JP3275766B2 - Concealed image processing system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image copying apparatus and an image generating apparatus, and more particularly to an image (concealed information) in which coded data (concealed information) which can be read electronically but is unreadable by humans is embedded. Image).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various techniques for encoding data and embedding it in a document have been put into practical use (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-232).
564). As the embedded code, for example, a two-dimensional barcode, a data glyph (trademark of Xerox Corporation, USA) and the like are known. According to such an embedded code that can be read electronically and cannot be read by humans, data on a document can be read quickly and with high accuracy.

[0003]

By the way, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As seen in Japanese Patent No. 232564, various application examples of embedded codes have been conventionally proposed. However, a copying system that actively utilizes the unreadable or concealment property of embedded codes, particularly only a specific person, An image copying apparatus that can refer to the original information has not been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-22119 discloses that
An apparatus is disclosed in which additional information (copy number, number of copy generations, etc.) is embedded as an embedding code in an original in order to discriminate an illegal copy, and when the original is read, the additional information is extracted and the number of copies is counted. I have. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-12288 discloses that in order to facilitate information management such as transmission, correction and storage of text information, the text information is encoded into a barcode and recorded on a recording paper. An apparatus for decoding a barcode and restoring original text information when necessary is disclosed. However, none of the documents mentions a technique for decoding an embedded code at the time of document copying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide an image copying apparatus and method capable of positively utilizing the unreadable or concealment property of an embedded code. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image copying apparatus and a method capable of restoring original information only when a specific person has copied the image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image copying apparatus and an image copying method in which a user can arbitrarily select a normal copy and a copy in which concealment information is restored.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image copying apparatus and method capable of encoding a plurality of pieces of information and restoring only information corresponding to a user at the time of restoration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image generating apparatus and method for generating a concealed image to be supplied to an image copying apparatus as described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system including the above-described image copying apparatus and image generating apparatus.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a medium storing a program for realizing the above-described image copying method and image generating method on a copying apparatus or a copying system.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems (1) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the original information and the authentication information to be concealed are
Image input means for reading a concealed image in which concealment information encoded together is embedded, and authentication information for inputting authentication information
Input means, to recognize the concealed information concealment in images the read, the source information and prior to decoding the concealment information
The authentication information is restored, and the inputted authentication information and the
If the Goka authentication information match, and hand stage that generates a composite image by combining the restored original information in the read concealment of the image, and an image output means for outputting the synthesized image , Is included.

With the above arrangement, for example, when the hiding image read by configured image input means by a scanner device, hiding information in its images are extracted and recognized, concealment information is decoded, the original The information is restored. In this way recovery
No. of the original information was synthesized in concealed image read composite image is output at the configured image output device such as a printer. Therefore, when copying an image in a copying apparatus, if the image is a concealed image, the concealed portion is decrypted under a predetermined condition, and an image in which the original information is restored can be printed. Accordingly, various uses can be realized, and the image copying apparatus can be provided with a concealment decoding function that goes beyond a simple copying function. According to the above configuration,
The authentication information embedded in the concealed image
Authentication information does not need to be registered separately, and
Providing original information only to specific persons by performing user authentication
Can be.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the synthesized image is
Means for generating, instead of the concealment information of the read obfuscation in an image, characterized by combining the restored original information. That is, when copying the concealed image, based on information restored in the area in which the concealment information exists is synthesized. In this case, the concealment information, that is, the coded block visually functions as if it were a mask (concealment cover) of the original information. Incidentally, the concealment information can be recorded in an area other than the area where the original information is restored. In this case, after restoring the original information, the concealment information can be deleted from the image, but can be left as it is.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes a copy mode selecting means for selecting a normal copy mode or a restoration copy mode based on a predetermined condition. In the normal copy mode, an image read by the image input means is provided. And outputting the synthesized image in the restoration copy mode.

According to the above configuration, in the normal copy mode,
The copying apparatus operates as an original copying machine, and even the concealed image is copied as it is. On the other hand, in the restoration copy mode, the concealment information is decoded to restore the original information, and an image including the original information is output. The operation mode can be selected manually or automatically as follows.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a user suitability judging unit for judging user suitability based on user identification information input by the user, wherein the copy mode selecting unit is configured to determine whether the user is appropriate. A copy mode is selected. That is, by judging the suitability of the user identification information, it is judged whether or not the user using the copying apparatus is qualified to decrypt the concealment information, and the restoration copy mode is selected only when the user is an appropriate user. Things. As a result, it is possible to protect the original information and limit the use range of the original information.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the copy mode selection means selects a copy mode based on a user's input designation. That is, the operation mode is selected based on the user's intention. In addition,
The nature of the input image, that is, whether the image is a normal image or a concealed image may be automatically determined, and the operation mode may be self-set based on the determination result.

(2) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image input unit for reading a concealed image in which concealment information obtained by encoding original information and authentication information to be concealed together is embedded , restoring the authentication information input means for inputting, to recognize the concealed information concealment in images the read, the pre-Symbol the original information by decrypting the concealed information, and the authentication information
And a hand stage by combining the restored original information in the read concealment of the image that generates a composite image, the authentication information pre-Symbol input the authentication information the decrypt matches A copy mode selecting means for selecting a restoration copy mode in the case where they do not match, and selecting a normal copy mode when they do not match, outputting a read image in the normal copy mode, and outputting the composite image in the restoration copy mode And an image output means.

According to the above configuration, the authentication information is coded and embedded as concealment information in advance, and the restoration copy mode is set and synthesized only when the same authentication information as the authentication information is input at the time of copying an image. Image output is allowed. On the other hand, if the credentials do n’t match,
Copying is performed in the normal copy mode, and the concealed image is copied as it is. If this result is used and a score table is created while using the score as concealed information, only the person himself / herself can see the score by copying. The authentication information is, for example, a password or a specific code for user identification.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hiding of the image, the original information and the authentication information as a one data set, the plurality of data sets are embedded as hidden information encoded, the synthesized image Means for generating only the original information associated with the authentication information that matches the input authentication information. As described above, the number of data sets to be embedded is not limited to one, and a plurality of data sets can be embedded in an image. In this case, the original information of each data set is individually managed by the authentication information.

(3) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention displays original information , authentication information, and copy processing conditions to be concealed.
An image input means for reading a hiding image encoded concealed information to attribute information together is embedded, credentials
An authentication information input unit that recognizes the concealed information concealment in images the read, the original information by decrypting the concealed information, to restore the authentication information and the attribute information, wherein
The entered authentication information matches the decrypted authentication information
When, includes a hand stage that generates a composite image by combining the restored original information in the read concealment of the image, and an image output means for outputting the synthesized image, the, of the composite image A processing condition is specified by the attribute information in at least one of generation and output of the composite image.

That is, the attribute information can be encoded together with the original information, and image synthesis conditions and image output conditions for decoding the original information later can be set in advance. Of course, the original information, the authentication information, and the attribute information may be encoded together.

(4) Preferably, an image generating apparatus
Includes information inputting means for inputting the original information to be concealed, and the authentication information input means for inputting authentication information, is encoded to generate a concealment information together the source information and the authentication information, wherein including means for generating a hiding image embed hidden information in an image, and an image output means for outputting the hiding image.

According to the above configuration, the encoding unit encodes the original information and the authentication information together to generate concealment information, and the concealment information is combined with the basic image. Here, in the encoding, for example, the above-described two-dimensional barcode or data glyph is used, and various codes can be used as long as the codes are electronically readable and unreadable by humans (codes whose contents cannot be directly read). Can be used. Of course, the code is generally formed on the recording paper by printing, but an invisible recording method such as a detection method using a special light beam or a method using a magnetic effect can also be applied.

(5) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an image processing system including an image generation unit and an image copy unit, the image generation unit includes source information and authentication information to be hidden.
Encodes generates concealment information together comprises means that generates a hiding image by embedding the hidden information in the image, the image copying unit, the authentication information input means for inputting authentication information
If, recognizes the concealment information in the concealment image, the restore the original information and the authentication information by decoding the concealment information,
The input authentication information and the decrypted authentication information are
If there is a match, and hand stage that generates a composite image by combining the restored original information in the read concealment of the image,
It is characterized by including. (6) In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an image input unit is controlled to obtain a concealed image in which concealment information obtained by encoding original information and authentication information to be concealed together is embedded. You
And away step, a step of receiving authentication information, recognizes the concealment information in the concealment image, by decoding the concealment information to restore the original information and the authentication information, the receiving
The attached authentication information and the decrypted authentication information
If matches, including a Luz step generates a composite image by combining the restored original information in the concealment image, controls the image output means, and away step to output the composite image, the It is characterized by the following.

(7) Preferably, an image generating method
It is encoded to generate the concealment information of the original information and the authentication information to be concealed with the steps of generating a hiding image by embedding the hiding information in the image, and controls the image output means, the concealment of the image a step of outputting, to including.

(8) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention controls an image input means to obtain a concealed image in which concealment information obtained by encoding original information and authentication information to be concealed together is embedded. Instructions for accepting authentication information,
Recognizing the concealment information in the concealed image, decoding the concealment information to restore the original information and the authentication information, and when the accepted authentication information and the decrypted authentication information match. Recording a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure of combining the restored original information with the concealed image to generate a combined image, and a step of controlling image output means to output the combined image. It is characterized by providing a recording medium which has been set.

[0029]

The concept of the computer includes various apparatuses controlled by a program, such as a copying apparatus having an image reading and printing function, a server machine for controlling such a copying apparatus, and a copying control apparatus. . The concept of the medium on which the program is recorded includes all media that can read the program, and includes, for example, a portable recording medium such as a floppy disk and a CD-ROM, and a ROM .

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 conceptually show the principle of the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the generation of a concealed image, and FIG. 2 shows the copying of the concealed image.

First, in FIG. 1, when a concealed image is generated, a base image 12 serving as a base of the concealed image is read by the copying machine 10. This base image 12
Is an image whose contents are retained during concealment and copying described below. The copier 10 has a base image 1
2, original information to be embedded as concealment information is input. In the example shown in FIG. 1, numerical values 65, 70, and 85 corresponding to points A, B, and C as original information.
Is entered. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, together with the original information, the user identification information a,
b and c are also input, and if necessary, attribute information is also input.

The copying machine 10 encodes the original information, the user identification information and the attribute information to generate concealment information. Then, when a predetermined combination output instruction is given, the concealment information is combined with the base image 12 as an image, and the concealment image 14 is output. The concealed image 14 is specifically printed on recording paper. In this embodiment, an embedded code block 16 is generated for each of the points A, B, and C, and the embedded code block 16 is concealed information obtained by encoding the above-described original information, user identification information, and attribute information. is there. This concealment information can be read electronically, but is composed of a code string that cannot be directly understood by humans. The printing position of the embedded code block 16 is determined based on the layout information input to the copying machine 10.

FIG. 2 shows the concept of copying the concealed image 14 generated as described above. A copy instruction is given to the copying machine 10, whereby the concealed image 1 is
4 is read. In this case, if the normal copy mode is executed without inputting the user identification information, FIG.
As shown in (1), the concealed image 14 is printed as it is.

On the other hand, when the user inputs the user identification information together with the copy instruction and selects the restoration copy mode, only the original information associated with the user identification information matching the user identification information is restored. This is indicated by reference numeral 20 in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the user identification information b corresponding to the original information for which the score B is given as 70 is input, the original information 70 is restored.

According to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
Only the person with the appropriate user identification information can restore the concealed information, in other words, information that can be shown to a general person on one sheet of paper and information that can be shown only to a specific person. Can be mixed. Of course, in the example of FIG. 2, the user identification information is associated with each of the original information of the points A, B, and C, but if all the original information is associated with one piece of the user identification information, The original information can be restored collectively. Incidentally, the attribute information is used in synthesizing the image of the restored original information and outputting the image. For example, the attribute information designates the combination position of the original information, and specifies the paper size and printing color at the time of printing.

FIG. 3 shows the concept of information coding. In the example shown in (A), the data block to be encoded is composed of original information 100, user identification information 102, and attribute information (for example, drawing position information) 104, and is encoded for each data block to embed an embedded code block. 1
6 has been generated. Considering the example shown in FIG. 1, an embedded code block is created for each point.

In the example shown in FIG. 3B, three data blocks are collectively encoded to generate one embedded code block 16. That is, the embedded code block 16 is physically integrally formed, and each data block can be restored by decoding. Note that, in the example shown in FIG.
Is associated with one piece of user identification information 102 and one piece of attribute information 104, but of course, one piece of user identification information 102 and one piece of attribute information 104 may be associated with many pieces of original information. Note that the original information is not limited to numbers and symbols, and may be figures or photographs.

Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing specific configurations of the copying machine 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the image generating unit of the copying machine 10, and FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the image copying unit of the copying machine 10. Of course, the configuration common to the image generation unit and the image copying unit can be shared. Note that the copying machine 10 includes a digital copying machine.

In FIG. 4, the base image 12 is optically read by an image input section 22 constituted by, for example, a scanner device. The original information is input to the original information input unit 24 by the user.
6, user identification information such as a password is input. The original information and the user identification information are sent to the encoding processing unit 28. Incidentally, attribute information input from an attribute information input unit (not shown) is also input to the encoding processing unit 28 as necessary.

The encoding processing unit 28 converts the information into FIG.
And concealment information composed of an embedded code sequence is generated. Then, the concealment information is input by the combining unit 30 through the image input unit 22 to the base image 1.
2 will be synthesized. In this case, the combination position and the like are determined based on the layout information specified by the layout setting unit 32.
, An image including the concealment information is generated as a composite image, and the composite image is printed in an image output unit 34 including, for example, a printing device. FIG. 4 shows the concealed image 14 as the printed composite image. In the concealed image 14, the original information and the user identification information are recorded in unreadable form as concealed information composed of an embedded code.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the image copying section as described above. The concealed image 14 formed as described above is input to an image input unit 40 including a scanner device or the like.
, And the read concealed image is sent to the concealment information recognition unit 42. Hidden information recognition unit 4
2 recognizes and extracts concealment information in the concealed image,
The concealment information is output to the decryption processing unit 44. The concealed image read by the image input unit 40 via the concealment information recognition unit 42 is output to the synthesizing unit 46.

The decryption processing section 44 decrypts the concealed information to separate and restore the original information, the user identification information, and the attribute information. The original information is output to the synthesizing unit 46, and the user identification information is output to the coincidence determining unit 50. In addition, the attribute information is stored in
And the image output unit 52.

When there are a plurality of embedded code blocks 16 (see FIG. 1), the decoding processing unit 44 performs the above-described decoding process for each embedded code block 16.

User identification information is input to the user identification information input section 48 by a user who wants to restore hidden information. The input user identification information is sent to the match determination unit 50. The coincidence determination unit 50 determines whether or not the decrypted user identification information matches the input identification information, and selects an operation mode of the image copying unit based on the determination. If the two pieces of user identification information match, the match determination section 50 issues a restoration copy mode command to the combining section 46. On the other hand, if the two pieces of user identification information do not match, the match determining section 50 combines the two. An instruction for the normal copy mode is issued to the unit 46. That is, the coincidence determination unit 50 also functions as a unit for automatically selecting an operation mode.

In the synthesizing section 46, the image read by the image input section 40 is output as it is to the image output section 52 in the case of the normal copy mode, while the image input section 40 in the case of the restoration copy mode. Instead of the concealment information in the read image, the original information decoded by the decoding processing unit 44 is synthesized, and the synthesized image is output to the image output unit 52. The image output unit 52 is composed of, for example, a printing device. As described above, in the normal copy mode, the read image is printed as it is, and in the restoration copy mode, the image on which the original information is printed instead of the concealment information is displayed. Is output.

Incidentally, the synthesizing section 46 and the image output section 52
In the processing of (1), when the restoration copy mode is performed, the processing conditions are determined based on the attribute information decoded by the decoding processing unit 44. For example, the synthesis position of the original information, the size of the original information, or The paper and color for image output are set.

In the above embodiment, the original information is output instead of the concealment information. In this case, the embedded code block constituting the original information functions as a mask means.
Incidentally, in a case where the original information is drawn at a position different from the concealment information, as described later, the concealment information may be maintained and printed in the restoration copy mode, or may be erased. Good.

Next, the operation of the image generation unit will be described with reference to FIG. First, in S101, a base image is read by the image input unit 22. In S102, it is determined whether input of various information such as original information has been completed. If it is determined that the input has not been completed yet, in S103, the original information is input using the original information input unit 24 shown in FIG.
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a numerical value of 65 corresponding to the score A is input as the original information.

In S104, the position of the concealment information to be embedded in the base image, that is, the input of the combined coordinates is performed. This is performed using the layout setting unit 32. S105
In, the user identification information is input using the user identification information input section 26 shown in FIG. And S
At 106, a data block is generated as an aggregate of data to be coded at the coding processing unit 28. Further, at S107, the generated data block and the combined coordinates input at S104 are associated for later processing. It is stored while being performed.

When each of the steps S103 to S107 is repeated a required number of times (three times in the example shown in FIG. 1),
Steps after S108 following S102 are executed. In addition,
In the example shown in FIG. 6, the input process of the attribute information is not shown. However, if the input of the attribute information is necessary,
For example, in step S105, attribute information is input.

In S108, it is first determined whether or not all the image synthesizing processes have been completed. If it is determined that the image synthesizing process has not been completed, in S109, the encoding processing unit 28 performs an encoding process on the data block. . As a result, an image of the concealment information is generated. In S110, the generated concealment information is combined with the base image. And
The steps of S109 to S110 are repeated a necessary number of times (three times in the example shown in FIG. 1), and finally the processing shifts from S108 to S111, and in S111, the image is generated by the image output unit 34. The composite image is printed on recording paper. As a result, the concealed image 14 is generated.

Next, the operation of the image copying section will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the concealed image 14 is read by the image input unit 40 in S201. In S202, using the user identification information input unit 48, user identification information is input by a user who performs copying.

In step S203, the concealment information recognized by the concealment information recognition unit 42 is subjected to a decoding process in the decoding processing unit 44. Then, in S204, the decrypted original information and user identification information are separated.
In S205, the matching determination unit 50 determines whether the user identification information matches. If the user identification information does not match, the normal copy mode is automatically set, and
In step 206, the read image is printed as it is.

On the other hand, in S205, the decryption processing section 44
Among the multiple user identities decrypted by
If there is a match for the user identification information entered,
In S207, only the original information for which a match is determined is combined with the concealed image in the combining unit 46. On the other hand, S2
05, when all the decrypted user identification information and all the input user identification information match,
Alternatively, when identification information indicating a special user is input, the restoration copy mode is set as in the case of the partial match, and in S208, all the original information is combined with the concealed image. In this case, in this embodiment, each piece of original information is synthesized instead of the hidden information. In S209, the composite image is printed by the image output unit 52.

According to the operation example shown in FIG. 7, for example, when copying a grade sheet, the teacher is given user identification information as a special user, and each student is given the user identification information. If given, each student can restore only his / her own grades, while the teacher can restore the grades of all students at once.

Although the use of the attribute information is not shown in the operation example shown in FIG. 7, when the attribute information is included, in the synthesis of the original information or the output of the synthesized image, The attribute information is used as an operation condition.

According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to mix information that can be generally displayed and information that is desired to be viewed only by a specific one on a single document. Further, since security information can be included in the document itself, a device such as a security server is not required. In particular, since information consistency can be maintained for such security information, problems such as authentication errors due to, for example, inconsistencies in the version of the security server can be avoided. Further, according to the above embodiment, the information to be restored can be changed by changing the user identification information at the time of copying, so that various uses can be realized. Of course, in the device of the present embodiment, if the user identification information does not match, the concealment information is copied as it is in the encoded form.
It can also be used as a normal copying machine. In such a case, the encoding of the concealment information is maintained as it is, so that the disclosure of the concealment information by copying is completely prevented.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, even if a concealed image is copied in a normal copying machine, all information is retained,
The above-described processing can be realized for such a copied concealed image.

Another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the concept of this embodiment. FIG. 8 shows the generation of a concealed image, and FIG. 9 shows the copying of the concealed image.

In FIG. 8, the base image 12 is a copy machine 6
0 is read, along with the original information. In the copying machine 60, the original information is encoded to generate an embedded code block 62, which is combined with the base image 12. FIG. 8 shows a concealed image 64 as an output result of the composite image. Of course, the layout and the like of the embedded code block 62 can be set by the user in the copying machine 60. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the embedded code block 62 is not printed in the area 66 where the original information is written, and the embedded code block 62 is printed in another empty area. In addition, 1
Two embedded code blocks 62 have been generated.

In FIG. 9, the concealed image 64 generated in this way is read by the copying machine 60, and if the user designates the restoration copy mode at that time, the embedded code block 62 is decoded. That is, the concealment information is restored, and the combined image is output. In FIG. On the other hand, when the normal copying mode is designated in the copying machine 60, the concealed image 64 is printed as it is, which is indicated by 72 in FIG.

By the way, when executing the restoration copy mode, the embedded code block 62 may be deleted as shown in FIG. 9, but may be maintained as needed. This can be specified by the user at the copier 60.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image copying section in this embodiment. Note that the configuration of the image generation unit is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 10, the concealed image 14 is read by the image input unit 74, and the information of the concealed image is sent to the concealed information recognizing unit 76. Hidden information recognition unit 76
Extracts the concealment information included in the image and outputs it to the decoding processing unit 78. The decoding processing unit 78 restores the original information by decoding the concealed information. The original information obtained as a result is output to the synthesis unit 80. On the other hand, the mode designation switch 82 is a switch for selecting the normal copy mode or the restoration copy mode by the user, and the state of the switch is read by the mode selection unit 84. The mode selection unit 84 controls operations of the decoding processing unit 78, the synthesis unit 80, and the image output unit 86 according to the specified operation mode. When the normal copy mode is designated, the decoding processing is not performed in the decoding processing section 78, and the image is not synthesized in the synthesizing section 80, and the read image is directly output to the image output section 86. And the image is printed.

On the other hand, when the restoration copying mode is designated, the decoding processing as described above is performed in the decoding processing section 78, and the original information obtained by this is combined with the synthesizing section 80.
Are combined with the concealed image read in. The composite image thus generated is printed on the recording paper in the image output unit 86.

Therefore, the operation mode can be selected according to the user's request, and the original information can be restored only when necessary.

If the hidden information recognizing unit 76 determines that the image contains hidden information, regardless of the mode specifying switch 82, the mode selecting unit 84 automatically sets the restoration copy mode. You may.

The processing shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be realized by a programmed computer.
In that case, the program is stored in a storage device (not shown) in the copying machine 10 shown in FIGS.
U (not shown) actually controls according to the program. Here, the copying machine 10 has a built-in computer itself or a computer as a control device connected to a copying apparatus. In the former case, the program is installed via a floppy disk using a program reading device (for example, a floppy disk drive) mounted on the copying machine. In the latter case, the program reading device provided in the computer is installed. Used.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, the unreadable or concealment property of an embedded code can be positively utilized, and for example, an image whose original information can be restored only when a specific person has copied it. A copying apparatus can be provided. Further, according to the present invention, a user can arbitrarily select a normal copy and a copy in which concealment information is restored, or such selection can be automatically performed. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to restore only necessary original information from a plurality of pieces of original information using authentication information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of generating a concealed image.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of copying a concealed image.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing encoding of a data block.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image generation unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image copying unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of generating an image.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of image copying.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of generating a concealed image.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of copying a concealed image.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image copying unit of the image copying unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 copier, 12 base image, 14 concealed image,
16 embedded code block, 22 image input unit, 24
Original information input unit, 26 User identification information input unit, 28
Encoding processing section, 30 synthesis section, 32 layout setting section, 34 image output section, 40 image input section, 42 hidden information recognition section, 44 decoding processing section, 46 synthesis section, 48
A user identification information input unit, 50 a match determination unit (mode selection unit), and 52 image output unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-85872 (JP, A) JP-A-7-295958 (JP, A) JP-A-7-58950 (JP, A) JP-A-6-958 237362 (JP, A) JP-A-4-232564 (JP, A) JP-A-6-22119 (JP, A) JP-A-5-12288 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/387 G06F 3/12 G06T 1/00 H04N 7/167

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image input means for reading a concealed image in which concealment information obtained by encoding original information and authentication information to be concealed together is embedded; an authentication information input means for inputting authentication information; Recognizing the concealment information in the coded image, decoding the concealment information to restore the original information and the authentication information, and when the input authentication information and the decrypted authentication information match, the reading is performed. An image copying apparatus, comprising: means for combining the restored original information with the obtained concealed image to generate a combined image; and image output means for outputting the combined image. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the concealed image includes one of the original information and the authentication information.
A plurality of data sets are encoded and embedded as concealment information as one data set, and the means for generating the combined image combines only the original information associated with the authentication information that matches the input authentication information. An image copying apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output unit includes a concealment read by the image input unit when the input authentication information and the decrypted authentication information do not match. An image copying apparatus characterized by outputting an image as it is. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating the composite image combines the restored original information instead of the concealment information in the read concealed image. Image copying apparatus. 5. An image input means for reading a concealed image in which concealment information obtained by encoding original information and authentication information to be concealed together is embedded, authentication information input means for inputting authentication information, and said read concealment. Recognizing the concealment information in the coded image, decoding the concealed information to restore the original information and the authentication information, and combining the read concealed image with the restored original information to generate a combined image A copy mode selection unit that selects a restoration copy mode when the input authentication information and the decrypted authentication information match, and selects a normal copy mode when they do not match, An image output unit that outputs a read image in a normal copy mode and outputs the composite image in the restoration copy mode. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the concealed image includes one of the original information and the authentication information.
A plurality of data sets are encoded and embedded as concealment information as one data set, and the means for generating the combined image combines only the original information associated with the authentication information that matches the input authentication information. An image copying apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. An image input means for reading a concealed image in which concealment information in which original information to be concealed, authentication information, and attribute information indicating copy processing conditions are encoded together is embedded, and authentication information input for inputting authentication information. Means for recognizing concealment information in the read concealed image, decoding the concealment information to restore the original information, the authentication information and the attribute information, and inputting the authentication information and the decryption. Means for generating a combined image by combining the restored original information with the read concealed image when the obtained authentication information matches, and image output means for outputting the combined image, An image copying apparatus, wherein a processing condition is designated by the attribute information in at least one of processing of generating the composite image and outputting the composite image. 8. An image processing system comprising an image generating unit and an image copying unit, wherein the image generating unit generates concealment information by encoding together original information and authentication information to be concealed, and generates the concealment information. Means for generating a concealed image by embedding in an image, the image copying unit, authentication information input means for inputting authentication information, recognizes the concealed information in the concealed image, and decodes the concealed information The original information and the authentication information are restored, and when the input authentication information and the decrypted authentication information match, the restored original information is combined with the read concealed image to combine. An image processing system, comprising: means for generating an image. 9. A step of controlling an image input unit to obtain a concealed image in which concealment information in which original information and authentication information to be concealed are encoded together is embedded, and a step of receiving authentication information; Recognizing the concealment information in the image, decoding the concealment information to restore the original information and the authentication information, and if the received authentication information and the decrypted authentication information match, the concealment is performed. An image copying method, comprising: synthesizing the restored original information with a converted image to generate a synthesized image; and controlling image output means to output the synthesized image. 10. A step of controlling an image input unit to obtain a concealed image in which concealment information obtained by encoding original information and authentication information to be concealed together is embedded; a step of receiving authentication information; Recognizing the concealment information in the image, decoding the concealment information to restore the original information and the authentication information, and if the received authentication information and the decrypted authentication information match, the concealment is performed. procedures and controls the image output means, a recording medium recording a program for executing a procedure for outputting the composite image, the computer that the restored original information of the image are synthesized to generate a synthesized image .