JP2008235972A - Image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve both efficiency of processing and image quality in forming a tint pattern image by changing one part of a plurality of a tint pattern original images, when forming a tint pattern image by combining the tint pattern original image with a plurality of tint patterns. <P>SOLUTION: The tint pattern image data is generated in a normal mode for all tint generating regions or a partial change mode for a tint pattern original image changing region. The tint pattern original image changing region is specified in each of tint pattern generators 102-105 when the tint pattern image created in the normal mode is to be partially changed, and the tint pattern image data are generated to improve efficiency of processing. In that case, the tint pattern position information of a changing position is stored during the normal mode, the position information is reflected in the setting of the a partial change mode. Thus, pattern shift due to change is prevented and deterioration in image quality can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that generates a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be added to an original image, and more specifically, generates a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image by combining a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern such as a foreground, background, mask, and illegal copy guard. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that performs processing for generating a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and a program for executing processing for generating the tint block image.

  Conventionally, a technology that adds and synthesizes a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to the original image that should be protected from fraud as a countermeasure to prevent the created printed matter from being illegally copied and leading to leakage of confidential documents, forgery of certificates and securities, etc. It has been known.

As a conventional example of the generation process of a tint block image synthesized with such a purpose, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited.
In Patent Document 1, a minimum unit for repeating a tint block is created from the least common multiple of two patterns of a latent image pattern and a background pattern, and two images of a camouflage area designating image and a latent image background area designating image. A method of generating a larger copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image by repeatedly arranging them is shown. By this method, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be generated at high speed and with a reduced amount of memory.
JP 2005-94326 A

  When the background pattern original image, that is, an image from which the background pattern pattern (foreground, background, mask, illegal copy guard, etc., the pattern differs depending on the background pattern type) is embedded is large by the conventional technique exemplified in Patent Document 1, for example, the entire page When it is desired to hit a large character as a background pattern, the memory amount required for the background pattern generation module is reduced, and the processing efficiency is improved.

  However, in terms of processing efficiency, the following cases are still not sufficient. In other words, in response to a request to create a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image that only changes a part of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image that occupies the entire page, conventionally, a method is used in which all of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is recreated from the beginning. . For this reason, for example, when it is desired to hit a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern that has been partially changed for each page, the entire copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image must be generated for each page. The problem remains in terms of processing efficiency.

  As a countermeasure against the problem related to the partial change, it is conceivable to apply the processing method for the entire page as it is to the part to be changed and create a tint block image of the changed part. However, according to this method, since the sizes are different and several types of patterns are created without being conscious of the connection as a part of the entire image, the deterioration of the image quality cannot be denied.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and the problem to be solved by the invention is to synthesize a tint block image by combining a tint block original image and a plurality of types of tint block patterns composed of basic unit patterns. In the image processing to be generated, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated by changing a part of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image, both improvement in processing efficiency and high image quality are to be achieved.

The invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus for generating a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image by synthesizing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage unit for storing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern and generation of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image on the processing target image plane Corresponding to the area, a tint block pattern setting unit for setting a tint block generation start position in the tint block pattern storage unit of the tint block pattern storage unit, and a tint block pattern used for combining with the tint block original image according to the setting of the tint block pattern setting unit It has the means.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation device includes a region designating unit for designating a generation pattern of the tint block image. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for calculating a set value of a tint block generation start position in the tint block pattern of the tint block pattern storage unit based on the region.
The invention according to claim 3 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of types of tint block patterns each having a different basic unit pattern length are used. The tint block pattern having the least common multiple of each pattern length is stored.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or third aspect, in the area designating unit for designating a generation area of the tint block image, the generation area of the tint block image, and the tint block pattern of the tint block pattern storage unit A table storage unit that stores a table indicating a relationship with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation start position, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern setting unit sets the table pattern by referring to the table of the table storage unit according to the generation area instructed by the area instruction unit; Means is provided for acquiring a tint block generation start position in the tint block pattern.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a setting presence / absence determining unit that determines whether or not a background pattern generation start position is set by the background pattern pattern setting unit. And the means for generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern performs generation according to the setting on the condition that the setting presence / absence determining means determines that there is a setting.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the tint block pattern setting means and the tint block pattern generating unit in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.
The invention according to claim 7 is a program for causing a computer to function as the tint block pattern setting unit, the unit for generating the tint block pattern, and the setting presence / absence determining unit in the image processing apparatus according to claim 5.

  According to the present invention, when it is desired to change only a part of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image, it is possible to adopt a method of recreating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image only for the changed part and replacing a part of the previously generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image Compared with the method of regenerating the entire copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the processing is made more efficient, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be kept in high image quality.

An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that performs a process of generating a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image (hereinafter referred to as a “copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image”) to be added to an image to be protected from unauthorized copying, and is incorporated in an apparatus for generating an image to be protected. Used. Examples of the implementation apparatus to be incorporated include apparatuses such as a PC (Personal Computer), a copying machine, and an MFP (Multi-Function Peripherals) for creating / editing a document. Any device may be used as long as it has a function of generating data that can be output to (printing paper).

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to this embodiment.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shows only a main configuration relating to generation of a tint block image and addition to a processing target image, and a tint block generator 100 that generates a tint block stamp image and a tint block stamp as a processing target image. A synthesizer 200 that synthesizes the original image and the background pattern stamp image, and an image data output unit 300 that outputs the synthesized image data.
The image processing apparatus processes image data in response to an image output processing request, and is not shown in FIG. 1, but has a main control unit that controls the entire image processing system. As part of the image data output processing process, the background pattern stamp is applied to the processing target image. Therefore, the main control unit performs setting of processing conditions necessary for the operations in the tint block generator 100, the combiner 200, and the image data output device 300 shown in FIG.

The background pattern generator 100 generates a background pattern stamp image by synthesizing the background pattern original image and the background pattern. The “pattern” in the tint block pattern is an arrangement of pixels (dots). In this embodiment, the “pattern” is arranged in a two-dimensional direction of X and Y.
The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image is a binary (ON / OFF) image drawn in a memory or the like with a low resolution (for example, 150 dpi) (refer to the description regarding FIG. 2 below), and at the ON position where the image is formed. The following foreground / background pattern is embedded as a tint block pattern.

In the present embodiment, the following four types of patterns are used as the background pattern.
-Foreground pattern: This pattern is called a “ground pattern that stands out”, and is a pattern of dots that can be read by a scanner when printed on paper and then copied. The minimum unit is prepared in memory in advance. .
-Background pattern: Commonly called “disappearing background pattern”. This pattern is a pattern of dots that cannot be read by a scanner when printed on paper and then copied. The minimum unit is prepared in memory in advance. .
Mask pattern: A background pattern for making it difficult to visually recognize that the foreground / background pattern has been hit, and a minimum unit is prepared in advance in a memory. Also, it has low resolution to save memory.
Unauthorized copy guard pattern: This is a pattern that can be read by a scanner when printed on paper and then copied, and a minimum unit is prepared in advance in a memory. Depending on the detection result of this pattern, painting, output stop, etc. are performed.

The concept of the background pattern stamp image generated by combining the background pattern original image and the background pattern will be described with reference to the examples of FIGS.
In the present embodiment, when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image is generated, a processing mode for generating all pages at once (hereinafter referred to as “normal mode”) and a process for replacing a part of the previously generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image with a modified image As a method, the processing mode for generating only the changed portion (hereinafter referred to as “partial change mode”) can be switched.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image generated by the normal operation.
On the right side of FIG. 2, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image is drawn as a binary image in which the image portion formed as “COPY” is turned on. In addition, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image is shown on the left side of the figure, and a mesh portion in the figure is set by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region information.
The image output data for one page is processed in units of lines in the main scanning (X) direction while switching the lines in the sub-scanning (Y) direction. Therefore, the tint block generation area is the scanning start position (X1, Y1). It is defined by the scan end position (X2, Y2). A background pattern is embedded in the background pattern generation area according to the setting.

  Therefore, for example, when a foreground pattern is set as a background pattern, a foreground pattern for generating a raised background pattern is embedded in the image portion formed as “COPY” by the background pattern original image. Further, when the mask pattern is set on the entire surface of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region, as shown on the left side of FIG. 2, a mask is put on the mesh portion, and “COPY” cannot be visually recognized when printing is performed using this image data. Output results can be obtained.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a tint block stamp image in the partial change mode.
The right side of FIG. 3 shows a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image used for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image previously generated in the normal mode, and is an area including “1” indicated by the diagonal line “0001” in FIG. This is an example in which “2” is shown on the left side of FIG. 3 after changing the part.
In this case, a region indicated by diagonal lines including “2” on the left side of FIG. 3 is set by the background pattern original image change region information, and a background pattern stamp image is generated using only that portion as the background pattern original image. The tint block generation area of the changed portion is defined by the scanning start position (X3, Y3) and the scanning end position (X4, Y4). A background pattern is embedded in the background pattern original image “2” in the background pattern generation area.
In both the normal mode and the partial change mode, when a processing request for output image data to which a background pattern is added is made, it is selected as one of settable processing conditions and is instructed by a main control unit (not shown).

Next, the tint block generator 100 in FIG. 1 will be described in detail based on FIG. 4 showing the internal configuration.
In the present embodiment, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image is generated by synthesizing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern in the set copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region. Therefore, as shown in the configuration of FIG. In the stage, a background pattern original image scaling unit 101, a foreground background pattern generator 102, a background background pattern generator 103, a mask background pattern generator 104, and an illegal copy guard background pattern generator 105 are provided.

The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image scaling unit 101 converts the input copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image into the same resolution as that of the original image, and outputs it to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesizer 106 in predetermined units (for example, 64 bits).
The foreground background pattern generator 102 outputs the input foreground pattern of the minimum unit to the background pattern synthesizer 106 in the same unit (for example, 64 bits) as the background pattern original image.
The background tint pattern generator 103 outputs the input background pattern of the minimum unit to the tint block synthesizer 106 by the same unit (for example, 64 bits) as the tint block original image.

The mask background pattern generator 104 converts the input minimum unit mask pattern into the same resolution as the original image, and outputs the same unit (for example, 64 bits) as the background pattern original image to the background pattern synthesizer 106.
The illegal copy guard copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generator 105 converts the input illegal copy guard pattern in the minimum unit to the same resolution as the original image, and outputs the same unit (for example, 64 bits) to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern combiner 106 in the same unit as the original copy-forgery-inhibited pattern.
In the present embodiment, since the background pattern is generated by the operation in the partial change mode, the background pattern generators 102 to 105 receive the background pattern original change area information indicating the change area, and obtain start position information on each pattern. Find and retain that information.

The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesizer 106, depending on the type of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern designated by the user (selection of the above-mentioned four types of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern, normal / inverted selection in the pattern, etc.) Synthesis processing is performed within the background pattern generation area of the input background pattern original image, and a background pattern stamp image is output.
Note that the synthesizer 200 and the image data output device 300 in FIG. 1 are not the main part of the present embodiment, and can be implemented by applying existing technology, and thus will not be described in detail.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned tint block generator 100 (FIG. 4) will be described with reference to the flow shown in FIG. The flow shown in FIG. 5 is an operation flow common to the normal mode and the partial change mode.
When a request for processing the output image data with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is issued, processing for generating a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image is started. First, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image of the entire page or only the changed portion is started in accordance with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation condition designated by the user. Is generated (step S101). The generated tint block original image is represented by binary data with the position where the image is formed ON (see the tint block original image in FIGS. 2 and 3), and is written in the memory.

  In addition, the normal pattern or partial change mode can be used for scaling the original pattern, generating foreground pattern, background pattern, mask pattern and illegal copy guard pattern for each pattern, and combining the pattern pattern with the pattern pattern. Make the settings necessary for execution. This setting is performed by setting control parameters for the background pattern original image scaling unit 101, the various background pattern generators 102 to 105, and the background pattern synthesizer 106 (step S102), as well as foreground background patterns, background background patterns, mask background patterns, and illegal copy guard background patterns. Of the local pattern, a necessary background pattern is set according to the request (step S103).

Next, according to the above setting, necessary processing units of the background pattern original image scaling unit 101, the foreground background pattern generator 102, the background background pattern generator 103, the mask background pattern generator 104, and the illegal copy guard background pattern generator 105 are simultaneously operated. To generate a tint block (step S104). An operation flow common to the local pattern generators 102 to 105 will be described in detail later with reference to an embodiment.
If the generation of the background pattern is completed, the background pattern composition for combining the generated background pattern original image and the background pattern is performed (step S106). However, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image magnification changer 101 and the various pattern print generators 102 to 105 process simultaneously in parallel, it is confirmed that all necessary data has been prepared (step S105-YES), and the process is started. .

In the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesis, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern data from each of the print-pattern generators 102 to 105 and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image multiplier 101 are input to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern combiner 106 in the same unit (for example, 64 bits) Therefore, for example, in the case of a normal background pattern, the AND of the foreground background pattern and the mask background pattern is output when the background pattern original image is 1, and the background background pattern and the mask background pattern are output when the background pattern original image is 0. The output of the AND is taken as the composite output.
The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image obtained as an output result is written in the memory (step S107), and the operation flow in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generator 100 is ended.

The background pattern generator 100 generates a background pattern stamp image by the above-described operation. The generated copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image is output as image data having the same resolution as the original image. Here, in the normal mode, since the entire image is generated, it is immediately output to the synthesizer 200 (see FIG. 1) and synthesized with the original image. Also, in the partial change mode, after performing an operation of generating a whole image first and replacing (for example, overwriting) a part of the stored image with the image part generated in the partial change mode, It is output to the synthesizer 200 (see FIG. 1) and is synthesized with the original image.
In the synthesizer 200, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image is combined with the original image to become output image data to which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is added, and is output to the utilization device through the image data output unit 300.

Here, the background pattern generation operation (step S104 in FIG. 5) common to the local pattern generators 102 to 105 in the operation flow of the background pattern generator 100 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. .
As the tint block generation operation, three embodiments of the tint block generation operations (I) to (III) are illustrated. In either case, the operation mode is switched between the normal mode and the partial change mode, and the tint block image data to be output to the tint block synthesizer 106 is generated.

The difference between the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation operations (I) and (II) is that the method of detecting the partial change mode is different. The former is a method of directly detecting the instruction of the partial change mode, and the latter is the operation of the partial change mode. A method of detecting the presence of necessary pattern position information is adopted.
The tint block generation operation (III) employs a method of acquiring pattern position information required for the partial change mode operation by a table reference method.
Hereinafter, the background pattern generation operations (I) to (III) will be described in order based on the flowcharts of FIGS.

"Background pattern generation operation (I)"
In this embodiment, the instruction for the partial change mode is directly detected and the operation mode is switched. The partial change mode can be instructed by a method in which a main control unit (not shown) recognizes this operation mode and performs a flag operation according to the recognition result. That is, it detects the presence of a user operation instructing an operation mode or setting of pattern position information (background pattern generation start position in the background pattern pattern) in the specified pattern generation condition, and is set based on the detection result A means for recognizing the operation mode is provided, and the operation mode can be detected by a flag set according to the recognition result of the means.

With reference to the flow shown in FIG. 6, the background pattern generation operation (I) in each area pattern generators 102 to 105 will be described.
Setting of the generation conditions necessary for generation of the background pattern (see step S102 in FIG. 5) and setting of the requested background pattern among the background patterns of the foreground background pattern, the background background pattern, the mask background pattern, and the illegal copy guard background pattern (see FIG. 5). Since step S103 is performed in the preceding stage, this tint block generation operation flow is started according to this setting.

When the flow is started, first, an operation mode recognized by a main control unit (not shown) is detected by a flag. Here, by detecting a flag set in the partial change mode, it is determined whether the operation mode is partial change or normal (step S201).
Based on the determination result, the operation branches to the normal operation mode and the partial change mode, and the operation proceeds according to each flow.

If it is the normal mode (step S201-NO), first, the pattern is read from the memory storing the tint block pattern (step S202). Here, the tint block pattern is stored in a predetermined storage location of the memory according to the arrangement of pixels (dots), that is, the two-dimensional arrangement of X and Y, as the minimum unit of the pattern.
In the normal mode, a pattern for one line is sequentially read from the beginning of the storage location according to a two-dimensional arrangement of X and Y. In the partial change mode, which will be described later, the position of the first pixel of the pattern to be read (reading start position) changes according to the background pattern original image change position, so the background pattern pattern position corresponding to the background pattern original image change position, that is, the pattern Position information (xi, yi) indicating the storage location is held and instructed in the initial setting of the partial change mode.
Next, this pattern data is subjected to scaling processing on data such as a mask pattern that may not have the same resolution as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image, and a copy-forgery-inhibited copy-guard pattern pattern that has the same resolution. (Step S203).

The image to be processed generates pixels (dots) in units of lines in the main scanning (X) direction, and this processing is performed while switching the lines in the sub-scanning (Y) direction. It is processed. The tint block generation area is defined by a scanning start position (X1, Y1) and a scanning end position (X2, Y2) (see FIG. 2).
Accordingly, the tint block pattern is generated by a creation method in which the pixel value (0, 1) of each line is determined in units of pixels in accordance with the above scanning method. Whether the scanning position (X, Y) is an area to be processed is determined based on the set tint block generation area, and if it is a tint block generation area, the process proceeds to the next processing step (YES in step S204).

If it is the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region, since it is the scanning position where the pattern is to be created, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is created and output (step S207).
However, in this flow, the following operation is performed in order to hold data necessary for generation of the tint block pattern in the partial change mode. That is, it is checked whether or not the scanning position (X, Y) is the scanning position (X3, Y3) set as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image changing position (step S205).
Here, if the scan position (X, Y) is the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change position (X3, Y3), the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern (pixel arrangement) at this scan position is transferred to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generated in the partial change mode. Then, the position information (xi, yi) at the storage location of the tint block pattern in which the minimum unit is stored in the arrangement of X and Y of the pixels is held (step S206).

The retained pattern position information (xi, yi) is used as the initial value of the partial change mode as described in the pattern reading above. By doing so, the tint block pattern generated in the normal mode can be succeeded to the pattern of the changed portion generated in the partial change mode, and the pattern shift can be prevented from occurring due to the change.
As described above, in the normal mode operation flow, the step of S206 that holds the pattern position information (xi, yi) is linked to the normal mode and the partial change mode operation is scheduled to be performed. It is the operation when there is.
Accordingly, when the normal mode is performed alone, the process goes through step S206. Also, if the scanning position (X, Y) is not the scanning position (X3, Y3) set as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change position, step S206 is passed.

In the step of creating and outputting the tint block pattern in step S207, when the scanning position (X, Y) reaches the tint block generation area, the ground pattern for one line read earlier is used as the tint block pattern data at that position. Apply the first pixel of the pattern. Further, as shown in the following flow, the loop processing for generating the pattern data pixel by pixel is performed while the scanning position (X) is advanced one by one, so that the scanning position (X) is stepped up. The pattern of the tint block pattern is created by sequentially applying the pixel arrangement in the tint block pattern for one line.
However, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image multiplier 101 is input to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesizer 106 in units of 64 bits, for example, the same copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data generated for each pixel is used. Bit united output.

Next, it is checked whether or not the scanning position (X, Y) has reached the scanning end position (X2, Y2) (step S208). If it has reached the end position, this flow is ended.
On the other hand, if the end position has not been reached, it is checked whether or not the scanning position (X) has reached EOL (End Of Line) (step S209). If not, the X counter value is increased (step S209). S210) After the scanning position (X) is advanced by 1, the procedure after step S205 for checking the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image changing position is repeated.

If EOL has been reached (step S209-YES), the Y counter value is increased, that is, the line is switched, and the X counter value is set to 0, so that the line pattern is stored at the head of the line. The procedure after step S202 for reading this line pattern from the predetermined storage location is repeated.
The normal mode operation is performed by the above flow.

If it is the partial change mode in step S201 (step S201-YES), the operation according to the flow of this mode is performed.
In the partial change mode, it is only necessary to create the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data of an area (see FIG. 3) defined as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area. In other words, in order to create this data, the setting for reading the pattern from the memory location of the tint block pattern stored in the arrangement of the X and Y pixels as the minimum unit (detailed below), and the tint block pattern data A value indicating the creation range may be set.

Therefore, in this flow, first, initial setting is performed (step S221).
This initial setting consists of setting the X counter and Y counter that indicate the scanning position of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area, and setting the position of the first pixel (reading start position) for reading the pattern from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage location. Do.
The former can set the scan start position (X3, Y3) and the scan end position (X4, Y4), respectively, as set values, for example, according to the setting of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area (see FIG. 3).

The latter links the operation of the partial change mode with the operation of the normal mode described above. For example, when the second page is linked to the operation of the first page performed in the normal mode described above, the first page is processed. In step S206, the pattern position information (xi, yi) is held. Through this step, the pattern position information (xi, yi) held is set to specify the tint block pattern used for creating the tint block pattern created in this step for the second page to which the partial change mode is applied. The
In addition, when the operation in the partial change mode is performed independently without being linked to the operation in the normal mode, it can be performed by separately performing instructed settings.

Next, the pattern is read from the memory location of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern in which the minimum unit is stored as an array of pixels X and Y (step S222). When this reading is performed, a pattern for one line is sequentially read from the head position according to a two-dimensional arrangement of X and Y, starting from the position set as pattern position information (xi, yi) in the initial setting.
Next, this pattern data is subjected to scaling processing on data such as a mask pattern that may not have the same resolution as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image, and a copy-forgery-inhibited copy-guard pattern pattern that has the same resolution. (Step S223).

The image to be processed generates pixels in units of lines in the main scanning (X) direction, and this process is performed while switching the lines in the sub-scanning (Y) direction, and the scanning start position (X3, Y3) and scanning end position ( It is processed and output as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area set in (X4, Y4) (step S224).
The tint block pattern data creation procedure performed in accordance with the (X, Y) scanning method is the same as that in the normal mode. That is, the operations in steps S207 to S211 in the normal mode and the operations in steps S224 to S228 in the partial change mode are basically the same. Therefore, the description is omitted here with reference to the above description.

  In the step of creating and outputting the tint block pattern in step S224, if the scanning position (X, Y) is at the scanning start position (X3, Y3) of the tint block original image change area, the pattern pattern data at that position is used as the data of the tint block pattern. Is applied to the first pixel of the tint block pattern for one line read. In the operation in the partial change mode, this first pixel follows the arrangement of pixels set as pattern position information (xi, yi) by default. Therefore, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern generated in the normal mode is succeeded to the pattern of the changed portion generated in the partial change mode, and no pattern shift occurs due to the change, and the image quality does not deteriorate.

In addition, since the loop processing for generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data one pixel at a time while proceeding with the scanning position (X) one by one is performed, the read-in pattern pattern for one line is read as the scanning position (X) is advanced. The pattern of the tint block pattern is created by sequentially applying the pixel arrangement in the.
However, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image magnification unit 101 is input to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesizer 106 in units of 64 bits, for example, the same copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data generated for each pixel is used. Bit united output.
The partial change mode operation is performed by the above flow.

"Boil pattern generation operation (II)"
This embodiment is the same as the background pattern generation operation (I) in that the operation for generating the background pattern image data is switched between the normal mode and the partial change mode.
However, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation issued to the local pattern generators 102 to 105 is performed regardless of the method of recognizing the partial change mode that has been switched by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation operation (I) and indicating the recognition result with a flag. Based on the information indicated in the conditions set in the processing request, the operation mode is determined at the start of the tint block generation operation flow.

FIG. 7 shows the flow of the tint block generation operation (II). The flow of FIG. 7 is obvious when compared with the flow of the tint block generation operation (I) shown in FIG. 6, but at the start of the flow, it is determined whether the operation mode is partially changed or normal, and the operation is branched. Only step S301 is different, and other than this, the operation procedure is the same. That is, in the first stage, it is determined whether the operation mode is normal or partially changed, and in the normal mode, the background pattern is generated for the entire background pattern generation area (see FIG. 2), and the partial change is performed. In the mode, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation of only the changed portion is performed for the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area (see FIG. 3).
Therefore, for the same operation procedure after branching to each mode, the description of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation operation (I) shown in FIG.

The determination of the operation mode in step S301 depends on whether or not there is pattern position information necessary for the operation in the partial change mode.
This pattern position information is obtained when the scanning position (X, Y) reaches the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image changing position (X3, Y3) in the normal mode operation (step S305-YES). It is. That is, the position information (xi, yi) of the storage location storing the tint block pattern (pixel arrangement) at this scanning position. A change part that generates the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern generated in the normal mode in the partial change mode by holding this position information (xi, yi) and using it to specify the pattern reading start position in the partial change mode. It is possible to take over the pattern and prevent the pattern from being shifted by the change.

Therefore, the operation mode can be determined depending on whether the pattern position information is held or not, and the mode can be switched.
The method of determining the operation mode based on whether or not the pattern position information exists can detect the condition instructed by the local pattern generators 102 to 105 on the received ground pattern generation processing request. Compared with the flag method of the tint block generation operation (I), the processing can be simplified.

"Ground pattern generation (III)"
This embodiment is the same as the background pattern generation operation (I) in that the operation for generating the background pattern image data is switched between the normal mode and the partial change mode.
However, after switching to the partial change mode, the pattern position information setting in the initial setting performed first is the table reference method in the background pattern generation operation (III), and in the normal mode operation in the background pattern generation operation (I). This is a method that replaces the acquired and retained pattern position information.

With reference to the flow shown in FIG. 8, the background pattern generation operation (III) of this embodiment in each area pattern generators 102 to 105 will be described.
Setting of the generation conditions necessary for generation of the background pattern (see step S102 in FIG. 5) and setting of the requested background pattern among the background patterns of the foreground background pattern, the background background pattern, the mask background pattern, and the illegal copy guard background pattern (see FIG. 5). Since step S103 is performed in the preceding stage, this tint block generation operation flow is started according to this setting.

When the flow is started, first, an operation mode recognized by a main control unit (not shown) is detected by a flag. Here, by detecting a flag set in the partial change mode, it is determined whether the operation mode is partial change or normal (step S401).
Based on the determination result, the operation branches to the normal operation mode and the partial change mode, and the operation proceeds according to each flow.

If it is the normal mode (step S401-NO), first, the pattern is read from the memory storing the tint block pattern (step S402). Here, the tint block pattern is stored in a predetermined storage location of the memory according to the arrangement of pixels (dots), that is, the two-dimensional arrangement of X and Y, as the minimum unit of the pattern.
In the normal mode, a pattern for one line is sequentially read from the beginning of the storage location according to a two-dimensional arrangement of X and Y. In the partial change mode, which will be described later, the position of the first pixel of the pattern to be read (reading start position) changes according to the background pattern original image change position, so the background pattern pattern position corresponding to the background pattern original image change position, that is, the pattern The position information (xi, yi) indicating the storage location is held and designated in the initial setting of the partial change mode.
Next, this pattern data is subjected to scaling processing on data such as a mask pattern that may not have the same resolution as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image, and a copy-forgery-inhibited copy-guard pattern pattern that has the same resolution. (Step S403).

The image to be processed generates pixels (dots) in units of lines in the main scanning (X) direction, and this processing is performed while switching the lines in the sub-scanning (Y) direction. It is processed. The tint block generation area is defined by a scanning start position (X1, Y1) and a scanning end position (X2, Y2) (see FIG. 2).
Accordingly, the tint block pattern is generated by a creation method in which the pixel value (0, 1) of each line is determined in units of pixels in accordance with the above scanning method. Whether the scanning position (X, Y) is an area to be processed is determined based on the set tint block generation area, and if it is the tint block generation area, the process proceeds to the next processing step (YES in step S404).

If it is the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region, since it is the scanning position where the pattern is to be created, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is created and output (step S405).
In this step, when the scanning position (X, Y) reaches the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region, the first pixel of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern read in one line is applied as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data at that position. Further, as shown in the following flow, the loop processing for generating the pattern data pixel by pixel is performed while the scanning position (X) is advanced one by one, so that the scanning position (X) is stepped up. A background pattern is created by sequentially placing pixels in the background pattern for one line.
However, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image magnification unit 101 is input to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesizer 106 in units of 64 bits, for example, the same copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data generated for each pixel is used. Bit united output.

Next, it is checked whether or not the scanning position (X, Y) has reached the scanning end position (X2, Y2) (step S406). If it has reached the end position, this flow is ended.
On the other hand, if the end position has not been reached, it is checked whether or not the scanning position (X) has reached EOL (End Of Line) (step S409). If not, the X counter value is increased (step S409). In step S410, after the scanning position (X) is advanced by 1, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern of the next pixel is created and output, and the procedure after step S405 is repeated.

If EOL has been reached (step S409-YES), the Y counter value is increased, that is, the line is switched, and the X counter value is set to 0, so that the line pattern is stored at the head of the line. The procedure after step S402 for reading this line pattern from the predetermined storage location is repeated.
The normal mode operation is performed by the above flow.

If it is determined in step S401 that the partial change mode is set (step S401-YES), an operation according to the flow of this mode is performed.
In the partial change mode, it is only necessary to create the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data of an area (see FIG. 3) defined as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area. In other words, in order to create this data, the pattern information is read from the area information indicating the area for creating the tint block pattern data and the tint block pattern storage location in which the minimum unit is stored in the X and Y arrangement of pixels. The reading start position may be set.

Therefore, in this flow, first, initial setting is performed (step S421).
This initial setting consists of setting the X counter and Y counter that indicate the scanning position of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area, and setting the position of the first pixel (reading start position) for reading the pattern from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage location. Do.
The former can set the scan start position (X3, Y3) and the scan end position (X4, Y4) as set values according to the setting of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area (see FIG. 3).

The latter is obtained by creating in advance a table that defines the relationship between the scan start position (X3, Y3) defining the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area and the read-in start position of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. be able to.
The relationship between the scanning pattern (X, Y) and the tint block pattern represented by the arrangement of pixels X and Y is determined, and the memory location of the tint block pattern stored as the minimum unit is the arrangement of pixels X and Y. Is also decided. Accordingly, the pixel position of the tint block pattern corresponding to the scanning start position (X3, Y3) of the tint block original image change region, that is, the reading start position of the tint block pattern can be prepared in a table in which this relationship is determined in advance.
Therefore, in this initial setting step, the above-mentioned relationship table is referred to by the scan start position (X3, Y3) instructed in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation processing request, and the corresponding copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern read start position (xi, yi) is set. Can do.

Next, the pattern is read from the storage location of the tint block pattern in which the minimum unit is stored in the arrangement of X and Y of pixels (step S422). When performing this reading, the pattern set for one line according to the two-dimensional arrangement of X and Y from the starting position, starting from the position set as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern reading start position (xi, yi) by default. Read.
Next, this pattern data is subjected to scaling processing on data such as a mask pattern that may not have the same resolution as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image, and a copy-forgery-inhibited copy-guard pattern pattern that has the same resolution. (Step S423).

The image to be processed generates pixels in units of lines in the main scanning (X) direction, and this process is performed while switching the lines in the sub-scanning (Y) direction, and the scanning start position (X3, Y3) and scanning end position ( It is processed and output as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area set in (X4, Y4) (step S424).
The tint block pattern data creation procedure performed in accordance with the (X, Y) scanning method is the same as that in the normal mode. That is, the operations in steps S405 to S411 in the normal mode and the operations in steps S424 to S428 in the partial change mode are basically the same. Therefore, the description is omitted here with reference to the above description.

  In the step of creating and outputting the tint block pattern in step S424, if the scanning position (X, Y) is at the scanning start position (X3, Y3) of the tint block original image change area, the pattern pattern data at that position is used as the data for the tint block pattern. Is applied to the first pixel of the tint block pattern for one line read. In the operation in the partial change mode, this first pixel follows the sequence of pixels set as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern reading start position (xi, yi) by default. Therefore, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern generated in the normal mode is succeeded to the pattern of the changed portion generated in the partial change mode, and no pattern shift occurs due to the change, and the image quality does not deteriorate.

In addition, since the loop processing for generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data one pixel at a time while proceeding with the scanning position (X) one by one is performed, the read-in pattern pattern for one line is read as the scanning position (X) is advanced. The pattern of the tint block pattern is created by sequentially applying the pixel arrangement in the.
However, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image data from the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image magnification unit 101 is input to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern synthesizer 106 in units of 64 bits, for example, the same copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data generated for each pixel is used. Bit united output.
The partial change mode operation is performed by the above flow.

By the way, in the tint block generation operation (see the flows in FIGS. 6 to 8) of the above-described local pattern generators 102 to 105, an example is shown in which the minimum unit pattern is used as the tint block pattern used for the tint block generation.
The method having the minimum unit pattern has an advantage that the memory capacity for storing the pattern can be reduced. However, in the processing on each of the local pattern generators 102 to 105, when reading the tint block pattern stored in the memory in the tint block generation process, the designated storage locations have patterns having different lengths in the minimum unit. , Will fall apart. This complicates the processing and increases the processing load.

Therefore, instead of the local pattern which was held in the minimum unit, the pattern is provided with the least common multiple of each pattern length.
By doing this, when reading the pattern patterns stored in the memory in the pattern generation process, it is possible to specify the same storage location for different types of pattern patterns, and to make the processing procedure common Thus, the complexity of processing can be avoided and the processing load can be reduced.

1 shows a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. An example of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image generated by a normal operation for the entire copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation region is shown. An example of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern stamp image generated by a partial change operation for a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern original image change area is shown. The internal structure of a tint block generator is shown. The operation | movement flow of the tint block generator of FIG. 1 is shown. The flow of the ground pattern generation operation (I) of the local pattern generator of FIG. 4 is shown. The flow of the ground pattern generation operation (II) of the local pattern generator of FIG. 4 is shown. The flow of the ground pattern generation operation (III) of the local pattern generator of FIG. 4 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

100 .. Background pattern generator 101.. Background pattern original image multiplier 102.. Foreground background pattern generator 103. Background background pattern generator 104. Mask background pattern generator 105 105 Unauthorized copy guard pattern generator 106 .. Background pattern synthesizer, 200... Synthesizer, 300.

Claims (7)

An image processing apparatus for generating a tint block image by combining a tint block original image and a tint block pattern,
A tint block pattern storing means for storing the tint block pattern;
A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern setting unit for setting a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern generation start position in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern storage unit corresponding to a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation region on the processing target image plane;
An image processing apparatus comprising means for generating a tint block pattern used for composition with a tint block original image in accordance with the setting of the tint block pattern setting unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An area instruction means for instructing a generation area of the tint block image;
The image is characterized in that the tint block pattern setting unit includes a unit that calculates a set value of a tint block generation start position in the tint block pattern of the tint block pattern storage unit based on the generation area designated by the region designating unit. Processing equipment. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the basic unit pattern uses a plurality of types of tint block patterns having different lengths.
An image processing apparatus, wherein the tint block pattern storage means stores a tint block pattern having a least common multiple of each pattern length in the plurality of types of tint block patterns. In the image processing device according to claim 1 or 3,
Area instruction means for instructing the generation area of the tint block image;
A table storage unit that stores a table indicating a relationship between a generation pattern of a background pattern image and a background pattern generation start position in the background pattern pattern of the background pattern pattern storage unit;
The image is characterized in that the tint block pattern setting unit includes a unit that refers to the table of the table storage unit by the generation area instructed by the region instructing unit and acquires the tint block generation start position in the set tint pattern. Processing equipment. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
A setting presence / absence determining unit that determines whether or not there is a setting of a tint block generation start position by the tint block pattern setting unit;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern performs generation according to setting on condition that the setting presence / absence determining means determines that the setting is present.   A program for causing a computer to function as the tint block pattern setting unit and the unit for generating the tint block pattern in the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   A program for causing a computer to function as the tint block pattern setting unit, the unit for generating the tint block pattern, and the setting presence / absence determining unit in the image processing apparatus according to claim 5.

Images