JP3315654B2 - Image processing apparatus and method - 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 processing apparatus and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as the image quality of a color copying machine has been improved, for example, in a situation where processing such as forgery prevention by a copying machine is required, the fact that the output image is not an original but a copy is added to the output image. This technique has been proposed by the present applicant. One of them is a method of embedding a specific code in an output image. In this method, a specific code is embedded in the output image so as to be inconspicuous to human eyes, so that the specific code is extracted from the image.

[0003]

However, in the above example, it is not possible to determine whether a specific code is embedded in the output image only by observing the output image,
The user could not be set to prevent such embedding. Further, in the above example, since the embedded pattern is fixed, the image output is performed by setting an arbitrary pattern different for each copying machine, for example, by an administrator such as a copying machine service person. However, there is a problem that it is not possible to respond to a request to be able to identify the machine on which the operation has been performed.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and has the following structure as one means for solving the above-mentioned problems. That is, an image processing apparatus having additional means for adding predetermined data to input image data so as to make it difficult for human eyes to recognize the image data when processing the input image data. a generating means for generating a Rubeki predetermined data, and setting means for manually setting the operation of said generating means, said
Confirming means for confirming the state of the generating means; and
Execution / non-execution of the image processing based on the confirmation result of
And determining means for determining . Further, the image processing method of the present invention for achieving the above object provides an image processing method for input image data .
At the time of processing , an image processing method having an additional step of adding predetermined data to the image data so that it is difficult for human eyes to identify, the predetermined data to be added ,
A generation step of generating with a generator, a setting step of manually setting the operation of the generating step, before
A confirmation step of confirming the status of the serial generation means, said confirmation
Executing the image processing based on the confirmation result in the step /
And determining a non-execution .

[0005]

In the above arrangement, the operation for generating the predetermined data to be added to the image is set manually so that it is difficult for the human eye to recognize the image. In addition, the specified data
The state of the generation means that generates the
Execution / non-execution of the image processing is determined based on this.

[0006]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital color copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view of the digital color copying machine according to the present embodiment. It is. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital color copying machine is roughly divided into a reader unit 201 and a printer unit 203.

[Configuration of Reader Unit] In the block diagram of the digital color copying machine shown in FIG. 1, an image sensor 100 is composed of, for example, a CCD or the like, and converts read image information into R, G, B electrical signals. The signal is converted and output to the A / D converter 101 as an analog image signal. This A
The / D conversion unit 101 converts an analog image signal into a digital image signal and outputs the digital image signal to the color masking unit 102.

The under color removing section 103 removes a gray component from the three-color signal and replaces it with a black signal. Tone correction unit 1
Step 04 executes gradation processing (gamma, light / dark, contrast, density conversion, etc.). Also, the image modulator 105
Has a built-in area generation circuit (not shown), and various image processing is performed based on the area generation circuit. Further, the scaling unit 107 performs a scaling process.

The add-on board 116 is connected to the main body of the copying machine by a connector 117, and the image data bus 12 is connected to the add-on board 116.
1, the signal line 119 and the CPU bus 118 are connected to the connector 117
Connected through. The signal line 119 is always kept active by the add-on character generator 109, and becomes positive when the add-on board 116 is removed from the copying machine. The add-on character generation unit 109 generates an image signal based on the pattern stored in the font ROM 110.
This pattern is used as a code indicating that the output image is not an original image but a copy image.

An image synthesizing unit 106 synthesizes an image signal from a document and an image signal from an add-on character generation unit 109. This synthesis is performed, for example, so that the image from the add-on character generation circuit 109 is output at a constant density and color tone. In this combination, effective counterfeiting prevention can be performed by selecting a color tone or density, such as light yellow, which is inconspicuous to human eyes but can be read reliably by a CCD or the like.

An interface (I / F) 108 is an interface with a printer unit 203 (see FIG. 2) serving as an image forming unit. In addition to an image signal, the interface (I / F) 108 includes, for example, a serial communication unit. The communication with the unit 203 is performed. Also, the CP connected to the system bus 111
U112 controls the entire copying machine based on a control program stored in ROM 114 and using RAM 113 as a work area. Note that the operation unit 115 operates to copy conditions (copy mode (density, number of sheets, magnification, etc.)) for the image read by the image sensor 100.
Are configured to be set in combination.

[Configuration of Printer] In FIG. 2, a polygon scanner 301 is a scanner for scanning a photosensitive drum 318 with a laser beam, and an image forming section 302 is a magenta (M) image forming section at the first stage. . With the same configuration as the image forming unit 302, three image forming units are provided for each color of cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (K).
At 03, 304, and 305, an image is formed.

In the image forming section 302, the photosensitive drum 3
A developing unit 18 forms a latent image by exposure to a laser beam.
3 performs toner development on the photosensitive drum 318. A sleeve 314 in the developing device 313 is a sleeve for applying a developing bias to perform toner development, and is a primary charging device 315.
Charges the photosensitive drum 318 to a desired potential. Further, the cleaner 317 cleans the surface of the photosensitive drum 318 after the transfer, the auxiliary charger 316 removes the charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 318 cleaned by the cleaner 317, and the primary charger 315 performs good charging. To be obtained. The pre-exposure lamp 330 is
A lamp for erasing the residual charges on the transfer charger 31;
In 9, discharge is performed from the back surface of the transfer belt 316 to transfer the toner image on the photosensitive drum 318 to a transfer member.

The cassettes 309 and 310 are cassettes for accommodating transfer members, and the paper feeding section 308 supplies the transfer members from these cassettes 309 and 310. The attraction charger 311 attracts the transfer member fed by the paper feed unit 308 to the transfer belt 306, and transfers the transfer member to the transfer belt roller 312.
Is used to rotate the transfer belt 306 and, at the same time, couples with the attraction charger 311 to cause the transfer belt 306 to attract and charge the transfer member.

The charge removal charger 324 is a charge removal charger for facilitating separation of the transfer member from the transfer belt 306.
To prevent image disturbance due to peeling discharge at the time of separation from the sheet. The pre-fixing chargers 326 and 327 compensate for the amount of toner adsorbed on the transfer member after separation, and prevent image disturbance. Then, the transfer belt static eliminators 322 and 323 neutralize the transfer belt 306, initialize the transfer belt 306 electrostatically, and the belt cleaner 328 is a cleaner for removing dirt from the transfer belt 306.

The fixing device 307 separates from the transfer belt 306 and thermally fixes the toner image on the transfer member charged by the pre-fixing chargers 326 and 327 onto the transfer member. The paper leading edge sensor 329 is a sensor that detects the leading edge of the transfer member fed onto the transfer belt by the paper feeding unit 308, and a detection signal from the paper leading edge sensor 329 is output to the printer unit 203.
To the reader unit 201, and is used as a sub-scanning synchronization signal when a video signal is transmitted from the reader unit 201 to the printer unit 203.

[Explanation of Copy Operation] Next, a copy operation in the copying machine will be described. Here, a procedure for mounting the add-on board 116 on the copying machine body and using the forgery prevention function in the add-on mode will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a copy operation procedure in the copying machine according to the present embodiment. In step S1 shown in FIG. 5, when a request for the add-on mode is made, that is, when a specific operation is performed on the operation unit 115 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the operator, a liquid crystal display unit (touch panel display) on the operation unit is displayed. ), A screen for setting the add-on mode as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed (step S1). If there is no request for setting the add-on mode, other processing, for example, a copy start wait state display is performed.

When the add-on mode is used, the add-on mode is turned on by pressing the ON key 401 on the screen shown in FIG. 3 (step S2), and "hidden code" is set on the screen shown in FIG. 4 (step S2). Step S3). FIG.
In the screen shown in FIG. 5, the code string is only numbers, but by changing the means for inputting codes, it is possible to have various code systems (for example, alphanumeric characters, kana, kanji, etc.). The input code string is stored in a storage unit (not shown) which is a part of the RAM 113, and the input data is retained even after the power of the copying machine is turned off by the backup function. You.

When the add-on mode is set to be used, when a copy key (not shown) on the operation unit 115 is pressed (step S4), first, the add-on board 1 is pressed.
It is checked whether or not the add-on board 16 is properly mounted on the copying machine main body (step S5). If the connection of the add-on board 116 is normal, that is, the determination in step S6 is YE
If S, the copying operation is started. However, if it is determined that the connection of the add-on board 116 is not normal (NO in step S6), for example, an alarm message or an error message as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display unit (step S10). ), The copying operation is prohibited (step S11).

Next, if the connection of the add-on board 116 is normal, in step S7, the add-on character generator 109 is registered in advance and stored in the storage unit (here,
The character pattern stored in the font ROM 110 is developed based on the code data stored in the RAM 113). Then, in the following step S8,
It is determined whether or not the OFF key is pressed, that is, whether or not the add-on mode is released. Specifically, OFF on the screen shown in FIG.
Pressing the key 400 cancels the add-on mode (step S9).

However, if the cancellation is not instructed in step S8, the process returns to step S3 and waits for the input of a new "hidden code". As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a copying machine that combines a hidden code as a specific pattern indicating that the output image is not the original but a copy with the output image, the operation of the copying machine By allowing the user to enter and set a unique hidden code arbitrarily, an administrator such as a service person can perform the operation and easily identify and identify the copying machine from which the image was output based on the output image. There is an effect that can be.

Further, in a copying machine which performs forgery prevention based on the input hidden code, when it detects that the supply source of the hidden code for synthesizing with the output image is separated from the copying machine main body, the copying operation by the copying machine is performed. By prohibiting, it is possible to prevent cancellation of the forgery prevention mechanism using the absence of a supply source such as when replacing a hidden code supply source, and to take more effective security measures against counterfeiting.

In the above embodiment, if the setting is made so as to use the add-on mode, the "hidden code" is inputted by the operation unit and the setting is performed, but the "hidden code" is copied in advance. It is stored in the ROM 114 of the main body of the machine, and based on these codes, the font ROM 11 is used.
The character pattern stored in 0 may be developed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The add-on character generator 110 may be separated from the add-on board 116 and connected to the system bus 111 so that the add-on character generator 109 develops the character pattern stored in the font ROM 110 via the connector 117. By doing so, even if the add-on board 116 is replaced, the "hidden code" to be synthesized can always be the same.

Further, the "hidden code" may be set by means described below. Since the copier here has the same configuration as the copier according to the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the same components as those in the block configuration in FIG. Is omitted.
In the copying machine shown in FIG. 8, the setting of the "hidden code" is set by the date switch 150 provided on the add-on board 116.
It is constituted so that it may perform. In addition, I / O15
Reference numeral 1 denotes an interface between the DIP switch 150 and the signal line 119.

In the copier here, when the user enters the add-on mode setting screen (see FIG. 9) in the service mode, the current code set by the dip switch 150 is displayed. Note that the code system in this case is only a numeric string because of the nature of the dip switch. However, these are not limited to hexadecimal numbers, decimal numbers, and the like.

<Second Embodiment> Hereinafter, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram of a copier remote management system using a digital color copier according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The block configuration and cross-sectional structure of the copying machine used in this system are the same as those of the digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 10, digital color copying machines 500 and 5
01 is a communication line 504 using a general telephone line or the like.
505 and communication modems 502, 503, 506, 5
07, it is connected to a host computer 509 which is a main control unit of the management system. Further, the communication control device 508 controls a plurality of communication lines and controls communication by those lines. Here, the communication control device 508 performs communication control of the two communication lines.

The host computer 509 controls the communication control device 508 using a dedicated communication management program, and manages the copying machines 500 and 501 connected to the communication control device 508 based on the result. . This communication management program changes the status of the copying machines 500 and 501 via the communication lines 504 and 505 at fixed time intervals, for example,
Once a day, at a certain fixed time, monitoring is performed, and among those copying machines, those using the add-on mode (same as the add-on mode described in the first embodiment) are registered. Query the "hidden code" column.

Then, based on the result, it is determined whether the registered “hidden code” column is the one registered in the host computer 509 or the one set in the copying machine, thereby outputting the image. The identification of the copying machine and the remote management are performed intensively. It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to a system including a plurality of devices.
The present invention may be applied to an apparatus including one device.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, by synthesizing the arbitrarily set pattern data with the read image, it is possible to easily identify the copying machine that has performed the image output. . In addition, when the set pattern data is not added, the copy operation is prohibited, thereby preventing the forgery prevention mechanism from being released due to the absence of the pattern data.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The operation of the means for adding predetermined data to the image data so that it is difficult for the human eye to recognize the image data, and for generating the data that is hardly recognized by the human eye to the image data Can be set manually. Further
The status of the means for generating the data to be added.
And execute / non-execute image processing based on the confirmation result
Is determined, the image is output without adding the specified data.
It can be prevented from being forced.

[0032]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital color copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional structural view of the digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display when an add-on mode is used;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a screen on which a code string for setting “hidden code” is displayed.

FIG. 5 is a display example of an alarm message when it is determined that the connection of the add-on board is not normal;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a copy operation procedure in the copying machine according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a font RO in the copying machine according to the first embodiment.
Block diagram when the connection position of M is changed,

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a case where a dip switch for setting a “hidden code” is installed in the copying machine according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an add-on mode setting screen in a service mode in a copying machine in which a dip switch is installed;

FIG. 10 is a system configuration diagram of a copier remote management system using a digital color copier according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 106 Image Compositing Unit 110 Font ROM 112 CPU 116 Add-on Board 502, 503, 506, 507 Communication Modem

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing method for input image data , comprising:
An image processing apparatus having an adding unit that adds predetermined data to image data so as to be difficult for a human eye to identify, a generating unit that generates the predetermined data to be added, Setting means for manually setting the operation; checking means for checking the state of the generating means; and execution of the image processing based on the check result of the checking means.
An image processing apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine line / non-execution . 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets whether or not to generate the predetermined data to be added by the generation unit. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means sets the contents of predetermined data generated by said generating means. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means is capable of manually setting an operation of said generating means on condition that a specific operation is performed on the apparatus by a user.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the confirmation unit includes a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the generation unit, and the determination unit determines execution of the image processing when the detection unit detects the presence of the generation unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of said generating means, wherein said image processing is executed when said detecting means detects the presence of said generating means. 2. The image processing device according to 1 . 7. If the determination means has determined a non-execution of the image processing, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display means for displaying a predetermined message. 8. At the time of image processing of the input image data ,
An image processing method having an adding step of adding predetermined data to image data so as to be difficult for a human eye to identify, wherein the predetermined data to be added is generated by using a generation unit. A generation step for generating; a setting step for manually setting the operation of the generation step; a confirmation step for confirming a state of the generation means; and a realization of the image processing based on a confirmation result by the confirmation means.
An image processing method, comprising: determining a line / non-execution . 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adding unit adds the predetermined data using a color that is difficult for a human to identify.