  The transport device 34 transports the sheet from the sheet cassette 51 or the manual feed tray 52 along the transport path 53. The conveyance path 53 passes between the intermediate transfer belt 40 and the transfer roller 46, passes through the fixing device 33, and reaches the discharge tray 50.

  The transport device 34 includes a pickup roller 54, a transport roller 55, a registration roller 56, and a discharge roller 57. The sheets in the sheet cassette 51 or the manual feed tray 52 are sent one by one to the transport path 53, transported through the transport path 53, and discharged to the discharge tray 50. An image is printed on the sheet during conveyance of the sheet. In addition, a switchback conveyance path 58 is provided for duplex printing. The sheet after fixing passes through the switchback conveyance path 58 by the conveyance roller 55 and is conveyed between the intermediate transfer belt 40 and the transfer roller 46. The sheet printed on both sides passes through the fixing device 33 and is discharged to the discharge tray 50.

  The operation panel 6 is provided in the scanner unit 10 and includes an operation unit 60 and a display unit 61. The operation unit 60 includes various operation keys. The display unit 61 includes a liquid crystal display and is a touch panel. Touch keys are formed in the operation screen displayed on the display unit 61, and these also function as operation keys.

  The communication unit 5 includes a communication interface, and the communication interface is connected to a network such as a LAN or a WAN. A plurality of external devices are connected to the network. The external device is another image processing device, an information processing device such as a personal computer, or a server. The network is connected to the Internet from a router through a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber. The communication unit 5 can communicate with an external device through a network using a predetermined communication protocol. The image processing apparatuses can also communicate with each other. Communication within the network may be wired or wireless. An image processing system is formed by these image processing devices and external devices.

  The communication unit 5 includes a modem device. A telephone line is connected to the modem device. The image processing apparatus can perform facsimile communication. The image processing apparatus can also perform data communication by Internet facsimile through a network.

  The storage unit 4 includes a hard disk device. The storage unit 4 stores image data input from the image reading unit 2 or image data input from the communication unit 5. The input image data is temporarily stored in an image memory such as a DRAM, subjected to image processing and encryption processing, and then transferred from the image memory to the storage unit 4. Further, when image data is read from the storage unit 4, the image data is subjected to image processing and decoding processing and stored in an image memory. Thereafter, the image data is output to the outside by printing, data transmission, and facsimile communication according to the processing to be executed.

  The storage unit 4 includes a management table 62, and information necessary for operating the image processing apparatus such as control information, setting information, and user authentication information of the image processing apparatus is stored in the management table 62. When these pieces of information are created and changed, the information in the management table 62 is updated. The management table 62 may be provided in a non-volatile memory different from the storage unit 4.

  The control unit 7 includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The CPU reads a control program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes the control program. Each unit operates according to the control program. When image data is input, one of the print mode, copy mode, scanner mode, and facsimile mode is selected based on the processing conditions included in the input information from the operation unit 60 and the header information of the image data input from the external device. The process is executed. In addition, the control program includes a browser and mail software, and the control unit 7 performs data communication with an external device or transmits / receives e-mails using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP protocol.

  The control unit 7 temporarily stores input image data in the storage unit 4 when performing processing in each mode. Further, the control unit 7 has a filing function for storing and managing the input image data in the storage unit 4, and the image data can be re-outputted.

  The output image data is erased from the storage unit 4 according to an instruction from the control unit 7. At the time of this erasure, the image data is invalidated so that it cannot be restored by overwriting the image data with random data. A security kit is mounted on the image processing apparatus in order to perform the invalidation process, and further the encryption process and the decryption process. By operating the security kit according to an instruction from the control unit 7, unauthorized use of image data can be prevented.

  Here, in order to prevent the confidential document from being illegally copied or transmitted by facsimile, a specific image is added to the document. The specific image is, for example, a character image such as “copy prohibited” or “confidential”, an image of a predetermined pattern, or a combined image of characters and patterns, and represents restriction information such as copy prohibition. The control unit 7 generates image data obtained by combining the specific images, and performs printing based on the image data. As a result, a document including the specific image is created. It is difficult for humans to visually recognize a specific image of a document. However, the specific image can be read by the image reading unit 2. Therefore, a specific image determination unit 63 that detects whether the input image data includes a specific image is provided.

  The specific image determination unit 63 is controlled in operation by the control unit 7 and searches for a specific image by pattern matching the image data input from the image reading unit 2 and the image data corresponding to the specific image. Image data corresponding to the specific image is registered in advance and stored in the management table 62. The control unit 7 prohibits image output when a specific image is included in the input image data. That is, the control unit 7 instructs copy prohibition in the copy mode, and instructs transmission prohibition in the facsimile mode or the scanner mode.

  When a specific image is detected, stopping the process being executed, such as immediately stopping transmission by facsimile, may adversely affect other processes. Therefore, instead of stopping the process being executed, the control unit 7 controls the image reading unit 2 and the image processing unit according to the process to be executed, and sets restrictions on the process according to the contents of the process being executed. Change.

  In the processes such as facsimile communication, data transmission, copying, and filing, restrictions on processing when a specific image is detected will be specifically described. When performing facsimile communication or data transmission, as shown in FIG. 3, the user sets a plurality of documents on the automatic document feeder 11, and the scanner unit 11 reads an image of the document (S1). The control unit 7 stores the input image data in the storage unit 4 and confirms whether the security kit is in an operating state (S2). If it is in the operating state, the specific image determination unit 63 determines the presence or absence of a specific image in the input document image data.

  When the specific image is not included in the read image of the original, or when the security kit is not in operation or the security kit is not installed, the control unit 7 performs normal image processing on the image data (S5). ), A file is created in the storage unit 4, and image data is stored in this file for each page (S6). In the facsimile communication, when the setting is such that the original is read and transmitted one by one, the image data is binarized and transmitted to the facsimile apparatus by facsimile communication (S7).

  When the specific image is included in the read document image, the control unit 7 performs a restriction process for prohibiting output of the document image data. For example, a document page including a specific image is stored.

  Then, when there is a next document, the image reading unit 2 reads an image of the document (S1). The above operation is repeated until all originals are read. At this time, discrimination of the specific image, image processing of the image data, and file processing are performed at the same time, and the processing is not delayed.

  When all the originals are read, the input image data is transmitted (S9). This transmission is performed for each file, and image data of a plurality of pages is transmitted. The image data of the page that contained the specific image is deleted. In other words, the received image data does not include the image data of the page that includes the specific image. At the time of transmission, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 7 causes the display unit 61 to display a message indicating that a page including the specific image is not transmitted.

  As described above, even when a document including a specific image is detected among a plurality of documents, reading of all the documents is continued to the end without stopping. Therefore, the user recognizes that the transmission is completed and does not perform retransmission. Further, since the image data whose output is prohibited is not transmitted to the partner apparatus, leakage of confidential information can be prevented.

  When copying or filing, the same operation as described above is performed as shown in FIG. Here, printing or filing is performed instead of data transmission. The image data of the document that includes the specific image is deleted. Even in this case, even when a document including a specific image is detected from a plurality of documents, reading of all the documents is continued without stopping.

  Therefore, the page corresponding to this document is excluded and other pages are printed. Further, the image data of the page corresponding to the original is removed, and a file storing the image data of other pages is formed in the storage unit. When this file is printed or data is transmitted, image data including a specific image is not output.

  Note that image data of a document including a specific image is stored in the storage unit 4. Therefore, the control unit 7 invalidates the image data when the process is ended. The image data of the original that does not include the specific image is normally erased. Therefore, confidential information is not leaked.

  In the above case, the specific image is included in a document of an arbitrary page. Processing is limited for this document. Processing is not limited for documents on other pages. By the way, the user may add a specific image only to the first page of the document and not add a specific image to the second and subsequent pages, with the intention that the plurality of documents are one confidential document. is there.

  When performing processing such as copying and data transmission on such a document, as shown in FIG. 6, the user sets a plurality of documents on the automatic document feeder 11, and the scanner unit 10 causes the document to be scanned. An image is read (S1). The control unit 7 stores the input image data in the storage unit 4 and confirms whether the security kit is in an operating state (S2). If it is in the operating state, the specific image determination unit 63 determines the presence or absence of a specific image in the input document image data.

  When the specific image is included in the read document image, the control unit 7 checks whether it is the first page document, and then performs a restriction process for prohibiting output of image data of all documents. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 7 causes the display unit 61 to display a message indicating that the document is not transmitted.

  Since the originals of the second and subsequent pages still remain in the automatic original conveyance unit 11, the control unit 7 controls the image reading unit to perform an operation of conveying the originals but not reading the images. All the documents are conveyed and discharged to the document discharge tray 20. The user can take out the originals together.

  When the specific image is not included in the first page of the original image, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, it is detected whether or not the remaining original includes the specific image, and depending on the presence or absence of the specific image Process.

  In addition, a single document may be placed on the document table 12 and read by the scanner unit 10. When this document includes a specific image, the same restriction process as described above is performed. When the specific image is not included, normal processing is performed.

  By the way, when the specific image is included in the first page of the document, the output prohibition is not limited to the remaining document, but the output prohibition is limited depending on the presence of the specific image in the remaining document. There is a case. To cope with this, when a specific image is detected in the first page of the document, the control unit 7 can select processing for the second and subsequent pages.

  That is, the control unit 7 displays a selection image for selecting whether to prohibit the output of the remaining manuscript or to detect whether the remaining manuscript continues to have a specific image and to limit the processing according to the presence or absence of the specific image. This is displayed on the unit 61. In accordance with the user's selection, the control unit 7 controls processing for the second and subsequent pages.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. In the above, when the specific image is added to the document, the restriction is made to delete the image data for the page including the specific image. Instead, a page including the specific image is output as a blank page.

  That is, the control unit rewrites the image data of the page including the specific image into white image data. In the case of facsimile communication and data transmission, when such image data is received, a blank page is included in the plurality of pages. Alternatively, when there is only one document, only a blank page is displayed. In the case of copying, a blank page is printed.

Control block diagram of image processing apparatus of the present invention The figure which shows the schematic whole structure of an image processing apparatus Flow chart of data transmission process according to presence / absence of specific image The figure which shows the message regarding the restriction processing at the time of detection of the specific image Flow chart of copy process or filing process according to the presence or absence of specific image Flowchart of restriction processing when the first page includes a specific image The figure which shows the message regarding the restriction | limiting process when a specific image is detected in the 1st page

Explanation of symbols

2 image reading unit 3 image forming unit 4 storage unit 5 communication unit 6 operation panel 7 control unit 10 scanner unit 11 automatic document feeder 63 specific image determination unit

Claims (9)

An image reading unit that reads an image of a document, an image processing unit that processes and outputs input image data, a determination unit that determines whether the input image data includes a specific image, and a specific image are included. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a reading operation in the image reading unit according to a process to be executed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops reading of the document by the image reading unit when the specific image is included in the first document. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein when the specific image is included in the first document, the control unit prohibits the input of the read image data and continues the conveyance of the document by the image reading unit. Processing equipment. 2. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein when the process of transmitting image data of a plurality of documents is performed, the control unit continues reading of the document by the image reading unit when a specific image is included. apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit prohibits transmission of image data of a page including a specific image, and transmits image data of a page not including the specific image. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit sets the image data of the page including the specific image as blank image data, and transmits the image data and the image data of the page not including the specific image. . The control unit prohibits printing of image data of a page including a specific image and performs printing of image data of a page not including the specific image when performing processing for printing image data of a plurality of originals. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The control unit prohibits storage of image data of a page including a specific image and stores image data of a page not including the specific image when performing processing for storing image data of a plurality of originals. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit invalidates image data of a page including the specific image among the input image data.

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