JP2013168795A - Image forming device, image display method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device provided with a preview image display function of ground pattern printing, an image display method to be executed by the image forming device, and a program for realizing the image forming device.SOLUTION: An image forming device 12 comprises: communication means 102 for receiving printing data from an external device; analysis means 104 which analyzes the printing data and extracts ground pattern information relating to a ground pattern to be added; image generation means 112 which generates a preview image representing a copy to be obtained by copying a printed matter with a ground pattern, by avoiding drawing of non-detection pattern which does not appear on the copy of a print image to be printed, using the ground pattern information; and display control means 110 which displays the preview image on a display of the image forming device 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to a preview image display function in an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus having a preview image display function for copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing, an image display method executed by the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus. Related to the program.

  In recent years, an operation panel of an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral has been provided with a high-definition display, and an image forming apparatus having a preview image display function capable of checking an image to be printed in advance on the operation panel is provided. ing. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-240913 (Patent Document 1) discloses that specific print data is sent to a storage server in response to a user selecting specific print data and giving a preview instruction on the image forming apparatus side. A configuration is disclosed in which print data is obtained by requesting, a preview image is generated, and displayed. By using the preview image display function as described above, the operator can confirm whether or not the correct print conditions are set in the print data before issuing an instruction to execute printing on the image forming apparatus.

  In addition, with the recent improvement in information security awareness in government offices and companies, technologies aimed at preventing or inhibiting unauthorized copying and unauthorized copying of printed materials are being provided. As the above-described techniques, for example, an illegal copy prohibition print function (also called illegal copy guard) and an illegal copy suppression print function are known. The illegal copy-prohibited printing function performs normal printing, such as outputting a black-colored printed product when a fixed pattern is detected when copying the output original by embedding a fixed pattern as an electronic watermark. This function prohibits print output and prohibits unauthorized copying. A password protected printing function is also known in which a password is embedded as a digital watermark so that a password input is requested at the time of copying, and normal printout is prohibited when a correct password is not input.

  The illegal copy suppression printing function is a technique for printing out a specific copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image that gives a restraining effect of suppressing copying to an original manuscript image. The above-mentioned copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is recognized by the human eye as a simple pattern or background color in the original printed matter output by the image forming apparatus, but a predetermined character string (“copy prohibited”) is reproduced on the original copy. Etc.).

  However, since the preview image display is performed on a display provided on the operation panel or the like, the resolution is generally lower than the output resolution. For this reason, it is very difficult to notice on the preview display screen the pattern or character string embedded in the original. Therefore, when the user transmits print data from an external host in advance and tries to print it out on the image forming apparatus, it is difficult to recognize whether the correct print condition is set for the print data.

  Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-136554 (Patent Document 2) is known as a technique related to the above-described preview display of tint block printing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 makes it easy for a user to confirm whether or not an intended copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is appropriately added to an image to be printed out on a preview display screen when previewing copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing on a host computer. Disclose the target technology. In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, a copy image and an image to which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is not applied or an image in which a latent image and a background image are applied to original data desired to be printed are set at predetermined time intervals. By switching at, latent images that cannot be recognized remarkably with the individual displays as they are are easily recognized by visual afterimage effects.

  Further, as a technique for making it easy to recognize in a preview display after reading a document in the image forming apparatus that the read document is a document with a copy-forgery-inhibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern embedded therein. Japanese Patent No. 39997 (Patent Document 3) is known. In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 3, the image processing apparatus detects a background pattern in document image data generated by reading a document, generates document image data in which the background pattern is emphasized, and emphasizes the background pattern. Preview image data is generated and displayed.

  As described above, various techniques for displaying a preview image related to copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing are known. However, with the above-described preview image display function of the prior art, the user can easily understand the state of a copy obtained when copying a print. From the viewpoint of recognition, it was not enough. For example, the prior art of Patent Document 2 makes it easy to see the latent image by the afterimage effect by switching the image at predetermined time intervals, but does not represent the state of the copy obtained when the printed matter is copied, It was not something. In addition, the prior art of Patent Document 2 is provided with a preview image display function as a function by a printer driver, and it has been difficult to apply the preview image display function on the image forming apparatus as it is.

  The prior art disclosed in Patent Document 3 is a preview image display function for copying a printed material in which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image of the illegal copy suppression function is embedded, and recognizes the state of the copied material when the printed material is copied at the time of printing output. It was not a function to let you.

  Therefore, there is still development of an image forming apparatus capable of displaying the result of further copying the printed matter printed on the display provided in the image forming apparatus in an easy-to-understand manner to the user before instructing the print output. It was desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems in the prior art, and the present invention represents a copy when a printed matter printed with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is further copied on a display provided in the image forming apparatus, An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image display method, and a program for displaying a preview image in which it is easy to recognize that a background pattern setting has been made.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having the following characteristics. The image forming apparatus is printed using a communication unit that receives print data from an external device, an analysis unit that analyzes the print data and extracts background pattern information about an added background pattern, and the extracted background pattern information. An image generation unit that generates a preview image representing a copy when a printed matter with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied by not drawing an undetected pattern that is not manifested on the copy in the printed image, and the image forming apparatus Display control means for displaying the generated preview image on a display provided.

  With the above-described configuration, a preview image display function is provided that can preview a copied material when a printed material printed with a ground pattern is further copied. The displayed preview image represents a copy when a printed matter with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied, and allows the user to appropriately recognize that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern has been set.

1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram realized on the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. The detailed functional block diagram of the periphery of the analysis part shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a print image and a copy image when an unauthorized copy suppression printing function is applied and (B) an unauthorized copy prohibition printing function is applied. 6 is a flowchart (1/2) showing preview image display processing executed by the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart (2/2) showing preview image display processing executed by the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a preview display screen displayed on the display by the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG.

  Hereinafter, although embodiment of this invention is described, embodiment of this invention is not limited to embodiment described below. In the embodiment described below, as an image forming apparatus, a multifunction machine having a plurality of image processing functions such as a print function, a copy function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. A multifunction machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a controller board 12. On the controller board 12, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 16, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 18, and an NV-RAM are connected to each other via a bus 30. (Non-Volatile RAM) 20 is provided. The CPU 14 is an arithmetic device that performs overall control of the multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment. The ROM 16 stores a control program for controlling the multifunction machine 10. The RAM 18 provides a work space for the CPU 14 and also provides a storage area for holding a raster image developed from print data. The NV-RAM 20 stores system information and setting information of the multifunction machine 10.

  The controller board 12 is further provided with a network interface (hereinafter, the interface is referred to as I / F) 22, and the multifunction device 10 communicates with an external host computer 50 via a network (not shown). I am letting. The host computer 50 is a host used by a user who requests a print job, generates print data from an application in response to an operation by the user, and transmits the print data to the multifunction device 10.

  The controller board 12 is further provided with an engine I / F 24, and is connected to the engine 32 included in the multifunction machine 10 via the engine I / F 24. The engine 32 includes a plotter engine that forms an image by an electrophotographic method or the like, and executes a print output related to a print job requested to the multifunction machine 10. The print data received from the host computer 50 described above is subjected to appropriate image processing under the control of the CPU 14 and is printed out by the engine 32.

  The controller board 12 is further provided with an operation panel I / F 26, and is connected to the operation panel 34 included in the multifunction machine 10 via the operation panel I / F 26. The operation panel 34 includes a liquid crystal display device, a display such as a hard key or a touch panel, and an input device. The operation panel 34 displays various screens on the display and accepts input of various instructions from the operator of the multifunction machine 10 via the input device, and provides a user interface for performing a preview display screen to be described later. .

  The controller board 12 is further provided with a storage device I / F 28, and is connected to an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 36 via the storage device I / F 28. The HDD 36 stores print data received from the host computer 50, and further stores programs, font data, form data, various control programs, and the like.

  The multi function device 10 reads various programs from the ROM 16 and the HDD 36 and develops the read programs on the RAM 18 to realize each functional unit and each process described below under the control of the CPU 14.

  In the embodiment to be described, the multi-function device 10 is described as receiving print data directly from the host computer 50 via the network I / F 22, but in other embodiments, a print server on the network. And the print data may be received via the print server.

  Hereinafter, the background image printing preview image display function according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks implemented on the multifunction machine according to the present embodiment. 2 includes a communication control unit 102, an analysis unit 104, a drawing unit 106, a tint block synthesis unit 108, and an operation panel control unit 110 as functional units on the controller board 12. FIG. 3 is a detailed functional block diagram around the analysis unit 104 shown in FIG.

  The communication control unit 102 is a functional unit that controls the network I / F 22 shown in FIG. 1, and controls communication with the host computer 50 in accordance with a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol. In this embodiment, the network I / F 22 and the communication control unit 102 operate in cooperation to constitute a communication unit that receives print data related to a print job from the external host computer 50. The received print data is appropriately stored on the HDD 36 and then acquired by the analysis unit 104. The print data is an appropriate page description language (Page Description Language) such as PostScript (registered trademark), RPDL (registered trademark), PCL (registered trademark), LIPS (registered trademark), ART, ESC / P (registered trademark). Described by.

  The analysis unit 104 acquires the print data received by the communication control unit 102, analyzes the print data, extracts information about a background pattern to be added (hereinafter referred to as background pattern information), print data, and analysis results. To the drawing unit 106.

  In copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printing, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing for drawing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern may be performed on the printer driver side or on the multifunction device 10 side depending on the type of PDL, the function of the multifunction device, and the like. When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is drawn on the MFP 10, the print data includes setting information that defines the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. Therefore, the data portion that defines the print setting in the print data is analyzed to extract the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information. can do. On the other hand, when the tint block drawing process is performed on the printer driver side, since the tint block image is already embedded in the print data, the data portion defining the print image in the print data is analyzed, and Information can be extracted.

  Therefore, in more detail, the analysis unit 104 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, includes a background pattern processing main body determination unit 114 that determines whether the background pattern processing is performed on the MFP 10 side, and an undetected pattern detection. Section 116, copy prohibition pattern detection section 118, and tint block setting extraction section 120. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing subject determination unit 114 analyzes the print data and determines whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the MFP 10 side or whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the printer driver (host computer 50 in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Determine if it will be done. The above determination can be made simply by determining the PDL describing the print data.

  When it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is not performed on the MFP 10 side, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing determination unit 114 calls the non-detection pattern detection unit 116 and the copy prohibition pattern detection unit 118. On the other hand, when it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the multifunction machine 10 side, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing main determination unit 114 calls the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting extraction unit 120.

  In a storage device such as the HDD 36, various types of tint block pattern specifying information for detecting the tint block pattern is stored in advance. The non-detection pattern detection unit 116 and the copy prohibition pattern detection unit 118 refer to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern specifying information stored in advance, analyze the data part that defines the print image of the print data, and embed the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern embedded in the print image. Detect patterns. As the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern specifying information, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, undetected dot pattern specifying information 122 for detecting an undetected dot pattern, and copy prohibited dots for detecting a copy prohibited dot pattern are used. Pattern specifying information 124 is prepared.

  FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing a print image and a copy image when the unauthorized copy suppression printing function is applied, and FIG. 4B is an example where the unauthorized copy prohibited printing function (copy guard) is applied. It is a schematic diagram showing a printed image and a copy image in the case. Here, the print image refers to an image that is output on the original printed material, and the copy image refers to an image that represents a copied material when the original printed material is copied. Note that FIG. 4 is for the purpose of explaining how the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image works. In FIG. 4, the original document image on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed is not shown, and the displayed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is shown. It should be noted that the images are also emphasized and simplified for easy understanding.

  When the illegal copy suppression printing function is applied, the print image is an image in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the foreground or background of the original document image. Referring to FIG. 4A, a print image 200 when the illegal copy suppression print function is applied includes a portion 202 that is manifested on a copy and a portion 204 that is not manifested when the original is copied as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. (See the left side of FIG. 4A). The above-mentioned non-detected dot pattern is a dot pattern that constitutes a portion 204 that is output in the original but not made visible on the copy. On the other hand, the dot pattern constituting the portion 202 that is made visible on the copy is called a detection dot pattern. The non-detection dot pattern and the detection dot pattern are typically substantially the same density macroscopically, while microscopically, the non-detection dot pattern is a dot pattern in which dots are small and dispersed. The detected dot pattern has a larger dot than the non-detected dot pattern, and is a gathered dot pattern.

  When copying the original in which the copy-forgery-inhibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is copied in the multifunction device 10 or another multifunction device or copying machine, the portion 214 corresponding to the undetected dot pattern disappears and corresponds to the detected dot pattern. Thus, a copy image 210 in which the portion 212 to be revealed is obtained (right side view of FIG. 4A). As described above, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image used in the unauthorized copy suppression printing function is recognized as a simple pattern or background color in the human eye in the original (however, in FIG. 4 it is represented so as to be easily recognized. )), A predetermined character string or mark (in the example shown in FIG. 4, a watermark “copy prohibited”) appears on the original copy.

  Similarly, when the illegal copy prohibition printing function (copy guard) is applied, the print image is an image in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is superimposed on the original document image. Referring to FIG. 4B, the print image 220 when the illegal copy prohibition print function is applied represents that the copy of the detected dot pattern portion 222 and the printed matter is prohibited as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. And an embedded copy-prohibited dot pattern portion 224 (left side of FIG. 4B).

  When copying the original in which the copy prohibition dot pattern is embedded in the multifunction peripheral 10 or another multifunction peripheral or copying machine, the copy prohibition dot pattern is detected and the solid image 232 is gray or black. Will be output (right side of FIG. 4B). As described above, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image used in the unauthorized copy prohibition printing function is recognized as a simple pattern or background color in the human eye in the original, but is configured so that information indicating copy prohibition is reproduced during copying. Has been.

  The undetected dot pattern specifying information 122 is pattern definition information for analyzing a data portion that defines a print image of print data and detecting an undetected dot pattern embedded in the print image. Similarly, the copy prohibition dot pattern specifying information 124 is pattern definition information for analyzing a data portion that defines a print image of print data and detecting a copy prohibition dot pattern embedded in the print image.

  The non-detection pattern detection unit 116 refers to the non-detection dot pattern specifying information 122, analyzes the data part that defines the print image of the print data, and determines the position information of the non-detection dot pattern embedded in the print image. Extracted as tint block information. The copy prohibition pattern detection unit 118 refers to the copy prohibition dot pattern specification information 124 and analyzes the data part that defines the print image of the print data to determine whether the print image includes a copy prohibition dot pattern. To do. The extracted copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information (position information and determination result of presence / absence of copy-prohibited dot pattern) is passed to the drawing unit 106 together with the print data as an analysis result.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting extraction unit 120 is called when it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the multifunction machine 10 side, analyzes the data portion that defines the print settings of the print data, and uses the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information as copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information. Extract. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information includes designation of validity / invalidity of the copy-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern and designation of valid / invalid of the copy-suppressed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern. If the setting is made to indicate that the tint block is valid, the tint block setting information further specifies the type of detection dot pattern or non-detection dot pattern that makes up the tint block image, and the character string or watermark Includes specification of the type. The extracted copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information is delivered to the drawing unit 106 together with the print data as an analysis result.

  Reference is again made to FIG. The drawing unit 106 and the background pattern composition unit 108 use the extracted background pattern information to generate a preview image representing a copy of a printed material on which the copy prohibited background pattern or copy suppression background pattern has been copied. When the unauthorized copy suppression printing function is applied, the drawing unit 106 and the background pattern synthesizing unit 108 generate the preview image by not drawing an undetected dot pattern that does not appear on the copy. On the other hand, when the unauthorized copy prohibition print function is applied, the drawing unit 106 generates a preview image representing a copy when a copy prohibited print is copied. As described above, a preview image representing a copy-prohibited copy is represented by, for example, a grayed-out image or a black image.

  The generated preview image is transferred to the operation panel control unit 110. The operation panel control unit 110 performs control to display a preview display screen on the display of the operation panel 34 included in the multifunction device 10 using the generated preview image in response to an operation by the operator of the multifunction device 10. Run.

  Hereinafter, regarding the functions of the drawing unit 106 and the background pattern composition unit 108 when the unauthorized copy suppression printing function is applied, the background pattern processing is not performed on the multifunction device 10 side, and the background pattern processing is performed on the multifunction device 10 side. This will be explained separately.

  When the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is not performed on the MFP 10 side and the position information of the undetected dot pattern is extracted as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, the drawing unit 106 uses the position information of the undetected dot pattern extracted by the analysis unit 104. Thus, a preview image is generated by drawing a portion other than the undetected dot pattern according to the print data. In this case, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is already embedded in the print data, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern combining unit 108 is not used.

  On the other hand, since the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the MFP 10 side, when the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information is extracted as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, the drawing unit 106 performs drawing processing according to the print data, generates an original preview image, and The data is passed to the synthesis unit 108. Various types of tint block patterns are stored in a storage device such as the HDD 36, and the tint block synthesizing unit 108 uses the tint block setting information extracted by the analysis unit 104 and does not include the undetected dot pattern. And a synthesized preview image is synthesized with the original preview image to generate a final preview image.

  The drawing unit 106 and the background pattern synthesizing unit 108 constitute an image generating unit 112 in the present embodiment. When the position information of the undetected dot pattern is extracted as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, the main image generation unit 112 uses the position information of the undetected dot pattern to draw a portion other than the undetected dot pattern to display the preview image. Generate. On the other hand, when the background pattern setting information is extracted as the background pattern information, the image generation unit 112 generates a preview image by synthesizing the background pattern image including the specified type of detection dot pattern using the background pattern setting information. To do. In addition, when an additional dot pattern is added for the purpose of making it difficult to determine that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is embedded, the combined copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image may include the additional dot pattern, It does not have to be included.

  Although the description has been given centering on the preview image display function in the tint block printing, the tint block printing output process is the same as the normal tint block printing process, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, the background image printing preview image display function according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the preview image display process executed by the multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment. It should be noted that FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are connected via point A and point B. The processes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are started from step S100 in response to an instruction for calling the preview image display function by the operator of the multifunction machine 10.

  In step S <b> 101, the analysis unit 104 acquires print data that is received in advance from the host computer 50 and instructed to display a preview. In step S102, the analysis unit 104 starts print data analysis processing. In step S103, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing subject determination unit 114 determines whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the multifunction machine 10 side or the printer driver side. To do. If it is determined in step S103 that the process is performed on the printer driver side (printer driver side), the process branches to step S104. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the operation is to be performed on the multifunction device 10 side (the multifunction device side), the process branches to step S112 illustrated in FIG.

  In step S104, the analysis unit 104 causes the copy prohibition pattern detection unit 118 to analyze the data part that defines the print image of the print data, and tries to detect a portion that matches the copy prohibition dot pattern in the print image. In step S105, the analysis unit 104 determines whether or not it has a copy-prohibited dot pattern. If it is determined in step S105 that a portion that does not match the copy-prohibited dot pattern is not detected in step S104 and it is determined that there is no copy-prohibited dot pattern (NO), the process branches to step S106.

  In step S106, the analysis unit 104 sets an undetected dot pattern to be processed. Since it is generally assumed that there are a plurality of types of undetected dot patterns, here, one of one or more types of undetected dot patterns stored in advance in the HDD 36 or the like is selected and processed. Set to the undetected dot pattern. In step S107, the analysis unit 104 uses the undetected pattern detection unit 116 to analyze the data part that defines the print image of the print data, and tries to detect a portion that matches the undetected dot pattern to be processed. In this case, the position information of the detected part is further extracted.

  In step S108, the analysis unit 104 determines whether or not the processing for all given types of undetected dot patterns has been completed. If it is determined in step S108 that there is an undetected dot pattern that has not yet been set as a process target and processing for all types of undetected dot patterns has not been completed (NO), the process loops to step S106. . In step S106, the other one of the plurality of types of undetected dot patterns is set as the undetected dot pattern to be processed, and the processing in steps S106 to S108 is repeated for all types. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S108 that the processing for all types of undetected dot patterns has been completed (YES), the process proceeds to step S109.

  In the embodiment to be described, the detection flow of all types of undetected dot patterns is tried by the processing flow of steps S106 to S108. However, in other embodiments, even when the background pattern processing is performed on the printer driver side, if the notification of the type of the undetected dot pattern used in the background pattern can be received from the printer driver side, the notified type Only non-detected dot patterns may be detected.

  In step S <b> 109, the multifunction machine 10 renders the preview image according to the print data by the rendering unit 106 so that the preview image is not rendered on the portion of the undetected dot pattern specified by the position information. As a result, a preview image of the print data in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is not applied to the location of the undetected dot pattern is generated. Note that when no undetected dot pattern is detected, a preview image is drawn as in the print data as usual.

  In step S110, the operation panel control unit 110 receives the generated preview image, inserts the preview image in a preview image display area in the preview display screen displayed on the display of the operation panel 34, and displays the preview image. In step S117, the process is terminated. The displayed preview image is close to the copy image shown on the right side of FIG. 4A, and is a suitable representation of a copy when a printed matter with a copy-suppressing copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied. Therefore, it is possible to make the user recognize the result of copying the printed matter in an easy-to-understand manner.

  Referring to step S105 again, in step S105, a portion that matches the copy prohibition pattern is detected. If it is determined that there is a copy prohibition pattern (YES), the process branches to step S111. In step S111, the drawing unit 106 generates a black image as a preview image. In this case, in step S110, operation panel control unit 110 inserts a black preview image in the preview image display area in the preview display screen on the display, and ends this processing in step S117. The preview image to be displayed is a suitable representation of a copy when a copy with a copy-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied as shown on the right side of FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that the operation is to be performed on the multifunction device 10 side (the multifunction device side), the process branches to step S112 as described above. In step S112, the analysis unit 104 causes the background pattern setting extraction unit 120 to extract background pattern setting information from the data part that defines the print settings of the print data. As copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information, the above-mentioned copy-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting (valid or invalid), copy-suppressed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting (valid or invalid), detection dot pattern and non-detection dot pattern types, and design of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern (character string or watermark) Is extracted.

  In step S113, the analysis unit 104 determines whether the copy-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is valid. If it is determined in step S113 that the copy-forbidden copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is specified in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information (YES), the process branches to step S116. In step S116, the drawing unit 106 generates a black image as a preview image. In this case, the process proceeds to step S110 via point B. In step S110, operation panel control unit 110 inserts a black preview image in the preview image display area in the preview display screen on the display, and in step S117. This process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S113 that the copy-prohibited copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is invalid (NO), the process branches to step S114. In step S114, the drawing unit 106 draws the print data and generates an original preview image. In step S115, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image synthesizing unit 108 draws a detection dot pattern of the type specified in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information to generate a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, synthesizes the drawn original preview image, and final preview image And branch to step S110 shown in FIG.

  In this case, in step S110, operation panel control unit 110 fits the final preview image in the preview image display area in the preview display screen on the display, and ends this processing in step S117. Similar to the above, the displayed preview image is close to the copy image 210 shown on the right side of FIG. 4A, and preferably represents a copy when a printed matter with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied.

  Hereinafter, the preview display screen displayed on the display of the operation panel 34 by the operation panel control unit 110 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preview display screen displayed on the display by the multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment. A preview display screen 260 is displayed on the screen 250 of the operation panel shown in FIG. The preview display screen 260 includes a preview image display area 262 in which a preview image is inserted, operation buttons 264 and 266 for moving the preview target page, operation buttons 268 and 270 for switching the preview display function, and printing. A print button 272 for instructing and a close button 274 for ending the preview are included.

  A preview image 280 is displayed in the preview image display area 262. The preview image 280 includes a manifestation portion 282 of the detected dot pattern that emerges by omitting the drawing of the undetected dot pattern. This represents a copy when a printed matter with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied, and preferably represents that the copy-suppressed copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is effective.

  According to the preview display function described above, a preview image display function capable of previewing a copied material when a printed material printed with a tint block is further copied is provided. The displayed preview image represents a copy when a printed matter with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied, and allows the user to appropriately recognize that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern has been set.

  Further, the present embodiment is configured to be able to switch between a printed material preview mode for displaying the result of the printed material and a copied material preview mode for displaying the result of the copied material when the original printed material is further copied. ing. The operation buttons 268 and 270 shown in FIG. 7 are buttons for switching the preview mode. In the state illustrated in FIG. 7, the operation button 270 is highlighted to indicate that the copy preview mode is selected. The operation buttons 268 and 270 constitute an operation unit that receives selection of whether to display a preview image representing a printed material in the present embodiment.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a copy of a printed matter printed with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern printed on the display included in the image forming apparatus is represented, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting is recognized. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, an image display method, and a program that display a simplified preview image.

  The functional unit can be realized by a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as an assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like. ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, Store in a device-readable recording medium such as flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, Blu-ray disc, SD card, MO, or distribute it through an electric communication line can do.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, and the like. It can be changed within the range that can be done, and any embodiment is included in the scope of the present invention as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... MFP, 12 ... Controller board, 14 ... CPU, 16 ... ROM, 18 ... RAM, 20 ... NV-RAM, 22 ... Network I / F, 24 ... Engine I / F, 26 ... Operation panel I / F 28 ... Storage device I / F, 30 ... Bus, 32 ... Engine, 34 ... Operation panel, 36 ... HDD, 50 ... Host computer, 102 ... Communication control unit, 104 ... Analysis unit, 106 ... Drawing unit, 108 ... Background pattern composition unit 110 ... Operation panel control unit 112 ... Image generation means 114 ... Background pattern processing subject determination unit 116 ... Undetected pattern detection unit 118 ... Copy prohibition pattern detection unit 120 ... Background pattern setting extraction unit 122 ... Non-detected dot pattern specifying information, 124... Copy prohibited dot pattern specifying information, 200... Print image, 202. Part 210: Copy image 212 Part corresponding to detected dot pattern 214 ... Part corresponding to undetected dot pattern 220 ... Print image 222 ... Part of detected dot pattern 224 ... Part of copy prohibited dot pattern 232: Solid image, 250: Operation panel screen, 260: Preview display screen, 262: Preview image display area, 264, 266, 268, 270 ... Operation button, 272 ... Print button, 274 ... Close button, 280 ... Preview image, 282 ... A manifestation portion of the detected dot pattern,

JP 2010-240913 A JP 2005-136554 A JP 2009-39997 A

Claims (9)

Communication means for receiving print data from an external device;
Analyzing means for analyzing the print data and extracting ground pattern information relating to the ground pattern to be added;
Using the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, a preview image representing a copy when the printed matter with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied is generated by not drawing an undetected pattern that is not manifested on the copy of the printed image to be printed. Image generating means;
Display control means for displaying the preview image on a display included in the image forming apparatus.   The analysis unit determines whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is performed on the image forming apparatus side, extracts position information of the undetected pattern as the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information according to the determination result, and the image generation unit performs the analysis The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview image is generated by drawing a portion other than the undetected pattern using the position information extracted by a unit.   The analysis unit determines whether the background pattern processing is performed on the image forming apparatus side, extracts the background pattern setting information as the background pattern information according to the determination result, and the image generation unit draws the print data. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image including a detection pattern that is manifested on a copy of the print image by using a drawing unit that generates an original preview image and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern setting information extracted by the analyzing unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a combining unit that generates the preview image by combining the image with the original preview image.   The analysis unit extracts position information of the undetected pattern by analyzing a data portion that defines a print image of the print data when it is determined that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern processing is not performed on the image forming apparatus side. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.   The image according to claim 3, wherein the analysis unit extracts the tint block setting information from a data part that defines a print setting of the print data when it is determined that the tint block process is performed on the image forming apparatus side. Forming equipment.   The analysis unit determines whether or not print output is prohibited, and the image generation unit copies when a copy-prohibited printed matter is copied when the analysis unit determines that print output is prohibited. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a preview image representing an object is generated.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit that receives a selection of whether to display a preview image representing a copied material when the image is copied or to display a preview image representing a printed material. apparatus. An image display method executed by an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:
Receiving print data from an external device;
Analyzing the print data and extracting ground pattern information relating to the ground pattern to be added;
Using the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, a preview image representing a copy when the printed matter with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied is generated by not drawing an undetected pattern that is not manifested on the copy of the printed image to be printed. Steps,
Displaying the preview image on a display included in the image forming apparatus. Computer
A communication means for receiving print data from an external device;
Analyzing means for analyzing the print data and extracting ground pattern information relating to the ground pattern to be added;
Using the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information, a preview image representing a copy when the printed matter with the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is copied is generated by not drawing an undetected pattern that is not manifested on the copy of the printed image to be printed. A program for causing an image generation unit and a display control unit to display the preview image on a display included in the image forming apparatus.