JP2023069929A - Image processing apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image processing apparatus, a method, and a program that can efficiently execute protection processing.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus of the embodiment has: a reading unit that reads an image from a medium; a type discrimination unit that compares the read image read by the reading unit with a common image common to media to discriminate the type of the medium of the read image; an image processing unit that executes protection processing on a target area of the type discriminated by the type discrimination unit in the read image; and an output control unit that outputs a processed image obtained by executing the protection processing on the read image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing device, method and program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus, there is a technique for protecting personal information when performing copying, scan transmission, and scan storage.

For example, in Patent Document 1, as a technique for preventing personal information from being output, the type of card is determined based on the card size, and among the specific areas set in the management information of the determined type, the security level of the user is determined. A technique of masking and outputting the corresponding specific area is disclosed.

However, in the conventional method, even if the document to be read is a standard document such as a driver's license or an insurance card, a reading error occurs if only part of the domicile or address is different. Therefore, the user has to manually reset the error, and there is a problem that the protection process using the mask cannot be executed efficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, method, and program capable of efficiently executing protection processing.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the image processing apparatus of this embodiment includes a reading unit that reads an image from a medium, a read image read by the reading unit, and a common image common to the medium. an image processing unit that performs protection processing on a target area of the type determined by the type determination unit in the read image; and and an output control unit for outputting a protected processed image.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there exists an effect that it becomes possible to perform a protection process efficiently.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware block configuration of a processing unit of the image processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of functions of the image processing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a document layout of read images. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table stored in a storage unit; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the read image of the third document. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operational flow at the time of registration in the image processing apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow during copying in the image processing apparatus.

Embodiments of an image processing apparatus, method, and program will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. An MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) will be described below as an example of an image processing apparatus, but the image processing apparatus is not limited to the MFP. It may be appropriately applied to a reading device, a copier, a printing device, a facsimile machine, or the like.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 shows, as an example, an image processing apparatus 1 generally called a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having at least two functions out of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function and a facsimile function. An operation panel (a touch display as an example) for the user to perform operations such as setting and starting is provided on the housing of the reading device main body 10 . It should be noted that the operation may be performed not only by the operation panel but also by a terminal capable of wireless communication with the main body.

The reading device main body 10 has a contact glass 11 on its upper surface, and has a first reading section inside the reading device main body 10 . Here, as an example, the configuration of the first reading unit of the reduction optical system type is shown. The first reading unit includes a light source 13, a first carriage 14, a second carriage 15, a lens unit 16, a sensor 17, and the like. In FIG. 1, the first carriage 14 has a light source 13 and a reflecting mirror 14-1, and the second carriage 15 has reflecting mirrors 15-1 and 15-2.

The reading device main body 10 irradiates light from a light source 13 onto an object to be read, and reflects light reflected from the object to be read by the mirror 14-1 of the first carriage 14 and the mirrors 15-1 and 15-2 of the second carriage 15. The light enters the lens unit 16, and the image of the object to be read formed on the light receiving surface of the sensor 17 from the lens unit 16 is read. The sensor 17 is, for example, a line sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary MOS), and sequentially converts the image of the object to be read formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor into an electrical signal and outputs an image signal. do.

The reference white board 12 is a member to be corrected that is read to correct the output image from the line sensor.

When reading by the flatbed method, a medium to be read (hereinafter referred to as a document) is directly set on the surface of the contact glass 11 and the start button is pressed.

In this embodiment, a configuration in which an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) 20 is provided on the upper part of the reading device main body 10 is shown. For this reason, when reading by the flatbed method, the ADF 20 is lifted to expose the contact glass 11 and the document 100 is directly placed on the contact glass 11 . Then, the ADF 20 is lowered to its original position, and the back surface of the document 100 is pressed by the lower surface of the ADF 20 . Since the document 100 is fixed in the flatbed method, the document 100 is scanned by moving the carriages (the first carriage 14 and the second carriage 15). The first carriage 14 and the second carriage 15 are driven by a scanner motor to scan the document 100 in the sub-scanning direction. For example, the first carriage 14 moves at a speed V, and at the same time the second carriage 15 moves at half the speed of the first carriage 14, 1/2V, so that the first carriage 100 on the contact glass 11 side of the original 100 is moved. read the surface.

Note that the reading method of the reading device is arbitrary. A flatbed method may be used in which the document 100 is directly placed on the contact glass 11 and the front and back sides of the document 100 are read. Alternatively, the ADF 20 may be provided to automatically place and read the document 100, or other devices may be employed. You may

Here, the ADF 20 is an automatic document feeder for reading the document 100 set on the tray by the sheet-through method. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the ADF 20 separates the originals 100 one by one from the stack of the originals 100 on the tray 21 by the pickup roller 22, conveys them to the conveyance path 23, and reads the surface of the originals 100 to be read in a predetermined manner. The document 100 is read at the position and discharged to the discharge tray 25 . Conveyance of the document 100 is performed by rotation of various conveyance rollers 24 .

For reading the document 100, the reading device body 10 moves, for example, the first carriage 14 and the second carriage 15 to predetermined home positions and fixes them. It is done at the timing of passing between The reading window 19 is a slit-shaped reading window provided in a part of the contact glass 11, and the document 100 is scanned in the sub-scanning direction by automatically conveying the document 100 through the reading window 19. FIG. The background portion 26 is a background member with a predetermined background color arranged at a position facing the slit. While the document 100 passes through the reading window 19 , the reading device 1 sequentially detects the reflected light of the light from the light source 13 that irradiates the first surface (for example, the front surface) of the document 100 facing the reading window 19 with the sensor 17 . read.

When reading both sides of the document 100 , the second side (back side) of the document 100 is read by the second reading section after passing through the reading window 19 . In the example shown in FIG. 1, the reading module 27 provided on the rear side of the first side of the document 100 on the transport path 23 provided in the ADF 20 reads the second side. The reading module 27 has an irradiation section and a contact image sensor as a second reading section, and reads the reflected light of the light irradiated onto the second surface of the document 100 with the contact type image sensor. A background member 28 provided facing the reading module 27 is a density reference member for the second reading section.

The image of the original document 100 read by the first reading unit (or the second reading unit) is subjected to predetermined image processing and output to recording paper by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has an image forming section 80 and a paper feeding section 90 .

The image forming section 80 includes an optical writing device 81, tandem image forming units (Y, M, C, K) 82, an intermediate transfer belt 83, a secondary transfer belt 84, and the like. The optical writing device 81 writes an image on the photoreceptor drum 820 of the image forming unit 82 , and the toner image is transferred from each photoreceptor drum 820 onto the intermediate transfer belt 83 .

The image forming unit (Y, M, C, K) 82 has four rotatable photoreceptor drums (Y, M, C, K) 820, and around each photoreceptor drum 820, there are a charging roller, a developing roller, and a developing roller. image forming elements, each including an imager, a primary transfer roller, a cleaner unit, and an eraser. An image is formed on each photoreceptor drum 820 by each image forming element operating in a predetermined image forming process around each photoreceptor drum 820, and the image formed on each photoreceptor drum 820 is transferred to a primary transfer roller. are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 83 as toner images.

The intermediate transfer belt 83 is stretched by a driving roller and a driven roller in a nip between each photosensitive drum 820 and each primary transfer roller. The toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 83 is secondarily transferred onto the recording paper on the secondary transfer belt 84 by the secondary transfer device as the intermediate transfer belt 83 runs. The recording paper is conveyed to the fixing device 85 by running the secondary transfer belt 84, and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper as a color image. After that, the recording paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray outside the machine.

For recording paper, for example, a paper feed unit 90 feeds out predetermined recording paper from paper feed cassettes 91 and 92 storing recording paper of different sizes, conveys it by a conveying means 93 comprising various rollers, and transfers it to a secondary transfer belt 84 . supply to

It should be noted that the image forming unit 80 is not limited to one that forms an image by electrophotography, and may employ one that forms an image by another method such as an ink jet method.

(Image processing)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware block configuration of the processing unit of the image processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 1 is a system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 120, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 121, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 122a, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 122b. A memory 122, an interface 123 including an SD memory card slot 123a, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface 123b, and a network interface 123c, an auxiliary storage device 124, a touch display 125, an engine 126, and a scanner 127. have.

Using a predetermined area of the RAM 122b as a work area, the CPU 120 executes various processes in cooperation with various control programs pre-stored in the ROM 122a or the auxiliary storage device 124, and controls the overall operation of the image processing apparatus 1. . For example, the CPU 120 performs the functions of a registration unit, a mask processing unit, a storage unit, and the like by executing a control program relating to mask processing, which will be described later, and controls the overall operation of the image processing apparatus 1 .

The ASIC 121 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing that has hardware elements for image processing, and functions as a bridge that connects the CPU 120 and each unit.

The ROM 122a is a read-only memory that stores fixed programs and fixed data. The RAM 122b is a writable and readable volatile memory that is used for development of programs and data, drawing for a printer, and the like.

The interface 123 is an interface that detachably connects the device and an external device. An SD memory card slot 123a shown as an example in FIG. 2 is detachably connected to an SD (registered trademark) memory card as an external storage device. The USB interface 123b is detachably connected to a USB flash memory as an external storage device.

Also, the interface 123 includes an interface for connecting the device to a network that connects the device to the external device 3 . The network interface 123c shown in FIG. 2 is a network card or the like, and connects the device itself to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

Auxiliary storage device 124 includes storage media to which data is written and read magnetically, electrically, or optically. For example, HDDs have magnetic recording media. The auxiliary storage device 124 rewritably stores programs and data (including tables) related to various controls of the image processing apparatus 1 .

The touch display 125 is composed of a display device such as liquid crystal, an input device having a touch panel, a group of key switches, and the like. The touch display 125 outputs an operation screen for setting and starting operations such as copying and printing on the display screen, and receives touch input from the user via a touch panel or a group of key switches.

Engine 126 is an imaging engine. The engine 126 includes an engine portion (such as a plotter) of the image forming section 80 as well as an image processing portion such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

The scanner 127 has a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) photoelectric conversion element of a reading unit, an A/D converter that converts an analog read signal into a digital signal, a drive circuit, and the like. The scanner 127 drives the line sensor, generates 8-bit RGB digital image data (read image) from the analog density information read by each CCD photoelectric conversion element, and outputs the data to the CPU 120 .

(Feature Description)
The functions of the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment include registration and protection processing in addition to normal functions such as copying and printing. Note that the protection processing corresponds to mask processing for protecting personal information in this example. Registration is processing that is performed in advance before mask processing. A person in charge of registration prepares a plurality of sheets of originals to be registered in advance, presses registration start on the operation screen, and executes reading of the plurality of sheets of original images to be registered. The document may be read one by one by the flatbed method, or may be read continuously using the ADF 20 or the like. A document is a document containing information that requires mask protection. For example, a manuscript containing personal information that requires mask protection, such as a driver's license.

When registration is started, the registration unit performs registration processing. The registration unit extracts common portions common to each of the read images, and registers information on the common portions and information on non-common portions (mask candidates) other than the common portions in the storage unit. . The common part (or information on the common part) corresponds to the "common image". At this time, if personal information is included in the document, if a plurality of documents are read, the personal information included in each read image is not common, and is excluded from the common portion. In other words, the personal information is classified into the non-common part. After that, the person in charge of copying (mainly the user) presses the copy start button to read another document image to be copied (referred to as a third document image). The mask processing unit compares the read image of the third document image with the information of the common portion stored in advance in the storage unit, and if the third document image matches the information of the common portion, The mask target area specified by the non-common portion information registered together with is masked.

In addition, when registration is performed with one document, after reading one document, display the scanned image on the operation screen and let the person in charge of registration set the common part in the displayed image. good. In that case, the registration section also has a function as a setting section, sets one or more locations specified on the display screen by the person in charge of registration as the common section, and registers the information of these common sections in the storage section.

Further, if the registration is performed by the person in charge of the work on the manufacturer side before the shipment of the image processing apparatus 1, the registration section may or may not be included in the configuration after shipment. If the registration unit is included even after shipment, the person in charge of the delivery destination of the image processing apparatus 1 can perform initial registration or additional registration.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of functions of the image processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the main module configuration of functions related to registration and mask processing. The registration function and the mask processing function may be included in the same application, or may be provided separately in different applications. Alternatively, only the mask processing application may be provided to the user. The CPU 120 exhibits each function by executing various control programs. Each function may be provided not only by software but also by dedicated hardware such as ASIC, or may be provided partially or entirely by software and hardware.

The registration unit 500 extracts common portions common to each of the read images, and registers information on the common portions and information on non-common portions (mask candidates) other than the common portions.

Specifically, the registration unit 500 has an extraction unit 501 and a registration instruction unit 502 . The extraction unit 501 acquires the read images D1 of a plurality of originals from a predetermined storage area in which the read images are stored by the storage unit (storage control unit) 600, and extracts the information of the common portion of each read image D1. .

For example, when a plurality of driver's licenses are scanned, the extraction unit 501 detects the document size (vertical size and horizontal size) from the boundary of the driver's license image, corrects the angle of the document's curvature, etc. A read image D1 having a layout of a driver's license image (see FIG. 4) is obtained. Then, the extracting unit 501 sequentially compares the images at corresponding positions in the entire read images D1 of the plurality of read images D1, and extracts the area where the images match as a common portion as common portion information. . Regions of non-common portions other than the common portion are candidates for masking. Since the non-common part is not a common part, it may contain information that differs from person to person, and may be masked.

The common portion and the non-common portion can be represented by coordinate information (X coordinate, Y coordinate) of the pixel position from the reference point of the read image D1. Although the reference point is not particularly limited, for example, one point at the upper left corner of the read image, four points at the four corners, or the like may be specified. The extraction method shown here is an example, and other methods may of course be used.

The common part and the non-common part may be classified into two areas as a cluster, or the common part may be further subdivided according to common items, and the common part and the non-common part may be managed by corresponding to each common item. You may Any suitable method may be used for dividing into common items. As an example, the extraction unit 501 divides the area of the common part into items based on conditions such as a blank area around the character part and a ruled line part. Alternatively, the text may be recognized from the character portion by character recognition processing or the like, and the region may be divided based on the text. When the common part area is divided, the non-common part area is also divided according to each item of the common part. For example, the division is performed according to a predetermined rule, such as setting the area between the first item and the second item as a non-common portion corresponding to the first item.

The registration instructing unit 502 assigns identification information to the plurality of originals as a group of the same type, and instructs registration of the common portion information and the non-common portion information extracted by the extracting unit 501 . According to this registration instruction, the storage unit 600 stores the identification information indicating the type, the information of the common part, and the information of the non-common part as one registration data, for example, in a predetermined table (FIG. 5) of an auxiliary storage device (HDD, etc.). reference).

The person in charge of registration causes a plurality of documents having the same form to be read and registered as a group of the same type. Registration of other groups can be done in the same way. For example, a group of the same type is registered by reading a plurality of licenses having the same form. After that, another group is registered by reading a plurality of health insurance cards of another form. Therefore, the storage unit 600 stores each registration data in a table or the like for each registered group of the same type, such as a driver's license or an insurance card.

The mask processing unit 700 compares the read image of the third document image with the information of the common part pre-stored in the storage unit, and if the third document image matches the information of the common part, the common The mask target area specified by the non-common part information registered together with the part is masked. This processing is executed when the person in charge of copying the document presses the copy start button on the operation screen. Note that the document set by the person in charge of copying is a third document different from that at the time of registration, and the third document is set in the apparatus to obtain an image (read image of the third document).

Specifically, the mask processing unit 700 has a type determination unit 701 and an image processing unit 703 . This example shows a configuration in which a designation reception unit 702 is further added.

It is assumed that registration data of a plurality of types of groups are registered in a table read from a designated storage area such as an HDD by the storage unit 600 (see FIG. 5). The type discriminating unit 701 discriminates the type based on whether the read image of the third document matches the common portion of the registered table. For example, the type discriminating unit 701 discriminates the type in which the image matches by comparing the image at the position corresponding to the information in the common part of the table for each type with respect to the third read image. For example, match is determined by whether or not a predetermined match rate is satisfied. The matching rate is not particularly limited, but a higher one is desirable. For example, it is set to 80% or more, and if it is 80% or more, it is determined as a match. Desirably, it is preferable to set it to 100% and perform the mask processing by discriminating the completely matching type.

If the common parts match, the image processing unit 703 performs mask processing on the target area in the third read image based on the mask target candidate associated with the matched group (type). The method of masking is not particularly limited as long as it is a process of making personal information, etc. unrecognizable. As an example, a process of masking with black paint is performed by changing the gradation value of all the target areas to black. In addition, processing for blurring the target area or processing for setting scramble information may be performed so that the characters cannot be read. Also, if there is a black character on a white background, it may be deleted on the white background, that is, the black character may be painted over with the white background.

Note that the mask processing unit 700 may display the portion to be masked (candidates to be masked) on the operation screen for user confirmation before performing the mask processing on the read image of the third document.

Also, a designation reception unit 702 may be provided as in one example. Before performing the mask processing on the read image of the third document, the designation reception unit 702 displays the portions to be masked (masking target candidates) on the operation screen for confirmation by the user, and receives an instruction such as execution from the user. accept. For example, the designation receiving unit 702 displays masking target candidates of the read image on the operation screen, and receives designation such as execution using an operation button. Furthermore, the designation receiving unit 702 may receive designation of a mask target from among the mask target candidates displayed on the operation screen using an operation button, and perform mask processing by restricting to the designated portion (FIG. 6). reference).

The output control unit 800 outputs a masked image (processed image) obtained by masking the read image to a designated destination. In this example, a processed image is output to the engine 126 and an instruction is given to form an image on recording paper, but the output destination is not limited to the image forming section. It outputs (transmits) the processed image to an external device, outputs it to the auxiliary storage device 124, or outputs the processed image instead of the read image even if it is output to another destination.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a document layout of read images. A read image D1 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of a read image of a driver's license. In the read image D1, the common portion d1 is displayed as it is in the read image, and the portions other than the common portion d1 are shaded. A common portion d1 and a non-common portion d2 in the read image D1 are registered. In this example, the common part d1 is shown as one block, but it may be registered as one, or may be registered for each item d11, d12, d13, . . . When using one driver's license, the scanned image is displayed on the operation screen, and the person in charge of registration designates the common part d1 (d11, d12, d13, . . . ) to obtain the scanned image D1 in FIG. Common portion d1 (d11, d12, d13, . . . ) and non-common portion d2 (d21, d22, d23, . When using a plurality of licenses, common portions d1 (d11, d12, d13, . A part d1 (d11, d12, d13, . . . ) and a non-common part d2 (d21, d22, d23, . . . ) are registered.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a table stored in the storage unit 600. As shown in FIG. The table T shown in FIG. 5 associates and stores each information of the type t1, the common part t2, and the candidate to be masked t3.

Unique identification information is set for the type t1. FIG. 4 shows an example of registration data for each of a driver's license, health insurance card, and My Number card. Unique identification information is set for each of the driver's license, health insurance card, and My Number card. In addition, since unique identification information is set, licenses with different layouts can be separately managed with different identification information.

As an example, the common part t2 is managed separately for each item. A driver's license shows an example in which a plurality of items (items d11, d12, . . . in FIG. 4) are detected in the common part. a1, a2, . . . are coordinate information of each item. The area information of the common part is set in the area information t20. The area information is information for determining the area as a common part. For example, the area information is an image of a target portion in one read image read at the time of registration. It should be noted that the feature amount of the image is not limited to this, and may be the feature amount of the image in the case where the feature amount of the image is used when the area is discriminated as the common portion from a plurality of read images. As for the health insurance card, the common part is indicated by the coordinate information (b1, b2, . . . ) of each item.

Area information of the masking candidate for each item of the common part t2 is set in association with the masking candidate t3. For the driver's license, masking target candidate area information aa1 (area information d21 in FIG. 4) is set for the first item (item d11 in FIG. 4), and the second item (item d12 in FIG. 4) is set. area information aa2 of the candidate to be masked (area information of d22 in FIG. 4) is set for the third and subsequent candidates. aa1, aa2, . In addition, in the health insurance card, masking candidate area information bb1 is set for the first item, and masking candidate area information bb2 is set for the second item. bb1, bb2, . The illustration and description of the setting of the common part of the My Number card and the mask area candidate will be omitted because the description will be repeated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the read image of the third document. A read image G1 shown in FIG. 6 is a display example when a driver's license is read as the third document. It is displayed so that masking candidate areas registered in association with the common portion can be identified. A part of the mask target area is displayed in the read image G1 so as to be selectable. In this example, selectable areas are indicated by frames M (M1, M2, M3, . . . ). The person in charge of copying can arbitrarily select a frame M in the read image G1 on the operation screen and instruct mask processing of the selected frame M. FIG. For example, while confirming the driver's license at hand, the user selects the frame M of the area whose personal information needs to be protected, and executes the masking process.

In addition, for candidates to be masked without a selection frame M, it is clear that the mask processing is to be performed in advance, and these portions are masked without displaying the selection frame M. to run.

Also, in this example, a frame M in the read image G1 is arbitrarily selected on the operation screen, and mask processing for the selected frame M is instructed. You can replace the instructions with .

(Description of operation)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operational flow at the time of registration in the image processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. First, the image processing apparatus 1 reads a registered document (S1). In S<b>1 , the image processing apparatus 1 reads a document prepared by a person in charge of registration using the reading unit, and reads the read image read by the reading unit into the registration unit 500 .

Subsequently, the image processing apparatus 1 counts the number of documents (S2). In S2, the image processing apparatus 1 counts the read image read in S1 as one sheet.

Subsequently, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether reading of a plurality of sheets of the same type of group has been completed (S3). In S3, when the count value in S2 reaches a preset number, the image processing apparatus 1 determines that the reading is completed (S3: Yes). Further, when the count value in S2 has not reached the preset number, the image processing apparatus 1 determines that reading has not been completed (S3: No), returns to S1, and reads the next document. Read in part. The number set in advance is the number of originals whose images are to be read for registration. This value may be a fixed value of "2" or more, or may be set arbitrarily by the registrant on the operation screen.

When the image processing apparatus 1 finishes reading the set number of registered documents (S3: Yes), the image processing apparatus 1 compares the read images (S4), and extracts information on common portions of the read images (S5). By extracting the information of the common part, the part other than the common part becomes the non-common part. to display. By displaying the common part area and the non-common part area on the operation screen so that they can be recognized, the person in charge of registration can check in advance whether the common part contains information of the non-common part such as personal information. be able to.

Then, the image processing apparatus 1 instructs registration of the group identification information, the information of the common part, and the candidate to be masked as one registration data (S6). Candidates for masking are all non-common parts other than common parts, but they can be registered as they are, or a part of the non-common parts specified by the person in charge of registration on the operation screen can be masked. It may be designated and registered as a target candidate.

The storage unit 600 registers the information of the common part and the information of the candidate to be masked in association with the table T using unique identification information for identifying the group and each other group (S7).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow during copying in the image processing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, the image processing apparatus 1 first reads a discrimination target document (S11). In S<b>1 , the image processing apparatus 1 reads a discrimination target document (third document), which is a document to be copied by a person in charge of copying, with the reading unit, and reads the read image read by the reading unit into the mask processing unit 700 .

Subsequently, the image processing apparatus 1 performs discrimination processing of the type of the read discrimination target document (S12). When one matching type is specified, the image processing apparatus 1 performs mask processing on the target area in the read image based on the mask target area information stored in association with the type (S13). Then, the image processing apparatus 1 outputs the generated image (read image after mask processing) (S14).

In S12, the image processing apparatus 1 performs document type determination processing shown in FIG. 8B, for example. The image processing apparatus 1 first acquires pre-registered registration data of the table T (S121). When N pieces of registered data (N=1, 2, . That is, the image processing apparatus 1 first acquires N=1 registration data in S121, and uses the information of the common part to evaluate whether N=1 type. Here, the evaluation compares the information of the common portion with the information of the position corresponding to the common portion in the read image of the discrimination target document, and evaluates whether the information matches or does not match (S122). A match or mismatch is determined based on the degree of match.

Subsequently, the image processing apparatus 1 increments the value of N by one (S123), and if there is other registered data (S124: No), acquires the next registered data (S121).

In this case, N=2 registration data is acquired, and N=2 evaluation is performed using the information of the common part (S122).

This series of evaluations is repeated by the number of registered data. When the image processing apparatus 1 completes evaluation of all registered data (S124: Yes), the image processing apparatus 1 specifies matching one of the N pieces of registered data and determines the type (S125). If not an exact match, identify the one with the highest degree of match. It should be noted that a threshold value may be provided, and an error may be reported if even the highest degree of matching does not exceed the threshold value. The threshold is set to a high value, such as 80%.

In the example of the present embodiment, a copy image is formed on the recording paper by outputting, but the masking process is not limited to the copy function. Other functions such as scanning, printing, and sending may also be applied as appropriate. When outputting a read image read by a reading device, if the data output destination of the read image is, for example, an external device, it will be visible to others, so personal information needs to be protected. The output destination is not limited to the image forming apparatus, and includes other output destinations.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid such a problem that a read error occurs due to a partial difference, and the mask processing can be executed efficiently. Therefore, it is possible for the user to easily output a masked document for which personal information is to be protected. For example, after starting copying, it is possible to complete the output with no operation or with a small number of operations. An error occurs in the middle of the process, not because a part of the document is different, but because the document does not belong to the types registered in advance. In such a case, the user is notified. Therefore, automation is almost possible.

(Example of use)
As an example, a usage example in which the image processing apparatus 1 is delivered to a bank will be described. Before shipment of the image processing apparatus 1, the person in charge of registration makes the reading device read a plurality of copies of licenses, health insurance cards, etc., and registers common portions and non-common portions for each type in the table T of the storage unit 600. conduct. If a license with the same domicile is read at the time of registration, the domicile part is registered in the common part and mask processing is not performed for that part. However, this case can be avoided by reading a license with a different domicile in advance, or by simply changing the domicile part from the common part to the non-common part at the time of registration.

Since the driver's license has already been registered at the bank, when the customer's driver's license is copied by the image processing device 1, the private information area to be protected in the driver's license is almost automatically masked and output. will be In addition, if the registered domicile has become a common part, it is possible for the bank to modify it to be masked.

(Modification 1)
It should be noted that the registration may be performed on the user side such as a bank. Depending on the user, there are cases where a unique manuscript that is different in type from existing manuscripts is handled. In such a case, the pre-registered data does not specify the document type. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 1 is provided with a registration function so that registration can be performed. Documents are prepared by the user, read by the reading device of the image processing apparatus 1, and the type of data is registered. After that, since the data has already been registered, mask processing can be performed almost automatically even for unique originals.

(Modification 2)
A plurality of document data may be stored in the storage unit 600 and provided so that the user can register them. The manuscript data to be provided is provided after processing such as blacking out the portion of personal information. In this case, for example, it is possible to extract a common portion by comparing the read image of one document prepared by the user and the supplied document data (read image).

In addition, by allowing the user to register, unnecessary document registration can be omitted, so the number of registrations can be reduced, and the processing time for discriminating the type by mask processing can be shortened.

(Modification 3)
There may be a case where it is not possible to prepare a plurality of manuscripts when performing registration. In such a case, the registration unit 500 of the image processing apparatus 1 is made to function also as a communication unit, and similar images on the network are acquired via the communication unit. Then, the image processing apparatus 1 extracts and registers common parts by comparing the obtained similar images. The similar image may be provided from a server provided by the provider of the image processing apparatus 1, which is an external device, or may be obtained from another server.

Although the embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments and modifications are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

1 image processing apparatus 100 recording paper 500 registration unit 501 extraction unit 502 registration instruction unit 600 storage unit 700 mask processing unit 701 type determination unit 702 designation reception unit 703 image processing unit 800 output control unit D1 read image T table

JP 2008-259114 A

Claims (11)

a reading unit for reading an image from a medium;
a type determination unit that determines the type of medium of the read image by comparing the read image read by the reading unit and a common image common to media;
an image processing unit that protects a target area of the type determined by the type determination unit in the read image;
an output control unit that outputs a processed image obtained by protecting the read image;
An image processing device having The common image is an image of an area that does not contain personal information,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. wherein the common image is a perfect match for each media type;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. moreover,
a designation reception unit that receives designation of a protection target area from the target area;
The image processing unit protects the target area received by the designation reception unit.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. further comprising a registration unit for registering the common image,
The registration unit extracts and registers the common image common to the plurality of media from the read images of the plurality of media read by the reading unit.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The registration unit extracts the common image corresponding in position in each read image from the read images of a plurality of media read by the reading unit.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. Further, the registration unit has a setting unit that sets the common image from the read image.
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6. further comprising a registration unit for registering the common image,
The registration unit extracts and registers the common image from similar images registered in advance as read images.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. moreover,
a registration unit that registers the common image;
a communication unit that communicates with an external device via a network;
has
The communication unit acquires a similar image of the external device via the network,
The registration unit extracts and registers the common image from the similar image.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A method for outputting a read image read from a medium, comprising:
determining the type of medium of the read image by comparing the read image with a common image common to media;
a step of protecting the identified type of target area in the read image;
a step of outputting a processed image obtained by protecting the read image;
method including. the computer,
a type determination unit that determines the type of medium of the read image by comparing the read image read from the medium and a common image common to the medium;
an image processing unit that protects a target area of the type determined by the type determination unit in the read image;
an output control unit that outputs a processed image obtained by protecting the read image;
program to function as

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