JP2018015912A - Image processing device, image processing system and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device configured to be able to acquire and print a document from even a user who is not registered in advance.SOLUTION: Transmission means of an image processing device transmits a first face image having a face photographed and a request for transmission of a document to a request destination. Acquisition means acquires the document in response to the transmission by the transmission means. Printing means prints the document when the first face image matches a second face image photographed after receiving the document.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, and an image processing program.

  Patent Document 1 has an object of providing an image forming apparatus that enables proxy printing with reduced burden on the user. The MFP stores a job registered from a PC. The proxy printing job is included, and for the job for proxy printing, the MFP registers the user who registered the job (owner user) and the user who is permitted to print the job (authorized user). In the MFP, it is disclosed that when a permitted user logs in, if a job for which the user is an authorized user is registered, the fact is notified.

  In Patent Document 2, when a user requests another user for processing, the subject is to notify the requesting user of the result of processing executed on behalf of the user. Substitute account management section that issues relevant substitute accounts, account database that stores user data that associates user identification information with the phone number of the mobile communication terminal carried by the user, and a substitute account is entered An account management unit that permits execution of processing based on the surrogate account, a job management unit that executes processing when execution instructions for executing processing based on the surrogate account are input, and executed processing A status notification unit that transmits a result to the mobile communication terminal associated with the surrogate account with user data; It has been disclosed to obtain.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 has an object of simply instructing document output while preventing unauthorized document output by a person who does not have output authority. The multifunction device reads an image of an output instruction sheet, and the document is output from the image. Identification information (print contents of the print area) and characteristic information (print contents of the print area) specific to the person permitted to output the document, and the face of the person (temporary user) who instructed image reading When the feature information is detected by photographing, and the detected feature information matches the feature information extracted from the image on the output instruction sheet, the document corresponding to the identification information extracted from the image on the output instruction sheet is It is disclosed that the information is printed on the paper together with the information, and the information on the output restriction recorded in the printing area is updated by overwriting the printing area on the output instruction sheet. That.

  Patent Document 4 realizes a control device that does not require a troublesome operation and performs user authentication that can prevent impersonation by a simple method and can prevent a printed matter from being mistakenly viewed by another user. The control device detects the position of the user's face from the captured image of the imaging device, and compares the partial image of the captured image at the detected position with the registered face image. The MFP receives a face recognition processing unit that extracts a registered face image that matches, a user authentication unit that specifies a user name corresponding to the extracted registered face image, and print data to which the specified user name is added And a data confirmation unit that causes the image forming unit of the multifunction peripheral to form an image based on the print data when it is confirmed that the image is received. It has been.

JP 2013-084179 A JP 2008-040564 A JP 2011-0909907 A JP 2009-147452 A

There is an image processing apparatus that prints a document.
By the way, even if there is an image processing apparatus, it is generally impossible to print a document that is not stored in an information processing apparatus possessed by a user. In the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is described that an authorized user who is permitted to print other than the owner user can perform printing. However, the authorized user needs to be registered in advance.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, and an image processing program that enable a user who has not been registered in advance to acquire and print a document.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
The invention of claim 1 is a transmission means for transmitting a first face image obtained by photographing a face and a request for document transmission to a request destination, an acquisition means for acquiring a document in response to transmission by the transmission means, The image processing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints the document when the first face image matches the second face image taken after reception.

  The image processing according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the document from the request destination, or acquires the document from a transfer destination transferred from the request destination. Device.

  The invention of claim 3 is a transmission means for transmitting a first face image obtained by photographing a face and a request for document transmission to a request destination, an acquisition means for acquiring a document in response to transmission by the transmission means, When the first face image and the second face image taken after reception match, an image processing apparatus having a printing unit that prints the document, and the first face image transmitted by the transmission unit And a receiving unit that receives the request, and a processing unit that performs a process of making the document corresponding to the request obtainable by the image processing apparatus after the first face image is presented Is an image processing system.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus further includes an extraction unit configured to extract a document of the request from a document accessible to the request destination based on the first face image or the request. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit performs a process of setting the document extracted by the extraction unit into a state that can be acquired by the image processing apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the case where the request document cannot be extracted from a document accessible by the request destination, the processing means outputs the first face image and the request to another request destination. The image processing system according to claim 4, wherein

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the computer acquires the first face image obtained by photographing the face and the document transmission request to the request destination, and obtains the document in response to the transmission by the transmission unit. And an image processing program for causing the document to function as a printing unit for printing the document when the first face image matches the second face image taken after reception.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, even if the user is not registered in advance, the document is acquired and printed.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, the document is acquired from the request destination, or the document is acquired from the transfer destination that has been transferred from the request destination.

  According to the image processing system of the third aspect, even a user who is not registered in advance acquires a document and performs printing.

  According to the image processing system of the fourth aspect, based on the first face image or the request, the requested document is extracted from the document accessible by the request destination.

  According to the image processing system of the fifth aspect, when the request document cannot be extracted from the document accessible by the request destination, the first face image and the request are transmitted to other request destinations.

  According to the image processing program of the sixth aspect, even if the user is not registered in advance, the document is acquired and printed.

It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the system configuration example using this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the request document which is a process target example by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the printing user's face image which is an example of the process target by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the proxy registration request document which is an example of a process target by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the registration document which is a process target example by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of a printing information management table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of a printing information management table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of a proxy registration request information management table. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example of the present embodiment.
The module generally refers to components such as software (computer program) and hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a computer program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment is a computer program for causing these modules to function (a program for causing a computer to execute each procedure, a program for causing a computer to function as each means, and a function for each computer. This also serves as an explanation of the program and system and method for realizing the above. However, for the sake of explanation, the words “store”, “store”, and equivalents thereof are used. However, when the embodiment is a computer program, these words are stored in a storage device or stored in memory. This means that control is performed so as to be stored in the apparatus. Modules may correspond to functions one-to-one, but in mounting, one module may be configured by one program, or a plurality of modules may be configured by one program, and conversely, one module May be composed of a plurality of programs. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Hereinafter, “connection” is used not only for physical connection but also for logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relationship between data, etc.). “Predetermined” means that the process is determined before the target process, and not only before the process according to this embodiment starts but also after the process according to this embodiment starts. Also, if it is before the target processing, it is used in accordance with the situation / status at that time or with the intention to be decided according to the status / status up to that point. When there are a plurality of “predetermined values”, they may be different values, or two or more values (of course, including all values) may be the same. In addition, the description of “do B when A” is used to mean “determine whether or not A and do B when A”. However, the case where it is not necessary to determine whether or not A is excluded.
In addition, the system or device is configured by connecting a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like by communication means such as a network (including one-to-one correspondence communication connection), etc., and one computer, hardware, device. The case where it implement | achieves by etc. is included. “Apparatus” and “system” are used as synonymous terms. Of course, the “system” does not include a social “mechanism” (social system) that is an artificial arrangement.
In addition, when performing a plurality of processes in each module or in each module, the target information is read from the storage device for each process, and the processing result is written to the storage device after performing the processing. is there. Therefore, description of reading from the storage device before processing and writing to the storage device after processing may be omitted. Here, the storage device may include a hard disk, a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage medium, a storage device via a communication line, a register in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like.

  The image processing system according to the present embodiment prints a document, and includes an image processing apparatus 100 and a user terminal 150 as shown in the example of FIG. Here, the document (also referred to as a file) is text data, numerical data, graphic data, image data, moving image data, audio data, etc., or a combination thereof, and is subject to storage, editing, search, etc. Those that can be exchanged as individual units between persons, including those similar to these. Specifically, it includes a document created by a document creation program, an image read by an image reading device (scanner, camera, etc.), a Web page, and the like.

In recent years, with the spread of mobile terminals and the like, it has become possible to register documents regardless of location, and there have been cases where files are registered in front of image processing devices installed in convenience stores and printed on the spot. It was. This is because it is now possible to register files more easily, such as printing at the convenience store for other purposes such as shopping instead of going to the convenience store for printing. This is a result of widening the range of usage scenes (needs).
However, the conventional technology has a problem that “documents not owned by the user cannot be printed on the spot” in order to satisfy the need for “printing at a convenience store”. Specific examples are listed below.
・ I want to print photos taken with someone else's mobile device instead of my mobile device. In addition, the photo is not delivered or shared.
・ I want to print a document I forgot to put on my mobile device or cloud.
・ I want to print a document when my mobile device is out of battery. That is, it is a state in which the document is not actually held on the spot.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, a document that is not owned by itself but acquired by another person is acquired and printed on the spot (when it is desired to print).

The image processing apparatus 100 includes a face photographing module 105, a scan module 110, a proxy registration request information creation module 115, an information transmission / reception module 120, a print information storage module 125, a file registration result notification module 130, a print output availability determination module 135, a print output. A module 140 is included. The image processing apparatus 100 is used by the printing user side. The image processing apparatus 100 is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (an image processing apparatus having two or more functions such as a scanner, a printer, a copier, and a fax machine).
The face photographing module 105 is connected to a proxy registration request information creation module 115 and a print output availability determination module 135. The face photographing module 105 photographs the face of the user of the image processing apparatus 100. The face photographing module 105 performs photographing twice for one user. The photographed face image is used by the proxy registration request information creation module 115 and the print output permission determination module 135.
The first time, shooting is performed before sending the request. For example, the user's face at the time of creating the requested document may be photographed, or the user's face immediately before transmission (instructed for transmission) may be photographed. As “when creating a request document”, specifically, the face of a user who scans a paper document on which a request sentence is written may be photographed, a touch panel of the image processing apparatus 100, or the like. You may make it image | photograph the face of the user who is preparing the request sentence using (using).
The second time, shooting is performed before printing. For example, the user's face at the time of obtaining a document may be photographed, or the user's face immediately before printing (when a print instruction is given) may be photographed. Specifically, as “when acquiring a document”, the image processing apparatus 100 notifies that the document can be acquired, and then the user who came before the image processing apparatus 100 The face of the user who has given an instruction to obtain a document or an instruction to present a preview to confirm the document may be taken.

The scan module 110 is connected to the proxy registration request information creation module 115. The scan module 110 reads a paper document with a scanner. For example, as described above, a paper document in which a request sentence created by a printing user is described may be read. The read image may be a binary image or a multi-value image (including a color image). The document to be read may be one sheet or a plurality of sheets. The read image is used by the proxy registration request information creation module 115.
The proxy registration request information creation module 115 is connected to the face photographing module 105, the scan module 110, and the information transmission / reception module 120. The proxy registration request information creation module 115 creates a document transmission request (request document) in accordance with a user operation. For example, as described above, an image read by the scan module 110 (an image obtained by reading a paper document in which a request message is written) may be received, or in accordance with a user operation on the touch panel of the image processing apparatus 100 or the like. A request statement may be created. Then, the first face image obtained by photographing the face (the face image of the user photographed for the first time by the face photographing module 105) and the document transmission request (hereinafter also referred to as proxy registration request information) are sent to the information transmission / reception module 120. To the user terminal 150 that is the request destination. For example, the transmission may be e-mail, chat, electronic bulletin board, notification using social media, push notification, or the like.
By the processing of the proxy registration request information creation module 115, the proxy registration user (user of the user terminal 150) can actually confirm the face of the printing user (user of the image processing apparatus 100) with human eyes. The device 100 can prevent impersonation by transmitting the proxy registration request information to the user terminal 150.
The information transmission / reception module 120 is connected to the proxy registration request information creation module 115, the print information storage module 125, and the information transmission / reception module 155 of the user terminal 150. The information transmission / reception module 120 communicates with the user terminal 150 (information transmission / reception module 155). In particular, the first face image and the document transmission request are transmitted to the user terminal 150, and a notification indicating that the document to be printed or the document has been registered in the server or the like is received from the user terminal 150.

The print information storage module 125 is connected to the information transmission / reception module 120, the file registration result notification module 130, and the print output availability determination module 135. The print information storage module 125 acquires and stores a document from the user terminal 150 via the information transmission / reception module 120 in response to transmission by the proxy registration request information creation module 115. Then, the file registration result notification module 130 is notified that the document has been acquired. Here, “acquisition of document” includes receiving a document attached to an e-mail or the like transmitted from a request destination, acquiring (downloading) a document from a server stored by the request destination, and the like. . As an example of the latter, there is a technique related to net printing. Net print is a service that allows a document to be registered in advance in a server or the like connected via a communication line such as the Internet, and can be printed by the image processing apparatus 100 installed in a convenience store.
The print information storage module 125 may acquire a document from the user terminal 150 that is the request destination, or may acquire a document from the transfer destination that has been transferred from the user terminal 150 that is the request destination. .

The file registration result notification module 130 is connected to the print information storage module 125. The file registration result notification module 130 notifies the print user that the document has been acquired. As a notification method, for example, there is a combination of these such as outputting sound indicating that a document has been acquired from a speaker, and displaying an image indicating that on a display device such as a liquid crystal display.
The print output availability determination module 135 is connected to the face photographing module 105, the print information storage module 125, and the print output module 140. The print output propriety determination module 135 determines whether or not the first face image and the second face image taken after reception are the same (whether they are the same person). The print output module 140 prints the document acquired by the storage module 125. If they do not match, the document is not printed. The print output enable / disable determination module 135 eliminates the need for user registration in advance of the print user and compares the face image at the time of the request with the latest face image, so that the determination accuracy can be improved.
Note that the acquired document may be deleted after the document is printed. In addition, documents stored in a server or the like may be deleted.
The print output module 140 is connected to the print output permission determination module 135. The print output module 140 prints the document under the control of the print output permission determination module 135.

The user terminal 150 includes an information transmission / reception module 155, a proxy registration request information notification module 160, a proxy registration request information storage module 165, and a file registration module 170. The user terminal 150 is used by the proxy registered user. The user terminal 150 holds or obtains a document that the print user wants to print. The user terminal 150 is, for example, a personal computer (including a notebook PC), a portable information communication device (including a mobile phone, a smartphone, a mobile device, a wearable computer, or the like).
The information transmission / reception module 155 is connected to the proxy registration request information storage module 165, the file registration module 170, and the information transmission / reception module 120 of the image processing apparatus 100. The information transmission / reception module 155 communicates with the image processing apparatus 100 (information transmission / reception module 120). In particular, the first face image and the document transmission request are received from the image processing apparatus 100, and a notification indicating that the document to be printed or that document has been registered in the server or the like is transmitted to the image processing apparatus 100. .

  The proxy registration request information notification module 160 is connected to the proxy registration request information storage module 165. The proxy registration request information notification module 160 detects that proxy registration request information has been added and notifies the proxy registration user. For example, a sound indicating that the request has been received is output from a speaker, and an image indicating that is displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal display.

The proxy registration request information storage module 165 is connected to the information transmission / reception module 155, the proxy registration request information notification module 160, and the file registration module 170. The proxy registration request information storage module 165 receives the first face image and the request transmitted by the information transmission / reception module 120 of the image processing apparatus 100 via the information transmission / reception module 155. That is, the proxy registration request information received from the printing user is received and stored. This proxy registration request information is used by the proxy registration request information notification module 160 and the file registration module 170.
Then, after presenting the first face image, the proxy registration request information storage module 165 performs a process for making the document corresponding to the request available by the image processing apparatus 100. Here, “presenting the first face image” means that the first face image is displayed on a display device such as a liquid crystal display of the user terminal 150, and the owner of the user terminal 150 (or the user of the e-mail address). It is to make it visible. The “state in which the document can be acquired by the image processing apparatus 100” may be sent by attaching the document to an e-mail or the like, or may be sent back to the server or the like in the above-described net print. It may be registered (upload) via 170.
Further, the proxy registration request information storage module 165 extracts the requested document (or candidate) from the document accessible by the user terminal 150 as the request destination based on the first face image or the request. Also good. That is, a document is automatically extracted without an operation by the user of the user terminal 150 (or by performing a selection operation for a candidate document). For example, the request sentence may be parsed, a document name may be extracted, and a document with that document name may be searched. The person may be authenticated from the first face image and a document created by the person may be searched, or a photograph in which the same person as the first face image is taken may be searched. May be.
Then, the proxy registration request information storage module 165 performs processing for making the extracted document in a state that can be acquired by the image processing apparatus 100. For example, using the first face image and the feature information of the request, the corresponding document can be automatically extracted from the document held by the proxy registered user (user of the user terminal 150), thereby reducing the load on the proxy registered user. be able to.

In addition, when the requested document cannot be extracted from the document accessible by the user terminal 150, the proxy registration request information storage module 165 transmits the first face image and the request to other request destinations. You may do it. For example, if the proxy registration user (user of the user terminal 150) does not have the corresponding document, the proxy registration user can request (that is, transfer) proxy registration to another user, and the print user (image processing) The load on the user of the apparatus 100 can be reduced. Other request destinations (other user terminals 150) perform processing equivalent to this user terminal 150. That is, the first face image and the request transferred by the user terminal 150 are received, and a process for making the document corresponding to the request available by the image processing apparatus 100 is performed. Further, the other request destination (second request destination) may be transferred to another request destination (third request destination). The case where the requested document could not be extracted may be a case where the proxy registered user determines and there is an operation to that effect, and as described above, the requested document is automatically extracted. It may be a case where there is no corresponding document after searching.
The file registration module 170 is connected to the information transmission / reception module 155 and the proxy registration request information storage module 165. The file registration module 170 registers the document with a server or the like according to the control of the proxy registration request information storage module 165.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration example using the present embodiment.
In the convenience store 200, the image processing apparatus 100 is installed. The image processing apparatus 100 is used by a print user 210. The user terminal 150 is used by the proxy registration user 250. The print user 210 is a user who operates with the image processing apparatus 100 installed in the convenience store 200. A person who does not have a document to print. The proxy registration user 250 has a document that the print user 210 wants to print. It may not be with print user 210. A document is transmitted or registered in response to a request at a location different from the convenience store 200. When the user terminal 150 is a portable information communication device, the document can be transmitted or registered regardless of the location.

The image processing apparatus 100, the user terminal 150A, the user terminal 150B, the user terminal 150C, and the file server 270 in the convenience store 200 are connected via a communication line 290, respectively. The communication line 290 may be wireless, wired, or a combination thereof, and may be, for example, the Internet or an intranet as a communication infrastructure. Further, the above-described function by the file server 270 as a server in the net print may be realized as a cloud service.
For example, the following processing is performed. The print user 210 stops at the convenience store 200 for shopping. Suppose that you want to print at the time of shopping. However, since the document (telegram document) to be printed is not stored in the portable terminal possessed by the print user 210, the proxy registration user 250A having the document is requested using the image processing apparatus 100. Send an email. The face of the print user 210 is photographed to create the request. Therefore, the request includes the face image (first face image) of the print user 210 and the request sentence. The proxy registration user 250A receives the electronic mail at the user terminal 150A, displays a face image, confirms that the request is from the print user 210, and sends the requested document to the image processing apparatus by electronic mail. Reply to 100. The image processing apparatus 100 notifies the print user 210 that the document has been received. This is because the print user 210 may be away from the image processing apparatus 100 for shopping. When the image processing apparatus 100 shoots the face of the print user 210 (second face image), compares the first face image and the second face image, and determines that they are the same person, Print the received document. Note that the user terminal 150A may store the document in the file server 270 instead of returning the document by e-mail. Then, the user terminal 150A notifies the image processing apparatus 100 of a document storage location (for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating a storage location in the file server 270), and the image processing apparatus 100 receives the information from the file server 270. A document may be acquired.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the present exemplary embodiment (image processing apparatus 100). For example, the print user 210 is in front of the image processing apparatus 100 of the convenience store 200, but the photo data to be printed is taken by the mobile terminal (user terminal 150) of the proxy registration user 250, and the print user 210 has File registration cannot be performed.
In step S302, a request document is created. In the above example, the print user 210 creates a proxy registration request document in order to request the proxy registration user 250 to perform proxy registration. The requested document is confirmed by the proxy registration user 250 at a glance, so the format is not limited. For example, a request document 700 shown in FIG. 7 is created. The request document 700 includes “Please register the group photo of the ski tour in early February. Fuji Taro” as the request content. This may be a scan of a document written on a paper document or may be created using the touch panel of the image processing apparatus 100 or the like.

In step S304, the requested document is registered. Details of the processing in step S304 will be described later with reference to the flowchart shown in the example of FIG.
In step S306, the request document is transmitted. Specifically, in accordance with the operation of the print user 210, the image processing apparatus 100 designates the e-mail address or telephone number (carrier mail) of the proxy registration user 250 as the transmission destination of the proxy registration request information, and performs proxy registration. Send e-mail with request information attached.
After executing the transmission, the image processing apparatus 100 issues a receipt number and presents it. The print user 210 confirms the reception number. Then, the print user 210 waits until the proxy registration flow (the processing example according to the flowchart shown in the example of FIG. 5) is completed according to the operation of the proxy registration user 250. Note that the image processing apparatus 100 may notify the reception number to the mobile terminal of the print user 210 using near field communication or the like.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the present embodiment (image processing apparatus 100).
In step S402, a scan instruction for the requested document is received.
In step S404, the requested document is scanned.
In step S406, the face of the scan instructor (print user 210) is photographed.
In step S408, the electronic data (scanned image) of the requested document is associated with the face image.
In step S410, for example, the print information management table 1100 is created. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the print information management table 1100. The print information management table 1100 has a PRINT_ID column 1110, a USER_DATA column 1120, a PRINT_DATA column 1130, and a reception number column 1140. The PRINT_ID column 1110 stores information (print ID (PRINT_ID): IDentification) for uniquely identifying a print instruction in the present embodiment (image processing apparatus 100). The USER_DATA column 1120 stores the face image (first face image) of the user who issued the print instruction. The PRINT_DATA column 1130 stores a document to be printed. In step S410, nothing is stored. When the document is acquired, the document is stored. The document itself or the storage location (URL or the like) of the document may be used. The reception number column 1140 stores a reception number.
Similarly, the print information management table 1200 may be created by another image processing apparatus 100. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the print information management table 1200. The print information management table 1200 has a PRINT_ID column 1210, a USER_DATA column 1220, a PRINT_DATA column 1230, and a reception number column 1240, and has the same data structure as the print information management table 1100.

  In the above example, the created request document is scanned by the image processing apparatus 100 in accordance with the operation of the print user 210. Further, the face of the printing user 210 is photographed by the image processing apparatus 100 when the requested document is scanned. The proxy registration request information is created by associating the electronic data of the scanned request document with the photographed face image. As the face image, there is a print user face image 800 shown in the example of FIG. 8, and as the associated proxy registration request information, there is a proxy registration request document 900 shown in the example of FIG. The proxy registration request document 900 is a composite of the request document 700 and the face image 800 of the printing user. In step S306, the proxy registration request document 900 is transmitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the present exemplary embodiment (user terminal 150).
In step S502, the request document is received. The proxy registration user 250 receives an e-mail attached with proxy registration request information at the user terminal 150. Proxy registration request information is notified to the proxy registration user 250 by the e-mail incoming function of the user terminal 150. In the above example, the proxy registration request document 900 is received.

In step S504, the requested document is confirmed. For example, the user terminal 150 presents the proxy registration request document 900 received on a display device such as a liquid crystal display. In other words, the proxy registration user 250 visually checks the proxy registration request document 900 attached to the e-mail, and makes the following determinations on the proxy registration request document 900, respectively.
(1) Face image portion (print user's face image 800): Judgment of authenticity of print user 210 (2) Request document portion (request document 700): Determination of document to be registered (3) Face image and request document (Proxy registration request document 900): Determination of print permission for print user 210 In step S506, if the result of confirmation of the request document is OK, the process proceeds to step S508, and if it is NG, the process is terminated (step S598). That is, if the proxy registration user 250 determines not to register the file (step S506: NG), the process ends (step S598).

  In step S508, the file is registered. For example, a registration document 1000 shown in FIG. 10 (a document requested by the print user 210, specifically, “a group photo of an early February ski tour”) is registered. In accordance with the operation of the proxy registration user 250, the face image of the proxy registration request information (face image of the print user 210) and the document are registered in association with each other. Specifically, the proxy registration request information management table 1300 is created. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the proxy registration request information management table 1300. The proxy registration request information management table 1300 includes a REQUEST_ID column 1310, a USER_DATA column 1320, a DOCUMENT_DATA column 1330, a registered document column 1340, and a SOURCE column 1350. The REQUEST_ID column 1310 stores a request ID (REQUEST_ID) for uniquely identifying a request from the image processing apparatus 100 in the present embodiment (user terminal 150). The USER_DATA column 1320 stores the face image (first face image, print user face image 800) of the user who made the request. The DOCUMENT_DATA column 1330 stores a request document (proxy registration request document 900) attached to an e-mail. The registered document column 1340 stores a document (registered document 1000) corresponding to the request. The SOURCE column 1350 stores identification information (specifically, the name, IP address, etc. of the image processing apparatus 100) of the image processing apparatus 100 that has transmitted the request.

  In step S510, print information is transmitted. For example, the registered document 1000 is returned to the image processing apparatus 100. The registered document 1000 may be registered in the file server 270, and a URL indicating the storage location may be returned to the image processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the present embodiment (image processing apparatus 100).
In step S602, print information is received. The image processing apparatus 100 receives print information (registered document 1000) transmitted from the user terminal 150 by the operation of the proxy registration user 250. It notifies the print user 210 that the requested document has been acquired by voice, image, or the like. The print user 210 receives the notification from the image processing apparatus 100, moves to the front of the image processing apparatus 100, and starts a print output procedure.

In step S604, face authentication is performed. The print user 210 inputs a receipt number at the image processing apparatus 100. When the receipt number is input, the image processing apparatus 100 captures the face of the print user 210. The image processing apparatus 100 extracts the feature points of the photographed face image (second face image) and the face image (first face image) in the USER_DATA column 1120 of the print information management table 1100 to determine whether or not they are the same person. Judgment is made. If it is determined that the person is different (step S606: NG), the process is interrupted (step S698). If it is determined that the person is the same person (step S606: OK), printing of the associated file is permitted. Note that the processing here is not limited as long as it is possible to determine whether or not the two face images are the same, and is short from when the first face image is taken to when the second face image is taken. Since the camera to be photographed (the face photographing module 105 of the image processing apparatus 100) is the same and the environment is the same (in front of the image processing apparatus 100), a simple comparison process (for example, facial elements (eyes) , Eyebrow, nose, mouth, etc.)). Of course, a person may be specified from each of the two face images, and it may be determined whether or not the specified person is the same person.
In step S606, if the result of face authentication is OK, the process proceeds to step S608, and if it is NG, the process ends (step S698).
In step S608, print output is performed. For example, the print user 210 confirms the preview of the acquired document, and executes print output if there is no problem.

  A hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus 100 and the user terminal 150 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 14 is configured by, for example, a personal computer (PC), and illustrates a hardware configuration example including a data reading unit 1417 such as a scanner and a data output unit 1418 such as a printer.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1401 includes various modules described in the above-described embodiments, that is, the face photographing module 105, the scan module 110, the proxy registration request information creation module 115, the information transmission / reception module 120, and the print information storage module 125. , File registration result notification module 130, print output permission determination module 135, print output module 140, information transmission / reception module 155, proxy registration request information notification module 160, proxy registration request information storage module 165, file registration module 170, etc. It is a control part which performs the process according to the computer program which described the execution sequence.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 1402 stores programs used by the CPU 1401, calculation parameters, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 1403 stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 1401, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 1404 including a CPU bus or the like.

  The host bus 1404 is connected to an external bus 1406 such as a peripheral component interconnect / interface (PCI) bus via a bridge 1405.

  A keyboard 1408 and a pointing device 1409 such as a mouse are devices operated by an operator. The display 1410 includes a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays various types of information as text or image information. Further, a touch screen or the like having both functions of the pointing device 1409 and the display 1410 may be used.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1411 includes a hard disk (may be a flash memory or the like), drives the hard disk, and records or reproduces a program executed by the CPU 1401 and information. The hard disk realizes a document storage function by the print information storage module 125, a document storage function by the proxy registration request information storage module 165, and the like. Further, various other data, various computer programs, and the like are stored.

  The drive 1412 reads out data or a program recorded in a removable recording medium 1413 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and the data or program is read out as an interface 1407 and an external bus 1406. , The bridge 1405, and the RAM 1403 connected via the host bus 1404. A removable recording medium 1413 can also be used as a data recording area.

  The connection port 1414 is a port for connecting the external connection device 1415 and has a connection unit such as USB and IEEE1394. The connection port 1414 is connected to the CPU 1401 and the like via the interface 1407, the external bus 1406, the bridge 1405, the host bus 1404, and the like. A communication unit 1416 is connected to a communication line and executes data communication processing with the outside. The data reading unit 1417 is a scanner, for example, and executes document reading processing. The data output unit 1418 is, for example, a printer, and executes document data output processing.

  Note that the hardware configurations of the image processing apparatus 100 and the user terminal 150 shown in FIG. 14 show one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. Any configuration capable of executing the described module may be used. For example, some modules may be configured with dedicated hardware (for example, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc.), and some modules are in an external system and connected via a communication line In addition, a plurality of systems shown in FIG. 14 may be connected to each other via communication lines so as to cooperate with each other. In particular, in addition to a personal computer, it may be incorporated in a portable information communication device, information appliance, robot, copying machine, fax machine, scanner, printer, multifunction device, or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the image processing apparatus 100 is installed in the convenience store 200 has been described. However, the image processing apparatus 100 is not necessarily the convenience store 200 and may be a general office or the like. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where it is desired to print a document that the print user 210 does not have at a customer site or a business trip destination office.

The program described above may be provided by being stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standard “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact disc (CD), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), Blu-ray disc ( Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc), magneto-optical disk (MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)) )), Flash memory, Random access memory (RAM) SD (Secure Digital) memory card and the like.
Then, the whole or a part of the program may be recorded on the recording medium for storage or distribution. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, or a wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination of these, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the program may be a part or all of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Further, it may be recorded in any manner as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image processing apparatus 105 ... Face imaging module 110 ... Scan module 115 ... Proxy registration request information creation module 120 ... Information transmission / reception module 125 ... Print information storage module 130 ... File registration result notification module 135 ... Print output permission determination module 140 ... Printing Output module 150 ... User terminal 155 ... Information transmission / reception module 160 ... Proxy registration request information notification module 165 ... Proxy registration request information storage module 170 ... File registration module 200 ... Convenience store 210 ... Print user 250 ... Proxy registration user 270 ... File server 290 ... communication line

Claims (6)

Transmitting means for transmitting a first face image obtained by photographing a face and a document transmission request to a request destination;
An acquisition means for acquiring a document in response to transmission by the transmission means;
An image processing apparatus, comprising: a printing unit configured to print the document when the first face image matches the second face image captured after reception. The acquisition unit acquires the document from the request destination, or acquires the document from a transfer destination transferred from the request destination.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. Transmitting means for transmitting a first face image obtained by photographing a face and a document transmission request to a request destination;
An acquisition means for acquiring a document in response to transmission by the transmission means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a printing unit configured to print the document when the first face image and the second face image taken after reception match;
Receiving means for receiving the first face image and the request transmitted by the transmitting means;
An image processing system comprising: an information processing apparatus including a processing unit configured to perform processing for making a document corresponding to the request obtainable by the image processing apparatus after presenting the first face image. The information processing apparatus includes:
An extractor for extracting a document of the request from a document accessible by the request destination based on the first face image or the request;
The processing means performs processing to make the document extracted by the extracting means in a state that can be acquired by the image processing apparatus.
The image processing system according to claim 3. The processing means transmits the first face image and the request to another request destination when the request document cannot be extracted from a document accessible by the request destination.
The image processing system according to claim 4. Computer
Transmitting means for transmitting a first face image obtained by photographing a face and a document transmission request to a request destination;
An acquisition means for acquiring a document in response to transmission by the transmission means;
An image processing program for causing the document to function as a printing unit that prints the document when the first face image matches the second face image taken after reception.

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