JP2008140325A - Writing information processor, information generating device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine processing for writing information in accordance with a writing place. <P>SOLUTION: In a document server 20, when a receiving part 21a receives information of a place and date and hour where and when writing to a recording medium is allowed, a determination information management part 23 stores determination information obtained by making the information of the place and the date and hour correspond to identification information of the recording medium acquired by an identification information acquiring part 22 into a determination information storage part 24. An image compositing part 27 composites a code image representing the identification information of the recording medium and position information on the recording medium with a document image of an electronic document generated by a document image generating part 26 to generate a composite image, and a transmission part 21b transmits a print instruction of the composite image to an image forming apparatus. Meanwhile, when the receiving part 21a receives writing information and information of a writing place and writing date and hour, a writing information registering part 28 verifies the validity of writing with reference to the determination information, makes the writing information correspond to information indicating the validity and stores them into the writing information storage part 29. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a writing information processing apparatus, an information generation apparatus, and a program.

  A technique is known in which an electronically stored document is changed by manually editing a printout surface (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the technique of Patent Document 1, first, an electronically stored document is printed on a surface provided with a position coding pattern. Next, the printout surface is manually edited with a digital pen provided with position-coding pattern reading means and a pen point for marking the surface. The marking is then transferred to the computer, interpreted within the computer, and the stored document is modified based on the interpretation.

Special table 2003-528388 gazette

Here, there is a problem that processing for writing information obtained by digitizing the writing cannot be determined in accordance with a place where writing is performed on the recording medium.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to determine a process for writing information obtained by digitizing the writing according to a place where the writing is made on the recording medium.

The invention described in claim 1
Writing information acquisition means for acquiring writing information obtained by digitizing writing on a recording medium;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing was made on the recording medium;
Depending on the determination result of whether or not the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit indicates a location associated with the recording medium, processing for the writing information acquired by the writing information acquisition unit is performed. A writing information processing apparatus comprising a determining means for determining.
The invention described in claim 2
Further comprising time information acquisition means for acquiring time information indicating a time when writing was performed on the recording medium;
The determination means is acquired by the writing information acquisition means according to a determination result of whether or not the time information acquired by the time information acquisition means indicates a time associated with the recording medium. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a process for writing information is determined.
The invention described in claim 3
When the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit does not indicate a location associated with the recording medium, the determination unit associates and stores the information to that effect and the writing information. The handwritten information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The invention according to claim 4
Image acquisition means for acquiring an image recorded on a recording medium and representing identification information for specifying the recording medium and position information for specifying a position on the recording medium;
Writing information generating means for generating writing information obtained by digitizing writing on the recording medium based on the position information represented by the image acquired by the image acquiring means;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing was made on the recording medium;
According to the determination result of whether the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit indicates a location associated with the identification information represented by the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, A writing information processing apparatus comprising: a determining unit that determines a process for the writing information generated by the writing information generating unit.
The invention described in claim 5
5. The writing according to claim 4, further comprising reading means for reading the image recorded with an invisible recording material having an absorption wavelength in an infrared region by irradiating the recording medium with infrared light. Information processing apparatus.
The invention described in claim 6
Recognizing means for recognizing the location of its own device using radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite,
5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the location information recognized by the recognition unit as the location information.
The invention described in claim 7
It further comprises receiving means for receiving device information for specifying a device with which the device can communicate,
5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the device information received by the reception unit as the location information.
The invention according to claim 8 provides:
Further comprising time information acquisition means for acquiring time information indicating a time when writing was performed on the recording medium;
The determination unit determines whether the time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit indicates a time associated with the identification information represented by the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a process for the writing information generated by the writing information generating means is determined in response.
The invention according to claim 9 is:
The determination unit, when the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit does not indicate a location associated with the identification information represented by the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, 5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein transmission of the writing information generated by the writing information generating means to another apparatus is restricted.
The invention according to claim 10 is:
Identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for specifying the recording medium;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing on the recording medium is permitted;
Processing for writing information that is determination information in which the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit and the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit are associated with each other and the writing on the recording medium is digitized An information generating apparatus comprising: generating means for generating determination information to be referred to when determining the information.
The invention according to claim 11
On the computer,
A function for obtaining writing information obtained by digitizing writing on a recording medium;
A function of acquiring place information indicating a place where writing was made on the recording medium;
A program for realizing a function of determining processing for the acquired writing information according to a determination result of whether or not the location information indicates a location associated with the recording medium.

The invention of claim 1 has an effect that processing for writing information obtained by digitizing the writing can be determined in accordance with a place where writing is made on the recording medium.
The invention of claim 2 has an effect that processing for writing information obtained by digitizing the writing can be determined according to the time when the writing was made on the recording medium.
The invention of claim 3 has an effect that it becomes possible to trace later that the place where writing on the recording medium is not a specific place.
The invention of claim 4 has an effect that processing for writing information obtained by digitizing the writing can be determined in accordance with the place where the writing is made on the recording medium.
The invention of claim 5 has the effect that the embedded information can be acquired without affecting the image on the recording medium.
The invention of claim 6 has an effect that the place where the writing on the recording medium is made can be grasped as an absolute place.
The invention of claim 7 has an effect that the place where the writing on the recording medium is made can be grasped as a relative place determined in relation to the device.
The invention according to claim 8 has an effect that processing for writing information obtained by digitizing the writing can be determined according to the time when the writing was made on the recording medium.
The invention of claim 9 has an effect that the use of the writing information in another device can be restricted when the place where the writing on the recording medium is made is not a specific place.
The invention of claim 10 has the effect that the process for the writing information obtained by digitizing the writing on the recording medium can be determined by referring to the correspondence between the recording medium and the place where writing is permitted.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine the processing for the writing information obtained by digitizing the writing according to the place where the writing is made on the recording medium.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, the overall configuration of the computer system in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a computer system according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, this computer system is configured by connecting a terminal device 10, a document server 20, an identification information server 30, an image forming device 40, and a terminal device 50 to a network 80. An electronic pen 60 is connected to the terminal device 50 via a communication device 70.

The terminal device 10 is a computer device that requests the document server 20 to print an electronic document. Here, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer may be used as the terminal device 10.
The document server 20 is a computer device that stores and manages electronic documents. Further, when there is a print request for the electronic document from the terminal device 10, a print command is generated to generate an image of the electronic document and a code image representing the identification information and the position information, and to print a synthesized image obtained by synthesizing these on the recording medium. The image is output to the image forming apparatus 40. In this case, the identification information is information for uniquely specifying the recording medium, and the position information is information for specifying the coordinate position on the recording medium. Here, as the document server 20, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer may be used.

The identification information server 30 is a computer device that issues identification information to be given to the recording medium. The issued identification information is stored in association with the electronic document printed on the recording medium to which the identification information is assigned. Here, as the identification information server 30, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer may be used.
The image forming apparatus 40 is an apparatus that records an image on a recording medium and outputs it as a printed document. The image forming apparatus 40 may be a single printer or printing machine, or may be a so-called multifunction machine having a scanner or a communication function. Here, as an image forming method in the image forming apparatus 40, for example, an electrophotographic method may be used, but other methods may be used.

The terminal device 50 is a computer that transmits information obtained by digitizing writing on a print document (hereinafter referred to as “writing information”) to the document server 20 in order to reflect the information in the electronic document that is the basis of the image recorded in the print document. Device. Alternatively, the electronic document to be reflected in the writing information may be displayed on a display (not shown), and the writing information may be displayed on the display. Here, as the terminal device 50, for example, a personal computer, a workstation, or another computer may be used.
The electronic pen 60 is a pen device used for writing characters or figures on a printed document. In addition, an image sensor that reads a code image printed on a recording medium is provided. Then, position information is detected from the code image read by the image sensor, and writing information obtained by converting written characters or figures into image data is generated and stored based on the position information.
The communication device 70 is a device that acquires writing information from the electronic pen 60 and transmits it to the terminal device 50. For example, an insertion port into which the electronic pen 60 is inserted may be provided, and when the electronic pen 60 is inserted into the insertion port, writing information stored in the electronic pen 60 may be transmitted to the terminal device 50. Here, various methods such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and an infrared communication function are conceivable as a method of communication with the terminal device 50. Further, in the figure, the communication device 70 is shown as a separate body from the electronic pen 60, but it is not necessarily a separate body and may be configured integrally.

In this specification, electronic data that is the basis of an image to be recorded on a recording medium is expressed as “electronic document”, but this does not mean only data obtained by digitizing a “document” including text. . For example, "electronic document" including image data (regardless of raster data or vector data) such as pictures, photographs, figures, etc., data recorded by database management software or spreadsheet software, and other printable electronic data It is said.
In the present specification, the “recording medium” is not particularly limited as long as it is a medium capable of recording an image. A typical example is paper, but an OHP sheet or a metal plate may be used.

By the way, in this embodiment, when writing with the electronic pen 60 on the printed document output from the image forming apparatus 40, the writing efficiency is managed by recognizing where the writing was made. . For example, considering scenes such as elections, examinations, and voting, it is not sufficient to use the written information on the printed document as it is, and it is effective to record and manage the writing at a specific place. This is because there is a case where sex should be proved. Here, the specific place is, for example, a polling place in the case of an election. In other words, it is possible to determine whether or not writing on the ballot is made at a designated polling place and invalidate the writing made at a place other than the designated polling place. Moreover, as a specific place, in the case of a test, a test room is illustrated, and in the case of voting, a specific meeting room is illustrated.
Further, in the present embodiment, by specifying the time when writing was performed, only those written during a certain time zone are valid. For example, in the case of a test, even if writing at a test site, only writing within the test time is valid.

FIG. 2 shows a specific image of such writing management.
In the figure, first, print documents 401 and 402 are shown on the left side. At this time, the document images of the electronic document and the code image representing the identification information and the position information are only printed on the print documents 401 and 402, and writing is not performed.
In this state, as shown in the center of the figure, it is assumed that, for example, the letters “A” are written using the electronic pen 60. However, for the print document 401, writing is performed in a specific space 403 as shown in the upper row, and for the print document 402, writing is performed outside the specific space 403 as shown in the lower row. To do. Here, the specific space 403 may be a geographical space corresponding to a specific place, or a temporal space corresponding to a specific time.
When writing is performed in this way, the writing information is managed in a state as shown on the right side of the figure. That is, since the writing on the print document 401 is performed in the specific space 403, it is stored in the storage device 404 as an effective writing. On the other hand, since writing to the print document 402 is not performed in the specific space 403, it is not stored in the storage device 404 as effective writing.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment that performs such a schematic operation will be specifically described.
Here, in the management method of the validity of writing information, as a first management method, writing information is transmitted from the electronic pen 60 to the document server 20, and information indicating that is associated with invalid writing information. There is a way. As a second management method, there is a method in which invalid writing information is not transmitted from the electronic pen 60 to the document server 20 in the first place. In addition, there is a method in which writing information that is not valid is not generated by the electronic pen 60, or a method in which the document server 20 discards writing information that is not valid when the writing information is transmitted from the electronic pen 60 to the document server 20. However, here, focusing on the first and second management methods, which are representative management methods, the former will be described as the first embodiment, and the latter will be described as the second embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
In the present embodiment, as described above, the electronic pen 60 transmits the writing information to the document server 20 regardless of the validity, and the document server 20 stores the writing information in association with the information indicating the validity. That's it.
The operation in the present embodiment is roughly divided into output of a print document and writing to the print document, and will be described separately below.

1-A. Output of Print Document In the system of FIG. 1, the terminal device 10 requests the document server 20 to print an electronic document. Then, the document server 20 outputs a print command for the electronic document to the image forming apparatus 40, and the print document is output. As described above, since the document server 20 operates mainly in the output of the print document, the functional configuration of the document server 20 will be described first.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the document server 20. The document server 20 functions not only when outputting a print document but also when reflecting writing information for the printed document in an electronic document. The function related to the reflection is also shown.
As illustrated, the document server 20 includes a receiving unit 21 a, a transmitting unit 21 b, an identification information acquiring unit 22, a determination information managing unit 23, and a determination information storage unit 24. In addition, an identification code generation unit 25a, a position code generation unit 25b, a code arrangement unit 25c, a pattern image storage unit 25d, and a code image generation unit 25e are provided. Furthermore, a document image generation unit 26, an image composition unit 27, a writing information registration unit 28, and a writing information storage unit 29 are provided.

The receiving unit 21 a receives a print request from the terminal device 10. Here, the print request includes information specifying an electronic document to be printed (hereinafter referred to as “document specifying information”) and various settings relating to printing (hereinafter referred to as “print setting”). Also, in the present embodiment, when receiving a print request, information on a place where writing on a printed document is permitted (hereinafter referred to as “permitted place information”) and information on a date when writing on the printed document is permitted (Hereinafter referred to as “permission date information”) is also received. The receiving unit 21 a receives identification information from the identification information server 30. Further, when writing is performed on the printed document, the terminal device 50 adds the identification information embedded in the printed document and the written information obtained by digitizing the written information, as well as information on the place where the printed document is written ( Hereinafter, information on the date and time when the printed document was written (hereinafter referred to as “writing date and time information”) is received. That is, in the present embodiment, the writing information acquisition means for acquiring writing information, the location information acquisition means for acquiring the location information indicating the place where the writing was made on the recording medium, and the time when the writing was made on the recording medium are shown. As an example of time information acquisition means for acquiring time information, a receiving unit 21a is provided.
The transmission unit 21 b transmits an identification information issuance request to the identification information server 30. In addition, an image print command for the recording medium is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 40.

The identification information acquisition unit 22 acquires the document specifying information from the reception unit 21a, passes it to the transmission unit 21b, and instructs transmission of an identification information issue request. In addition, the permitted location information and the permitted date / time information are acquired from the receiving unit 21 a and transferred to the determination information managing unit 23 together with the identification information issued by the identification information server 30.
The determination information management unit 23 acquires the identification information, the permitted place information, and the permitted date information from the identification information acquisition unit 22, and manages the determination information in which these are associated.
The determination information storage unit 24 stores determination information in which identification information, permitted place information, and permitted date information are associated with each other.

The identification code generation unit 25a encodes identification information that identifies the recording medium to generate an identification code.
The position code generation unit 25b encodes position information indicating the coordinate position on the recording medium to generate a position code.
The code arrangement unit 25c arranges the identification code generated by the identification code generation unit 25a, the position code generated by the position code generation unit 25b, etc. on a two-dimensional plane according to a predetermined layout, and arranges a two-dimensional code array. Generate.
The pattern image storage unit 25d stores a pattern image corresponding to the code value of each code stored in the code array.
The code image generation unit 25e refers to the two-dimensional code array generated by the code arrangement unit 25c, selects a pattern image corresponding to each code value, and generates a code image.

The document image generating unit 26 acquires the document specifying information from the identification information acquiring unit 22, reads the electronic document specified by the document specifying information from a storage unit (not shown), and generates a document image of the electronic document. Here, the electronic document is created electronically by using a document creation software such as a ballot in an election or an answer sheet in an examination.
The image composition unit 27 synthesizes the code image generated by the code image generation unit 25e and the document image generated by the document image generation unit 26 to generate a composite image.
The writing information registration unit 28 acquires the writing information received by the receiving unit 21 a and registers it in the writing information storage unit 29. In the present embodiment, the writing information registration unit 28 determines a method for registering writing information in the writing information storage unit 29 with reference to the determination information storage unit 24. That is, in the present embodiment, the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is acquired according to the determination result of whether or not the location information indicates the location associated with the recording medium or by the time information acquisition unit. A writing information registration unit 28 is provided as an example of a determination unit that determines processing for writing information according to a determination result of whether or not the time information indicates a time associated with the recording medium.
The writing information storage unit 29 stores writing information in response to a registration request from the writing information registration unit 28.

Next, the operation of the document server 20 when outputting a print document will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the document server 20 at this time.
In the document server 20, the receiving unit 21a first receives an electronic document print request, permitted location information, and permitted date / time information from the terminal device 10 (step 211). Among these, the print request for the electronic document includes document specifying information and print settings. Here, for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator) may be used as the document specifying information, but other information may be used as long as it can uniquely specify the electronic document. The print settings include settings such as page, number of copies, paper size, N-up (printing that allocates N pages of an electronic document to one page of a recording medium), margins, and the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the permitted place information and the permitted date / time information are received. As described above, the permitted place information is information on a place where writing is permitted in the print document, Is information on the date and time when writing on a printed document is permitted. Here, the permitted place information may be absolute place information using latitude and longitude, or may be relative place information determined by the positional relationship with a specific device or the like. The permission date / time information may be absolute date / time information such as what year / month / day / hour / minute, or may be relative date / time information such as how many hours have elapsed since the occurrence of a certain event.
When receiving the information, the receiving unit 21a passes the information to the identification information acquiring unit 22. Then, the identification information acquisition unit 22 passes the document specifying information and the print setting among the received information to the transmission unit 21b, and the transmission unit 21b transmits the information to the identification information server 30. Request to issue identification information (step 212).

In response to this request, the identification information server 30 extracts unused identification information from the database that manages the identification information. The number of pieces of identification information extracted here is determined according to print settings. In other words, basically, the number of pieces of identification information obtained by multiplying the number of pages to be printed by the number of copies is extracted. However, if there is an N-up designation or the like during print settings, that is also taken into consideration. For example, when printing 5 copies of a 10-page electronic document in 2 ups, 25 (= 10 ÷ 2 × 5) pieces of identification information are extracted. At that time, the identification information server 30 stores the correspondence between the identification information, the document specifying information, and the print settings. This is because when a predetermined location on the printed document on which the electronic document is printed is instructed by the electronic pen 60, the corresponding location of the original electronic document can be accessed. After performing these processes, the identification information server 30 transmits the extracted identification information to the document server 20.
As a result, in the document server 20, the receiving unit 21a receives the identification information (step 213). Then, the receiving unit 21 a passes the received identification information to the identification information acquiring unit 22.
Then, the identification information acquisition unit 22 delivers the identification information delivered this time, and the permitted location information and the permitted date / time information that were previously delivered to the determination information management unit 23. Then, the determination information management unit 23 stores the determination information in which the identification information, the permitted place information, and the permitted date information are associated with each other in the determination information storage unit 24 (step 214).

On the other hand, the document server 20 generates a code image representing the identification information and the position information (step 215). The generation of the code image is specifically performed by the following process.
That is, first, the identification information acquisition unit 22 passes the identification information acquired in step 213 to the identification code generation unit 25a, and the identification code generation unit 25a generates an identification code by encoding the identification information. Details of the encoding of the identification information will be described later.
Further, the position code generation unit 25b receives the print setting from the reception unit 21a, and generates a position code by encoding position information in a range corresponding to the print setting. Details of the encoding of the position information will be described later.
Thereafter, the code arrangement unit 25c arranges the identification code and the position code in accordance with a predetermined layout, and the code image generation unit 25e visualizes this using the pattern image stored in the pattern image storage unit 25d. A code image is generated.

In the document server 20, the document image generation unit 26 generates a document image of the electronic document (step 216). At that time, the document image generating unit 26 receives the document specifying information acquired by the identification information acquiring unit 22 in step 211, and reads out the target electronic document from a storage unit (not shown) based on the document specifying information.
Then, the image composition unit 27 synthesizes the code image generated in Step 215 and the document image generated in Step 216 to generate a composite image (Step 217).
Thereafter, the composite image is transferred to the transmission unit 21b, and the transmission unit 21b transmits a print command for the composite image to the image forming apparatus 40 (step 218). Here, the composite image print command is transmitted, for example, in a PDL format in which the content to be printed as a code image is set as a PDL command to a PDL (Page Description Language) file including a sequence of print commands for document images. .

Thus, the image forming apparatus 40 records the document image on a recording medium using, for example, C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) toner. The code image is recorded on a recording medium using, for example, K (black containing carbon) toner or special toner.
Here, as the special toner, an invisible toner having a maximum absorption rate of 7% or less in the visible light region (400 nm to 700 nm) and an absorption rate of 30% or more in the near infrared region (800 nm to 1000 nm) is exemplified. . Here, “visible” and “invisible” are not related to whether they can be recognized visually. “Visible” and “invisible” are distinguished depending on whether or not an image in a printed document can be recognized by the presence or absence of color development due to absorption of a specific wavelength in the visible light region. Also, “invisible” includes those that have some color developability due to absorption of a specific wavelength in the visible light region but are difficult to be recognized by human eyes.

In the present embodiment, the document image and the code image are recorded on the recording medium as described above. At this time, determination information that is referred to when writing the printed document is generated. Therefore, this determination information will be specifically described.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the determination information.
As shown in the figure, the determination information is obtained by associating identification information, permitted place information, and permitted date information.
As described above, the identification information is information for uniquely identifying the recording medium.
The permitted place information is information that specifies a place where writing on the recording medium specified by the corresponding identification information is permitted. Here, as the permitted place information, for example, information on a physically fixed place represented by latitude and longitude may be stored. However, in the figure, the MAC address of the wireless LAN access point through which the writing information stored in the electronic pen 60 is transmitted from the terminal device 50 to the document server 20 is adopted. This means that if the access point of the wireless LAN moves, it means another place, so it can be said that it is not a physically fixed place but a logical place. In this embodiment, Such things are also included in the concept of “place”. Further, the MAC address is merely an example of information indicating such a logical place, and other device information may be adopted. Alternatively, it may be an IP address. However, in this case, it is desirable that the IP address is guaranteed to be fixedly assigned. In the present embodiment, permitted location information is adopted as an example of information related to a location associated with a recording medium.

  The permitted date / time information is information that identifies the date / time when writing on the recording medium identified by the corresponding identification information is permitted. In the figure, the period during which writing is permitted is indicated by the date and time, but is not limited thereto. Further, if writing is permitted every day or at a certain time on a specific day of the week, the day information is not necessarily required. Therefore, in this embodiment, permission date information is adopted as an example of information related to the time associated with the recording medium.

Next, the code image generated in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image or the like constituting the code image.
First, unit patterns constituting a code image will be described.
FIG. 6A shows an example of the unit pattern.
The unit pattern is the minimum unit for embedding information. In the drawing, it is shown that dots are arranged in the areas shown in black and no dots are arranged in the areas shown in diagonal lines. That is, the figure shows an example in which a unit pattern is configured by arranging dots at two locations selected from nine locations where dots can be arranged. Here, since there are 36 (= ₉ C ₂ ) combinations for selecting two locations out of nine locations, there are 36 types of unit patterns. Of these, four types of unit patterns are used as synchronization patterns. The synchronization pattern is a pattern for detecting the rotation of the image and specifying the relative positions of the identification code and the position code. In particular, since it is necessary to detect the rotation of the image, the four types of synchronization patterns are selected such that when one of the synchronization patterns is rotated 90 degrees, another synchronization pattern is obtained. Further, the 32 types of unit patterns other than the 4 types of unit patterns are used as information patterns expressing the identification code and the position code, and 5-bit information is expressed.

  By the way, one dot shown in FIG. 6A has a size of 2 pixels × 2 pixels at 600 dpi. Since the size of one pixel at 600 dpi is 0.0423 mm, one side of the minimum square in the figure is 84.6 μm (= 0.0423 mm × 2). Since the dots constituting the unit pattern become more noticeable as the size increases, it is preferable that the dots be as small as possible. However, if it is too small, printing with a printer becomes impossible. Therefore, the above value is adopted as the dot size, which is larger than 50 μm and smaller than 100 μm. The dot size 84.6 μm is a numerical value to the last, and is about 100 μm in the actually printed toner image.

Next, a code block composed of such unit patterns will be described.
FIG. 6B shows an example of the layout of the code block. Here, not the image but the code arrangement immediately before being replaced by the pattern image is shown.
The unit pattern of FIG. 6A is arranged in the smallest square (hereinafter referred to as “unit block”) in FIG. In the layout of FIG. 6B, the synchronization code is arranged in one unit block at the upper left of the code block. Further, the X position code is arranged in the four unit blocks on the right side of the unit block in which the synchronization code is arranged, and the Y position code is arranged in the four unit blocks on the lower side of the unit block in which the synchronization code is arranged. . Further, identification codes are arranged in 16 (= 4 × 4) unit blocks surrounded by unit blocks in which these position codes are arranged.

Here, encoding of identification information will be described.
When encoding identification information, the bit string which comprises identification information is divided | segmented into a some block in order to perform RS encoding. Although several methods can be used for encoding, RS encoding is suitable in this embodiment. This is because the RS code is a multi-value coding method, and in this case, the value represented by the unit block corresponds to the multi-value of the RS code. For example, when 5-bit information is expressed by one unit block, the 60-bit identification information is divided into 12 blocks having a block length of 5 bits. If an RS code capable of correcting two blocks of errors is employed, the code length is 16 blocks, which can be accommodated in a unit block in which the identification code in the code block of FIG. 6B is arranged. The encoding method is not limited to the RS code, and other encoding methods such as a BCH code may be used.

Next, encoding of position information will be described.
For encoding the position information, an M-sequence code, which is a kind of pseudo-random sequence, is used. Here, the M sequence is a sequence of the maximum period that can be generated by a K-stage linear shift register, and has a sequence length of 2 ^K −1. Arbitrary consecutive K bits extracted from the M sequence have a property that they do not appear at other positions in the same M sequence. Therefore, the position information is encoded using this property.
By the way, in the present embodiment, a necessary M-sequence order is obtained from the length of position information to be encoded, and an M-sequence is generated. However, if the length of the position information to be encoded is known in advance, it is not necessary to generate the M sequence each time. That is, a fixed M sequence may be generated in advance and stored in a memory or the like.
For example, it is assumed that an M sequence (K = 13) having a sequence length of 8191 is used. In this case, since the position code is also embedded in units of 5 bits, 5 bits are taken out from the M sequence having a sequence length of 8191 and blocked.

  In this specification, the identification information and the position information are clearly distinguished and used for the sake of simplicity. However, there is a technique in which a wide range of position information is prepared, the position information is cut out and embedded from a different range for each recording medium, and the recording medium is identified by the difference in position information. Therefore, in such a method, it is assumed that the position information has a function for identifying the recording medium, and the position information is also considered as the identification information.

1-B. Writing on Print Medium In the system of FIG. 1, writing information on a print document is transmitted from the electronic pen 60 to the terminal device 50 via the communication device 70 and registered in the document server 20.
First, the mechanism of the electronic pen 60 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the electronic pen 60.
As illustrated, the electronic pen 60 includes a control circuit 61 that controls the operation of the entire pen. The control circuit 61 includes an image processing unit 61a that processes the read code image, and a data processing unit 61b that extracts identification information and position information from the processing result.
The control circuit 61 is connected to a pressure sensor 62 that detects a writing operation by the electronic pen 60 by a pressure applied to the pen tip 69. Further, an infrared LED 63 for irradiating the recording medium with infrared light and an infrared CMOS 64 for reading a code image by detecting reflected light are also connected. Furthermore, an information memory 65 for storing identification information and position information, a communication circuit 66 for communicating with an external device, a battery 67 for driving the pen, and pen identification information (pen ID) are stored. A pen ID memory 68 is also connected.

Next, the functional configuration realized in the control circuit 61 will be described in more detail.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control circuit 61. In the figure, a functional configuration example is shown separately for the image processing unit 61 a and the data processing unit 61 b in the control circuit 61.
As illustrated, the image processing unit 61 a includes an image acquisition unit 611 and a dot array generation unit 612. The data processing unit 61 b includes a code array generation unit 613, an identification information acquisition unit 614, a position information acquisition unit 615, and a writing information generation unit 616. Further, a location information acquisition unit 617, a date and time information acquisition unit 618, and a transmission unit 619 are provided.

The image acquisition unit 611 acquires a code image read from the print document by the infrared CMOS 64. Moreover, the noise contained in a code image is removed as needed. In other words, in the present embodiment, an image acquisition unit 611 is an example of an image acquisition unit that acquires an image recorded on a recording medium and representing identification information for specifying the recording medium and position information for specifying a position on the recording medium. Is provided.
The dot array generation unit 612 generates a dot array with reference to the dot positions in the code image. That is, on a two-dimensional array, for example, “1” is stored at a position where there is a dot and “0” is stored at a position where there is no dot, thereby replacing the dot detected as an image with digital data. Then, this two-dimensional array is output as a dot array.

  The code array generation unit 613 detects a block corresponding to the unit pattern in the code block on the dot array. Specifically, a frame having the same shape and size as the block in which the unit pattern is arranged is moved on the dot array, and the frame is fixed at a position where the number of dots in the frame becomes equal. For example, if the unit pattern of FIG. 6A is used, a frame having a size corresponding to 3 dots × 3 dots is moved, and the frame is fixed at a position where the number of dots included in the frame is two. Then, a code array is generated that stores code values determined from dot positions in each block delimited by the frame. When this code array is generated, the position of the synchronization code is specified by searching for a code value of a predetermined synchronization code.

The identification information acquisition unit 614 detects the identification code based on the position of the synchronization code from the code array. Then, the identification code is decoded using the parameters used in the RS encoding process at the time of image generation, and identification information is acquired.
The position information acquisition unit 615 detects the position code based on the position of the synchronization code from the code array. Then, an M-sequence partial sequence is extracted from the position code, the position of this partial sequence in the M-sequence used at the time of image generation is referenced, and a value obtained by correcting this position with an offset using a synchronization code is acquired as position information. The reason why the correction is made by the offset is that a synchronization code is arranged between the position codes.

The writing information generation unit 616 connects the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 615 to generate writing information. Here, the writing information includes at least data obtained by digitizing the locus of the pen tip of the electronic pen 60, but may include other information. Information other than the locus of the pen tip includes, for example, information on the color set for the pen when writing, information on writing pressure, and the like. That is, in the present embodiment, writing information generation as an example of writing information generation means that generates writing information obtained by digitizing writing on a recording medium based on position information represented by an image acquired by the image acquisition means. A portion 616 is provided.
The place information acquisition unit 617 acquires writing place information for specifying a place where writing has been made. That is, in the present embodiment, the location information acquisition unit 617 is provided as an example of location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing has been made on the recording medium. Here, the writing location information may be obtained from, for example, a means that is provided in the electronic pen 60 and detects its own location. As means for detecting such a location, if the location where the electronic pen 60 is used is a wide space, for example, a recognition means for recognizing the location of the electronic pen 60 using radio waves from GPS satellites can be considered. Alternatively, if the place where the electronic pen 60 is used is a meeting room or the like in a building, receiving means for receiving equipment information that identifies equipment such as a receiver that is installed in the meeting room or the like and can communicate with the electronic pen 60 Is also possible.
The date and time information acquisition unit 618 acquires writing date and time information that specifies the date and time when writing was performed. That is, in the present embodiment, the date / time information acquisition unit 618 is provided as an example of a time information acquisition unit that acquires time information indicating the time when writing was performed on the recording medium. Here, the writing date and time information may be obtained from a time measuring means that holds the current time.
The transmission unit 619 acquires the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 614, the writing information generated by the writing information generation unit 616, the writing location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 617, and the date information acquisition unit 618. By passing the writing date and time information to the communication circuit 66, information transmission to the communication device 70 is realized.

Next, an operation when the electronic pen 60 generates writing information and registers it in the document server 20 will be described.
In the electronic pen 60, first, the infrared LED 63 irradiates the recording medium with infrared light, and the infrared CMOS 64 receives the reflected light to read the code image. Then, the image acquisition unit 611 acquires the read code image. If the code image contains noise, it is removed. Next, the dot array generation unit 612 converts the dot positions included in the code image into digital data, and generates a dot array. Then, the code array generation unit 613 detects a block from the dot array, and generates a code array that stores a code value for each block. Then, the position of the synchronization code is specified in the code array.

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the electronic pen 60 and the document server 20 thereafter. In FIG. 1, the writing information generated by the electronic pen 60 is transmitted to the document server 20 via the communication device 70 and the terminal device 50. In FIG. 9, the communication device 70 and the terminal are used. The processing of the part that passes through the device 50 is omitted.
Now, after the above processing, the electronic pen 60 acquires identification information, writing information, writing place information, and writing date and time information (step 601). Specifically, the identification information acquisition unit 614 detects the identification code based on the position of the synchronization code, decodes it, and acquires the identification information. Further, the position information acquisition unit 615 detects a position code based on the position of the synchronization code, decodes this, and acquires position information. Then, the writing information generation unit 616 generates writing information by connecting the position information. Further, in the present embodiment, the location information acquisition unit 617 acquires the writing location information, and the date information acquisition unit 618 acquires the writing date information.
These pieces of information are passed to the transmission unit 619, and the transmission unit 619 transmits identification information, writing information, writing place information, and writing date and time information to the document server 20 via the communication device 70 and the terminal device 50. (Step 602).

Thereby, in the document server 20, the receiving unit 21a receives the identification information, the writing information, the writing place information, and the writing date and time information (step 201). Then, the receiving unit 21a passes the received information to the writing information registration unit 28.
Then, the writing information registration unit 28 determines whether or not the correspondence between the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information is stored in the determination information storage unit 24 (step 202).
Here, it is assumed that it is determined that the correspondence between the identification information, the writing location information, and the writing date / time information is stored in the determination information storage unit 24. In this case, with respect to the recording medium to which the identification information is given, it is determined that the writing performed at the date indicated by the writing date information at the location indicated by the writing location information is valid, and the writing information registration unit 28 The information is stored as it is in the writing information storage unit 29 (step 203).
On the other hand, it is assumed that it is determined that the correspondence between the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information is not stored in the determination information storage unit 24. In this case, it is determined that the writing performed at the date indicated by the writing date / time information at the location indicated by the writing location information is not valid for the recording medium to which the identification information is given. Then, the writing information registration unit 28 stores the writing information in the writing information storage unit 29 in association with the invalid flag for later tracking that the writing is not valid (step 204).
Note that the writing information in steps 203 and 204 may be stored by adding the writing information to the corresponding part of the electronic document. Alternatively, the document specifying information, the writing location on the electronic document, and the writing information may be stored in association with each other.
This is the end of the description of the first embodiment.

<Second Embodiment>
In this embodiment, as described above, the electronic pen 60 transmits the writing information to the document server 20 only when the writing information is valid.
Since the operation in the present embodiment can be roughly divided into output of a print document and writing to the print document, these will be described separately below.

2-A. Output of Print Document In the system of FIG. 1, the terminal device 10 requests the document server 20 to print an electronic document. Then, the document server 20 outputs a print command for the electronic document to the image forming apparatus 40, and the print document is output. As described above, since the document server 20 operates mainly in the output of the print document, the functional configuration of the document server 20 will be described first.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the document server 20. The document server 20 functions not only when outputting a print document but also when reflecting writing information for the printed document in an electronic document. The function related to the reflection is also shown.
As illustrated, the document server 20 includes a receiving unit 21 a, a transmitting unit 21 b, an identification information acquiring unit 22, a determination information managing unit 23, and a determination information storage unit 24. In addition, an identification code generation unit 25a, a position code generation unit 25b, a code arrangement unit 25c, a pattern image storage unit 25d, and a code image generation unit 25e are provided. Furthermore, a document image generation unit 26, an image composition unit 27, a writing information registration unit 28, and a writing information storage unit 29 are provided.

The receiving unit 21 a receives a print request from the terminal device 10. Here, as in the first embodiment, the print request includes information for specifying an electronic document to be printed (document specification information) and various settings related to printing (print settings). Similarly to the first embodiment, when receiving a print request, information on a place where writing on a printed document is permitted (permitted place information) and information on a date when writing on the printed document is permitted (permitted Date and time information) is also received. The receiving unit 21 a receives identification information from the identification information server 30. Further, when writing is performed on the print document, in addition to the identification information embedded in the print document, information on the place where the print document was written (writing place information) and writing on the print document are performed. If the writing is determined to be valid, the writing information is further received.
The transmission unit 21 b transmits an identification information issuance request to the identification information server 30. In addition, an image print command for the recording medium is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 40. Further, in the present embodiment, information indicating whether writing is valid is transmitted to the terminal device 50.

The identification information acquisition unit 22 acquires the document specifying information from the reception unit 21a, passes it to the transmission unit 21b, and instructs transmission of an identification information issue request. In addition, the permitted location information and the permitted date / time information are acquired from the receiving unit 21 a and transferred to the determination information managing unit 23 together with the identification information issued by the identification information server 30.
The determination information management unit 23 acquires the identification information, the permitted place information, and the permitted date information from the identification information acquisition unit 22, and manages the determination information in which these are associated. Further, when the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information are received from the terminal device 50, it is checked whether or not these correspondences are stored in the determination information storage unit 24.
The determination information storage unit 24 stores determination information in which identification information, permitted place information, and permitted date information are associated with each other.

The identification code generation unit 25a, the position code generation unit 25b, the code arrangement unit 25c, the pattern image storage unit 25d, the code image generation unit 25e, the document image generation unit 26, and the image composition unit 27 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The detailed description is omitted here since it is the same as described above.
The writing information registration unit 28 acquires valid writing information received by the receiving unit 21 a and registers it in the writing information storage unit 29.
The writing information storage unit 29 stores writing information in response to a registration request from the writing information registration unit 28.

  In addition, regarding the operation of the document server 20 when outputting a print document in the present embodiment, the code image generated in the present embodiment, and the determination information generated in the present embodiment, Since it is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG.

2-B. Writing on Print Medium In the system of FIG. 1, writing information on a print document is transmitted from the electronic pen 60 to the terminal device 50 via the communication device 70 and registered in the document server 20.
First, the functional configuration of the electronic pen 60 will be described. Since the mechanism of the electronic pen 60 is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, a description thereof is omitted here.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control circuit 61 (see FIG. 7). In the figure, a functional configuration example is shown separately for the image processing unit 61 a and the data processing unit 61 b in the control circuit 61.
As illustrated, the image processing unit 61 a includes an image acquisition unit 611 and a dot array generation unit 612. The data processing unit 61 b includes a code array generation unit 613, an identification information acquisition unit 614, a position information acquisition unit 615, and a writing information generation unit 616. Further, a location information acquisition unit 617, a date and time information acquisition unit 618, a transmission unit 619, a reception unit 620, and a transmission control unit 621 are further provided.

The image acquisition unit 611, the dot array generation unit 612, the identification information acquisition unit 614, the position information acquisition unit 615, the writing information generation unit 616, the location information acquisition unit 617, and the date and time information acquisition unit 618 are the first embodiment. The detailed description is omitted here since it is the same as described above.
The transmission unit 619 transmits identification information, writing place information, and writing date and time information at the time of the first transmission, and further transmits writing information when it is determined that writing is valid.
The receiving unit 620 receives information indicating whether writing is valid from the document server 20.
The transmission control unit 621 passes the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information to the transmission unit 619 at the time of the first transmission, but receives information indicating that the writing is valid at the second transmission. Only when the unit 620 receives the information, the handwritten information is passed to the transmission unit 619. That is, in the present embodiment, the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is acquired according to the determination result of whether or not the location information indicates the location associated with the identification information, or acquired by the time information acquisition unit. A transmission control unit 621 is provided as an example of a determination unit that determines a process for writing information according to a determination result of whether or not the time information indicates a time associated with the identification information.

Next, an operation when the electronic pen 60 generates writing information and registers it in the document server 20 will be described.
In the electronic pen 60, first, the infrared LED 63 irradiates the recording medium with infrared light, and the infrared CMOS 64 receives the reflected light to read the code image. Then, the image acquisition unit 611 acquires the read code image. If the code image contains noise, it is removed. Next, the dot array generation unit 612 converts the dot positions included in the code image into digital data, and generates a dot array. Then, the code array generation unit 613 detects a block from the dot array, and generates a code array that stores a code value for each block. Then, the position of the synchronization code is specified in the code array.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the electronic pen 60 and the document server 20 thereafter. In FIG. 1, the writing information generated by the electronic pen 60 is transmitted to the document server 20 through the communication device 70 and the terminal device 50. In FIG. The processing of the part that passes through the device 50 is omitted.
Now, after the above processing, the electronic pen 60 acquires identification information, writing information, writing place information, and writing date and time information (step 651). Specifically, the identification information acquisition unit 614 detects the identification code based on the position of the synchronization code, decodes it, and acquires the identification information. Further, the position information acquisition unit 615 detects a position code based on the position of the synchronization code, decodes this, and acquires position information. Then, the writing information generation unit 616 generates writing information by connecting the position information. Further, in the present embodiment, the location information acquisition unit 617 acquires the writing location information, and the date information acquisition unit 618 acquires the writing date information.
Among these pieces of information, the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information are passed to the transmitting unit 619 via the transmission control unit 621, and the transmitting unit 619 transmits the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information. The data is transmitted to the document server 20 via the communication device 70 and the terminal device 50 (step 652).

Thereby, in the document server 20, the receiving part 21a receives identification information, writing place information, and writing date information (step 251). Then, the reception unit 21a passes the received information to the determination information management unit 23 via the identification information acquisition unit 614.
Then, the determination information management unit 23 determines whether the correspondence between the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information is stored in the determination information storage unit 24. Then, presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of correspondence in the determination information storage unit 24 is returned to the electronic pen 60 via the terminal device 50 and the communication device 70 (step 252).

As a result, in the electronic pen 60, the receiving unit 620 receives the presence / absence information indicating whether or not the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information correspond to each other, and passes them to the transmission control unit 621 (step 653). Then, the transmission control unit 621 determines whether the presence / absence information indicates that the correspondence between the identification information, the writing place information, and the writing date / time information is stored (step 654).
Here, it is assumed that the presence / absence information is determined to indicate that the correspondence between the identification information, the writing location information, and the writing date / time information is stored. In this case, the transmission control unit 621 determines that the writing performed at the date indicated by the writing date / time information at the location indicated by the writing location information is valid for the recording medium to which the identification information is given, and the transmission control unit 621 To the transmission unit 619. Then, the transmission unit 619 transmits the writing information to the document server 20 via the communication device 70 and the terminal device 50 (step 655).
On the other hand, it is assumed that the presence / absence information is determined to indicate that the correspondence between the identification information, the writing location information, and the writing date / time information is not stored. In this case, with respect to the recording medium to which the identification information is given, it is determined that the writing performed at the location indicated by the writing location information at the date indicated by the writing date information is not valid, and the transmission control unit 621 determines the writing information. The data is not delivered to the transmission unit 619. That is, control is performed such that a certain restriction is applied to transmission of the writing information to the document server 20.

When the writing information is transmitted to the document server 20 in step 655, in the document server 20, the receiving unit 21a receives the writing information (step 253). Then, the writing information is transferred to the writing information registration unit 28. Thereafter, the writing information registration unit 28 stores the writing information in the writing information storage unit 29 (step 254). The storage of the writing information here may be performed by adding the writing information to the corresponding part of the electronic document. Alternatively, the document specifying information, the writing location on the electronic document, and the writing information may be stored in association with each other.
This is the end of the description of the second embodiment.

  By the way, in the first and second embodiments, the document server 20 performs both the process of generating a composite image by combining the document image and the code image and the process of registering the writing information for the recording medium. I did it. However, a configuration in which at least one of these processes is performed by another apparatus is also conceivable. For example, it may be performed by a client computer such as the terminal device 10 or the terminal device 50, another server computer such as the identification information server 30, or the computer portion of the image forming apparatus 40. Therefore, the hardware configuration of the computer 90 will be described assuming that these processes are performed by the computer 90.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the computer 90.
As shown in the figure, the computer 90 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 91 that is a calculation means, a main memory 92 that is a storage means, and a magnetic disk device (HDD: Hard Disk Drive) 93. Here, the CPU 91 executes various software such as an OS (Operating System) and an application, and realizes each function described above. The main memory 92 is a storage area for storing various software and data used for execution thereof, and the magnetic disk device 93 is a storage area for storing input data for various software, output data from various software, and the like. .
Further, the computer 90 includes a communication I / F 94 for performing communication with the outside, a display mechanism 95 including a video memory and a display, and an input device 96 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

  In the first and second embodiments, whether or not writing on the recording medium is valid is written in the permitted place and at the permitted time. It was judged by. However, the configuration may be such that the effectiveness of writing is determined according to any one of these criteria.

  The program for realizing the present embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also by storing it in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

It is the figure which showed the system configuration | structure with which embodiment of this invention is applied. It is the figure which showed the operation | movement image of embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function structure of the document server in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the document server at the time of the printing document output in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the determination information produced | generated by embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of the code | symbol image produced | generated by embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the mechanism of the electronic pen in embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function mechanism of the control circuit of the electronic pen in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the operation | movement of the electronic pen and document server at the time of registration of the writing information in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function structure of the document server in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function mechanism of the control circuit of the electronic pen in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the operation | movement of the electronic pen at the time of registration of the writing information in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and a document server. It is a hardware block diagram of the computer which performs the production | generation of an image and registration of writing information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,50 ... Terminal device, 20 ... Document server, 30 ... Identification information server, 40 ... Image forming device, 60 ... Electronic pen, 80 ... Network

Claims (11)

Writing information acquisition means for acquiring writing information obtained by digitizing writing on a recording medium;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing was made on the recording medium;
Depending on the determination result of whether or not the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit indicates a location associated with the recording medium, processing for the writing information acquired by the writing information acquisition unit is performed. A writing information processing apparatus, comprising: a determining unit that determines. Further comprising time information acquisition means for acquiring time information indicating a time when writing was performed on the recording medium;
The determination means is acquired by the writing information acquisition means according to a determination result of whether or not the time information acquired by the time information acquisition means indicates a time associated with the recording medium. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein processing for writing information is determined.   When the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit does not indicate a location associated with the recording medium, the determination unit associates and stores the information to that effect and the writing information. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 1. Image acquisition means for acquiring an image recorded on a recording medium and representing identification information for specifying the recording medium and position information for specifying a position on the recording medium;
Writing information generating means for generating writing information obtained by digitizing writing on the recording medium based on the position information represented by the image acquired by the image acquiring means;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing was made on the recording medium;
According to the determination result of whether the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit indicates a location associated with the identification information represented by the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, A writing information processing apparatus comprising: a determining unit that determines a process for the writing information generated by the writing information generating unit.   5. The writing according to claim 4, further comprising reading means for reading the image recorded with an invisible recording material having an absorption wavelength in an infrared region by irradiating the recording medium with infrared light. Information processing device. Recognizing means for recognizing the location of its own device using radio waves from a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite,
5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the location information recognized by the recognition unit as the location information. It further comprises receiving means for receiving device information for specifying a device with which the device can communicate,
5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the device information received by the reception unit as the location information. Further comprising time information acquisition means for acquiring time information indicating a time when writing was performed on the recording medium;
The determination unit determines whether the time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit indicates a time associated with the identification information represented by the image acquired by the image acquisition unit 5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a process for the writing information generated by the writing information generating means is determined in response.   The determination unit, when the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit does not indicate a location associated with the identification information represented by the image acquired by the image acquisition unit, 5. The writing information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein transmission of the writing information generated by the writing information generating means to another apparatus is restricted. Identification information acquisition means for acquiring identification information for specifying the recording medium;
Location information acquisition means for acquiring location information indicating a location where writing on the recording medium is permitted;
Processing for writing information that is determination information in which the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit and the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit are associated with each other and the writing on the recording medium is digitized An information generating apparatus comprising: generating means for generating determination information referred to when determining the information. On the computer,
A function for obtaining writing information obtained by digitizing writing on a recording medium;
A function of acquiring place information indicating a place where writing was made on the recording medium;
A program for realizing a function of determining a process for the acquired writing information according to a determination result of whether or not the location information indicates a location associated with the recording medium.

Images