JP2009141648A - Image processing device, image forming device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a document image of superposing a dot pattern and a pattern image, without deteriorating an image quality of an image. <P>SOLUTION: An image area detecting part detects a coordinate range of areas 211 and 221 of arranging images 21 and 22 of an image 2 of indicating image data stored in an image memory. A document image forming part adds an identification image to the images 21 and 22 included in a detected coordinate range. A pixel discriminating part discriminates whether an object pixel 23 is included in the detected coordinate range of the area 211 or 221. When the object pixel is not included in the coordinate range, the document image forming part forms the document image, by performing processing for superposing a transparent pattern on the object pixel 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program for generating a document image by superimposing a dot pattern or a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in which information is incorporated on an image represented by input image data.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus that prints a dot pattern that incorporates printing information such as a user name, a personal identification number, a printing date, and the like that prints a document together with a document image in order to check illegal copying of the document. (See Patent Document 1). There is also known a method of printing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in which a warning character appears when copying with a copying machine together with an original image to prevent unauthorized copying and to distinguish between an original and a copy.
JP 2003-101762 A

  However, when there is an image image such as a photograph or an image in the original image, there is a problem that the image quality of the image image after printing deteriorates if the dot pattern or the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is overlaid on the entire original image.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an image processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a program for generating a document image in which a dot pattern and a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are superimposed without degrading the image quality of the image. It is intended to do.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is a watermark pattern generating unit that generates a watermark pattern, a detecting unit that detects a coordinate range of an image image from an image represented by input image data, and the detected coordinates. Addition means for adding an identification image in which information is incorporated into an image image included in the range, and whether or not a predetermined number of pixels constituting the image are pixels in the detected coordinate range A discriminating means for discriminating sequentially over the entire image, and when it is determined that the pixel is not a pixel in the detected coordinate range, an original image is generated by performing processing for superimposing the watermark pattern on the pixel And an original image generation means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program comprising: a watermark pattern generation unit that generates a watermark pattern; a detection unit that detects a coordinate range of an image image from an image represented by input image data; and the detected coordinate range. Adding means for adding an identification image in which information is incorporated to an image image included in the image, whether or not a predetermined number of pixels constituting the image are pixels in the detected coordinate range; A discriminating means for discriminating sequentially over the entire image, and when it is determined that the pixel is not a pixel in the detected coordinate range, a document image is generated by performing processing for superimposing the watermark pattern on the pixel It is characterized by functioning as generation means.

  According to the first and sixth aspects of the present invention, since the watermark pattern is not arranged on the image image, it is possible to generate a document image in which the watermark pattern is embedded without degrading the image quality of the image image. Further, by adding an identification image to the image image, actions such as illegal copying and falsification of the image can be suppressed.

  Here, the coordinate range of an image image refers to the area occupied by the image image on the image indicated by coordinate values. The watermark pattern may be a pattern in which specific information is embedded as described in claim 2, or may be a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image as described in claim 3, This pattern aims to prevent unauthorized copying and protect copyrights. Specifically, the pattern in which the specific information is embedded includes, for example, a dot pattern, a lattice pattern, a checkered pattern, and the like. The pattern is generated by changing the arrangement direction and the like. Then, the document image generating means generates a document image by superimposing the generated pattern and the document image to be embedded with information. The information embedded in the pattern can be restored by reading the pattern by a device capable of decoding the information.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is made up of, for example, a background image and a latent image. When copying a document on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is printed, the latent image appears prominently. For example, when a warning character is used as the latent image, It is possible to check acts such as illegal copying.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the identification image includes a code image.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, by using a code image (for example, a one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional code) as an identification image, rather than superimposing a dot pattern or a tint block image on the image image. Information can be incorporated without significantly degrading or losing the image quality of the image.

  An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and an image forming unit that forms a document image generated by the generating unit on a recording medium. It is characterized by having.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first to fourth aspects of the invention can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, since the dot pattern and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image are not arranged on the image image, the dot pattern and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image can be embedded in the input image without degrading the image quality of the image image. Further, by adding an identification image to the image image, actions such as illegal copying and falsification of the image can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and a copying machine will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus. In addition, it may be a multifunction machine having functions such as a copy, a scanner, a facsimile, and a printer.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 11, a document reading unit 12, an image memory 13, an image processing unit 14, a paper feeding unit 15, an image forming unit (image forming unit) 16, an input operation unit 17, and a network I. / F unit 18 is provided.

  The control unit 10 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, reads a program stored in the storage unit 11 in accordance with an input instruction signal or the like, executes a process, and sends the processing to each functional unit. The multifunction device 1 is comprehensively controlled by outputting an instruction signal, transferring data, and the like. The control unit 10 includes an image area detection unit (detection unit) 101, a pixel determination unit (determination unit) 102, a document image generation unit (addition unit, document image generation unit) 103, and a dot pattern generation unit (watermark pattern generation unit). 104 and a two-dimensional code generation unit 105.

  The image area detection unit 101 detects the coordinate range of the image image from the image indicated by the image data stored in the image memory 13. An example of the image region detection method is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-222484, etc., and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. The pixel discriminating unit 102 determines whether or not a pixel having a predetermined number of pixels constituting the image (hereinafter referred to as “target pixel”) is a pixel in the coordinate range detected by the image area detecting unit 101 on the image. Are sequentially discriminated over the entire image from the predetermined coordinate values. That is, it is determined whether or not the target pixel is a pixel constituting the image.

  When the document image generation unit 103 determines that the target pixel is not a pixel in the detected coordinate range, the document image generation unit 103 performs a process for superimposing the dot pattern generated by the dot pattern generation unit 104 on the target pixel, and the document image Is generated. Note that an example of a method for generating a document image by superimposing a dot pattern on a target pixel is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-101762, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The dot pattern generation unit 104, for example, creates a dot pattern that incorporates printing information such as the user name and personal identification number that performed printing (image formation) using the image forming apparatus 1, the serial number of the image forming apparatus 1, and the printing date and time. Generate. The information embedded in the dot pattern can be restored by reading the printed matter on which the dot pattern is printed into a device capable of decoding the dot pattern. Since the restored information can be used to specify, for example, the user who performed printing or the image forming apparatus, it is possible to suppress information leakage due to inadvertent printing or illegal copying.

  The two-dimensional code generation unit 105 generates a two-dimensional code embedded in the image image included in the coordinate range detected by the image area detection unit 101. Here, the two-dimensional code is, for example, an identification image in which information for protecting the copyright of the image is incorporated, and has a role to check actions such as unauthorized copying and tampering of the image and proves the originality. is there. In addition to the two-dimensional code, a one-dimensional barcode may be used as long as it is an identification image that does not significantly deteriorate or lose the image quality of the image.

  The flow of processing by each functional unit of the control unit 10 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. For example, assume that an image 2 as shown in FIG. 2A is stored in the image memory 13. The image 2 includes photographs such as the image 21 and the image 22 or a halftone dot image. In this case, the image region detection unit 101 detects the region 211 as the coordinate range of the image 21 and the region 221 as the coordinate range of the image 22 as shown in FIG.

  Then, the document image generating unit 103 adds the two-dimensional codes 21a and 22a generated by the two-dimensional code generating unit 105 to the images 21 and 22, respectively. Here, the position to which the two-dimensional code is added may be arbitrarily set by the user, or may be automatically added. In the case of being automatically added, it is desirable to add it to a region (for example, the lower corner) other than the central portion in the image.

  Subsequently, the pixel determination unit 102 determines whether or not the target pixel 23 is a pixel within the coordinate range of the region 211 or the region 221. When the target pixel 23 is not a pixel in the coordinate range, the document image generation unit 103 superimposes the dot pattern generated by the dot pattern generation unit 104 on the target pixel 23. When the target pixel 23 is a pixel within the above coordinate range, the target pixel 23 is a pixel constituting the image 21 or 22, and thus the dot pattern is not superimposed.

  In this way, the pixel determination unit 102 determines the pixels of the entire image 2 by sequentially shifting the coordinate values from the upper left coordinates of the image 2, for example. FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating the image 2 when all the pixels have been determined. In other words, it is determined whether or not the target pixel is a pixel in the coordinate range of the image image. If the pixel is not in the coordinate range of the image image, the dot pattern is not superimposed on the image by overlaying the dot pattern on the target pixel. Thus, a document image can be generated.

  The storage unit 11 stores programs, data, and the like for realizing various functions provided in the image forming apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 11 stores a dot pattern overlay program 111. The dot pattern superimposing program 111 detects an image area from the image indicated by the image data, superimposes the dot pattern on an area other than the image area, and further adds a two-dimensional code to the image image to convert the original image. This is a program to be generated.

  The document reading unit 12 reads a document with an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, and converts the read image into image data.

  The image memory 13 temporarily stores image data output from the document reading unit 12 and image data transmitted from an external device via the network I / F unit 18. The image processing unit 14 performs image processing such as image correction and enlargement / reduction on the image data stored in the image memory 13. The paper feeding unit 15 feeds recording sheets from the paper feeding cassette one by one and conveys them to the image forming unit 16.

  The image forming unit 16 forms an image based on the image data stored in the image memory 13 on a recording sheet. The input operation unit 17 includes a display panel and various operation buttons, and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 10 when an operation is performed by a user. The network I / F unit 18 includes a communication module such as a LAN board, and transmits / receives various data to / from an external device via a network (not shown) connected to the network I / F unit 18.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow when the control unit 10 executes a process according to the dot pattern overlay program 111. First, the image area detection unit 101 detects the coordinate range of the image image from the image indicated by the image data stored in the image memory 13 (step S11; corresponding to FIG. 2B). Then, the document image generating unit 103 adds a two-dimensional code to the image image included in the detected coordinate range (step S12).

  Next, the pixel determination unit 102 determines whether or not the target pixel is a pixel within the coordinate range of the image image (step S13). When the pixel is within the coordinate range (step S13; YES), the control unit 10 shifts the process to step S14. If the pixel is not within the coordinate range (step S13; NO), the document image generating unit 103 performs a process for superimposing the dot pattern on the target pixel (step S14).

  If the target pixel is not the pixel with the last coordinate value (step S15; NO), the pixel determination unit 102 shifts the coordinate value by one (step S16), and the pixel determination unit 102 changes the pixel with the changed coordinate value. The same determination is performed as the target pixel (step S13). On the other hand, when the target pixel is the pixel with the last coordinate value (step S15; YES), the image forming unit 16 prints the generated document image on recording paper (step S17).

  As described above, when a dot pattern is superimposed on an image, the dot pattern is not placed on the image image by overlaying the dot pattern only on pixels outside the coordinate range of the image image. It is possible to generate a document image in which a dot pattern is embedded without dropping the dot pattern. Furthermore, by adding a two-dimensional code in which information is incorporated to an image, actions such as unauthorized copying and falsification of the image can be suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus including the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has been described. However, for example, a computer such as a personal computer may include the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. In other words, when a user creates a document that includes an image on a personal computer and then performs an operation input that causes the printer to print with the dot pattern superimposed on the document, the control unit in the personal computer will create the document. On the other hand, a dot pattern is superimposed only on the area excluding the image area, and a two-dimensional code is added to the image image to generate a document image, which is transmitted to the printer. By doing so, it is possible to arrange the dot pattern only in the area excluding the image image, and it is possible to check actions such as illegal copying and falsification of the image image.

  In the above-described embodiment, the dot pattern is described as an example of the watermark pattern. Alternatively, specific information may be embedded in a lattice pattern or a lattice pattern. Further, in addition to the above pattern, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in which warning characters for illegal copying emerge by copying may be superimposed. A case where a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on an area excluding an image image to generate a document image will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the control unit 10 includes a tint block image generation unit instead of the dot pattern generation unit 104. The tint block image generation unit generates the tint block image 3 in accordance with a user input instruction or the like. In FIG. 4, the tint block image 3 having the same size as the image 2 is illustrated as being created. Then, the image area detection unit 101 detects the coordinate range of the image image of the image 2, and the document image generation unit 103 adds the two-dimensional codes 21a and 22a to the image 21 and the image 22 included in the detected coordinate range, respectively. Append. The pixel determining unit 102 determines whether or not the target pixel 23 is included in the coordinate range indicated by the region 211 or the region 221. If the target pixel 23 is not a pixel within the coordinate range, the document image generation unit 103 performs a process for superimposing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image on the target pixel 23. Specifically, the pixel 31 on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image 3 having the same coordinate value and the same number of pixels as the target pixel 23 is superimposed on the target pixel 23.

  When the target pixel 23 is a pixel within the coordinate range, the target pixel 23 is a pixel constituting the image 21 or 22, and therefore, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not superimposed on the target pixel 23. A document image obtained after this process is repeated over the entire image 2 is an image 2a. In this way, by superimposing the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image only on pixels outside the coordinate range of the image image, unauthorized copying of the document can be suppressed without degrading the image quality of the image image.

1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus. The figure for demonstrating the detection of an image area | region, and the superimposition of a dot pattern. The flowchart which shows the flow of a dot pattern superimposition process. The figure for demonstrating the superimposition of a tint block image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 12 Document reading part 10 Control part 13 Image memory 101 Image area detection part 14 Image processing part 102 Pixel discrimination | determination part 15 Paper feed part 103 Original image generation part 16 Image formation part 104 Dot pattern generation part 17 Input operation part 105 Two-dimensional code generation unit 18 Network I / F unit 11 Storage unit 111 Dot pattern overlay program

Claims (6)

Watermark pattern generation means for generating a watermark pattern;
Detecting means for detecting the coordinate range of the image image from the image represented by the input image data;
An adding means for adding an identification image incorporating information to an image image included in the detected coordinate range;
A discriminating means for sequentially discriminating whether or not a predetermined number of pixels constituting the image are pixels in the detected coordinate range;
When it is determined that the pixel is not a pixel in the detected coordinate range, a document image generating unit that generates a document image by performing processing for superimposing the watermark pattern on the pixel;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the watermark pattern is a pattern in which specific information is embedded.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the watermark pattern is a tint block image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification image includes a code image. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Image forming means for forming a document image generated by the generating means on a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus. Computer
Watermark pattern generation means for generating a watermark pattern;
Detecting means for detecting the coordinate range of the image image from the image represented by the input image data;
Adding means for adding an identification image in which information is incorporated to an image image included in the detected coordinate range;
A discriminating means for sequentially discriminating whether or not a predetermined number of pixels constituting the image are pixels in the detected coordinate range, over the entire image;
A document image generating means for generating a document image by performing a process for superimposing the watermark pattern on the pixel when it is determined that the pixel is not a pixel in the detected coordinate range;
Program to function as.