JP3703345B2 - Image processing system, image processing method, image processing apparatus, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the performance of color image readers (hereinafter referred to as color scanners) using CCDs and color printers has improved, so originals that are subject to duplication, such as banknotes and securities, are read as image data with color image readers. By outputting to a printer, there is an increased risk of copying and forging a copy-prohibited document.
[0003]
In order to prevent such forgery, a color copying machine having a combination of a color scanner and a color printer is often incorporated with a forgery prevention device that recognizes a copy-prohibited document and prohibits copying.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when a color scanner and a printer are not integrated, a device equipped with an anti-counterfeit device is provided even though a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) is provided as an intermediary and functions equivalent to those of a color copier are provided. rare. In addition, when either a scanner or a printer is equipped with a forgery prevention function, a cost increase becomes a problem.
[0005]
Since there are many types of originals that are subject to duplication prohibition, there is a problem that the load required to determine whether or not the original is duplication prohibition is large and the processing speed is lowered. This problem is particularly serious when a forgery prevention function is realized by software processing by a scanner driver or printer driver.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system, apparatus, method, and storage medium capable of suppressing forgery against image input from a color scanner and image output to a color printer, in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks. It is to be.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is an image processing system including a first device that inputs an image signal and a second device that outputs an image using the image signal. The first apparatus has first determination means for comparing the read image signal with data corresponding to the specific image, and the second apparatus compares the image signal with data corresponding to the specific image. have a second determination means, the first judging means and the second judging means, and performing determination of different specific image.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows an image processing system according to the first embodiment. An image data controller 100 performs input / output control of image data, and is realized by a computer. A scanner 101 reads a document and converts it into an image signal. A printer 102 prints out the converted image signal.
[0009]
Next, each internal structure is demonstrated using a block diagram.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the scanner. A CPU 201 controls the entire scanner. This performs control of the image signal processing circuit and optical system and mechanical control for reading (not shown). Reference numeral 202 denotes a CCD for converting a document into an electrical signal. Reference numeral 203 denotes an image correction processing circuit. The image correction processing performed here is a shading correction circuit for correcting variations in light distribution between the center and the edge of the document, and a color space conversion processing circuit for converting color conversion characteristics unique to the CCD into a standard color space. It is. Reference numeral 204 denotes an image comparison circuit for determining the degree of coincidence between the read image data and the specific image data. Reference numeral 205 denotes a memory for storing the specific image data described above for image comparison. The specific image data may be any data for identifying the specific image. If the specific image has a specific pattern, it is information indicating the specific pattern. If the specific image has an electronic watermark, Information indicating a watermark. This electronic watermark is a technique for adding information to a specific frequency of an image, and is a suitable method for adding information so that it cannot be seen by human eyes. Reference numeral 206 denotes an image network interface for transferring data to 100 image data controllers.
[0011]
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the image data controller. A CPU 301 on the image data controller controls data input / output with a scanner or printer. A CPU data bus 302 is connected to a card bus controller 304, a ROM 305, a RAM 306, and a hard disk controller 307, which will be described later. The card bus controller 304 controls the card bus 303 for mounting a function board for adding functions to the image data controller. A ROM 305 is a program memory in which control software for the image data controller is stored. The RAM 306 is composed of DRAM or SRAM, and can be used as a normal program work area or used as an image data memory. The hard disk controller 307 performs read / write control of the hard disk 30. The hard disk 312 is used for storing image data and storing program software. When image data is stored, the hard disk controller 307 performs data compression and data expansion when reading.
[0012]
Next, each functional board connected to the card bus 303 will be described. The network interface card 308 is a network interface (not shown). This is a configuration in which a card corresponding to a physical interface for constructing a network such as Ethernet or token ring can be installed. The image network interface card 309 is a network interface that exchanges image data between the scanner, printer, and image data controller of FIG. This image network needs to be composed of a high-speed bus capable of transferring a large amount of image data. Next, 310 is a display controller, and 311 is a display for display. Reference numeral 313 denotes a keyboard controller, and reference numeral 314 denotes a keyboard. In this image processing system, a user instructs a document reading or printing operation using a device such as a 314 keyboard or a mouse (not shown) while viewing a display on a 311 display.
[0013]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the printer. Reference numeral 901 denotes a CPU that performs all control in the printer such as printer mechatronics control and reception of bitmap data, 902 is a memory that stores a program of the CPU 901, 903 is RAM of the CPU 901, 904 is CPU address of the CPU 901, data bus, 905 is an IEEE1394 link controller that interfaces with the image network 101, 906 is an IEEE1394 physical interface, 907 is an IEEE1394 connector, and 908 is a fast-in-fast-out memory for temporarily storing bitmap data transferred by isochronous transfer. (Hereinafter referred to as FIFO), 909 is a video data controller that controls reading of bitmap data from the FIFO 908 in accordance with the operation timing of the printer engine, 910 is a laser driver for printing, and 911 is a printer error. Jin motor control, the engine controller for mechatronic control such as feed control, 912 is a printer engine.
[0014]
Reference numeral 913 denotes an image comparison circuit for determining the degree of coincidence between input image data to the printer and specific image data. A memory 914 stores specific image data for image comparison. Obviously, 906 is not limited to IEEE 1394, and other standard interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) may be used.
[0015]
Next, the operation of the scanner will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0016]
An operator instructs a document reading operation from the image data controller 100 in the scanner 101. If there is a reading instruction in S401, the process advances to S402, and the scanner 101 performs a reading operation. The image data read by the CCD 202 is subjected to predetermined image processing at 203, and the process proceeds to S403, where the image comparison circuit 204 performs image comparison with a specific image. If it is determined in step S404 that the degree of coincidence is greater than the predetermined value, the process advances to step S406, and the scanner 101 transmits a signal indicating to the image data controller 100 that the document currently being read is a read-inhibited image. Receiving this, the image data controller displays the warning in FIG. 5 on the display. On the other hand, if the degree of coincidence does not exceed the predetermined value in S404, the read image data is transferred to the image data controller. (S405)
[0017]
The above is the operation of the image comparison circuit in the scanner.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0019]
If the operator gives a print instruction to the image data controller in S601, the process proceeds to S602.
[0020]
In step S602, image data is transferred from the image data controller to the printer. The printer that has received the image data stores the data once in the RAM 903 via the image network. In step S603, an image comparison with the specific image is performed. If it is determined in step S604 that the degree of coincidence is greater than the predetermined value, the process advances to step S606, and the printer informs the image data controller that the image data that has been instructed to be printed is a print-prohibited image. Upon receiving this, the image data controller displays the warning in FIG. 7 on the display. On the other hand, if the coincidence does not exceed the predetermined value in S604, the printing operation is performed as instructed. (S605)
[0021]
Next, the case where the data in the specific image memory for image comparison by the scanner is different from the data in the specific image memory of the printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Assume that image data (pattern information or electronic watermark information according to FIG. 10) as shown in FIG. 10 is stored in advance in the specific image memories of the scanner and printer as in the scanner.
[0022]
For example, a specific image 1 Japanese yen banknote, a specific image 2 US dollar banknote for a scanner, a specific image 3 German mark banknote, and a specific image 4 British pound banknote for a printer.
[0023]
The operator performs a document reading operation from the image data controller 100 in order to read the document with the scanner 101. If there is a reading instruction in S801, the process advances to S802, and the scanner 101 issues a reading operation start instruction. The image data read by the CCD 202 is subjected to predetermined image processing at 203, and the process proceeds to S803 where the image comparison circuit 204 performs image comparison with the specific images 1 and 2. If it is determined in S804 that the degree of coincidence with the specific image 1 is greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S805, a specific image 1 coincidence flag is set, and the process proceeds to S806. If the degree of coincidence does not reach the predetermined value in S804, the process proceeds to S806 as it is. If it is determined in S806 that the degree of coincidence with the specific image 2 is greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S807, a specific image 2 coincidence flag is set, and the process proceeds to S808. If the degree of coincidence does not reach the predetermined value in S806, the process proceeds to S808 as it is. In step S808, the scanner transfers a match flag and image data, which are image comparison results, to the image data controller.
[0024]
In step S809, the image data controller checks the transferred match flag. If the flag is set, the process advances to step S810 to issue the warning in FIG.
[0025]
In step S820, when the operator performs a print instruction operation, the image data controller transfers image data to the printer. In S811, image comparison with the specific images 3 and 4 is performed. If it is determined in S812 that the degree of coincidence with the specific image 3 is greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S813, a specific image 3 coincidence flag is set, and the process proceeds to S814. If the degree of coincidence does not reach the predetermined value in S812, the process proceeds directly to S814. If it is determined in S814 that the degree of coincidence with the specific image 4 is greater than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S815, a specific image 4 coincidence flag is set, and the process proceeds to S816. If the degree of coincidence does not reach the predetermined value in S814, the process proceeds directly to S816. In step S816, the printer transfers a match flag that is an image comparison result to the image data controller.
[0026]
In step S817, the image data controller checks the transferred match flag. If the flag is set, the process proceeds to step S818 to issue the warning in FIG.
[0027]
If the flag is not set, the printer issues an image data print output instruction to the printer.
[0028]
The above is the operation when image comparison is performed on different specific images between the scanner and the printer.
[0029]
The above embodiment has been described in the case where different specific images are stored in advance in the scanner and the printer. However, even if the same specific image is stored in the scanner and the printer, the matching time is provided so that image comparison with the same specific image is not performed. Is done.
[0030]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, referring to FIG. 11, an embodiment in which, when performing image comparison with a specific image, the scanner performs rough simple comparison, looks at the degree of coincidence, and performs a detailed comparison only with a printer when there is a suspicion based on the result.
[0031]
If there is a scanner operation instruction in S1101, the process proceeds to S1102. In step S1102, the scanner performs a document reading operation. In step S1103, the resolution is reduced and, for example, the reading resolution of 400 dpi is reduced to 200 dpi. 2 and 204, image comparison is performed in a short processing time. If it is determined in S1104 that the information is suspicious, a flag is set. If it is not determined to be suspicious in S1104, the process proceeds to S1106. In step S1106, the scanner transfers image data and flag information to the image data controller. In step S1107, when the flag is set in the image data controller 100, the printer instructs the printer to perform detailed image comparison during the printing operation according to the print instruction by the operator, and transfers the image data. (S1108)
[0032]
When the degree of coincidence exceeds a predetermined value in S1109, the warning display of FIG. 7 is performed. (S1110) On the other hand, if no flag is set in S1107 or the degree of coincidence after the detailed comparison does not exceed a predetermined value in S1109, a printing operation is performed in S1111.
[0033]
In the above description, the image comparison is divided into two steps, a simple comparison and a detailed comparison, and the scanner and the printer are used to perform a judgment process in the printer except for a case where there is some doubt, so that a print output can be obtained without stress. .
[0034]
(Third embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the specific image memory is composed of the ROM. However, if the device is composed of the RAM and is downloaded from the image data controller (computer) 100, image comparison can be performed flexibly.
[0035]
For example, a newly designated copy-prohibited document can be dealt with by adding the specific image data from the outside to the image data controller. Also, even if an image comparison circuit is not installed in either the scanner or the printer, copy-prohibited originals can be created by downloading all copy-prohibited original determination data to a device equipped with an image comparison circuit. You can check it without getting it. Further, it is possible to perform optimum load distribution by changing the amount of data to be downloaded in accordance with the performance (processing capability and resolution) of the scanner printer.
[0036]
(Other embodiments)
In the first to third embodiments, the specific image is determined by the scanner 101 and the printer 102. Here, the image data read by scanning is converted into the specific image by the scanner driver in the image data controller (computer). An example will be described in which it is determined whether or not there is a print instruction and the printer driver of the image controller (computer) for controlling the printer performs the determination when a print instruction is given by the operator.
[0037]
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of this embodiment. FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the image data controller 1200.
[0038]
In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes a scanner, 1202 denotes a printer, and the scanner driver and printer driver stored in the hard disk 1312 of the image data controller 1200 are activated on the OS in the image controller and the following processing is performed by the CPU 1301. Execute.
[0039]
FIG. 13 shows an image data controller, and a hard disk 1312 stores a scanner driver and a printer driver used when an image is read and printed by a scanner 1201 and a printer 1202, and a keyboard 314 or a mouse (not shown) by an operator is stored. In response to an instruction from the printer, the image reading by the scanner, the image data file creation control, and the image file printing by the printer are controlled. The description of the same numbered configuration as in FIG. 3 is omitted.
[0040]
When the operator scans a color image with the scanner 1201 in FIG. 12, the operator activates a scanner driver that is software for controlling the scanner 1201 from the keyboard or mouse of the image data controller 1200.
[0041]
By operating this scanner driver, the operator gives a scan instruction. In response to this instruction, a reading control signal is output to the scanner 1201, and color image data corresponding to the image is output to the image data controller 1200.
[0042]
The scanner driver determines whether the color image data passed from the scanner 1202 is a specific image (such as banknotes or securities).
[0043]
In this determination, characteristic data (color, pattern, digital watermark, or a combination thereof) of a specific image stored in advance on the hard disk 1312 for determination by the scanner driver is called to the RAM 306, and the scanner driver reads this data. This is achieved by comparing this characteristic data with the color image data.
[0044]
When the scanner driver determines that the color image data is that of the specific image based on the determination result, the scanner driver performs the display shown in FIG.
[0045]
On the other hand, when it is determined that the image is not a specific image, the scanner driver performs color image data compression processing such as JPEG and stores it as an image file in the hard disk 1312 of the image data controller. Further, the scanner driver adds information on the type of the determined specific image (for example, Japanese yen 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 1,000 yen, traveler's check) to the image file. The information indicating the type of the specific image is protected so that it cannot be rewritten or the image file itself cannot be opened once rewritten.
[0046]
Next, processing for determining a specific image by the printer driver will be described.
[0047]
For the printer driver, the following processing is executed by calculation by the CPU 1301 in the image data controller 1200.
[0048]
An operator inputs a print instruction to the image of the file to be printed using a keyboard or a mouse.
[0049]
In response to this print instruction, the printer driver is activated in the image data controller 1200.
[0050]
The printer driver refers to the added information on the type of the determined specific image, and uses the determination data for the printer driver stored in the hard disk 1312 for the specific image that has not been determined, to print the image Checks whether there is a specific image.
[0051]
That is, when data for determining a specific image that has not yet been determined is stored, it is determined whether the color image data is a specific image using this data. In this determination, it goes without saying that characteristic data (color, pattern, digital watermark, or a combination thereof) of the specific image is used.
[0052]
When it is determined that the color image data is a specific image, the display of FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit of the image data controller. On the other hand, if all the specific images that can be determined by the printer driver have already been determined, the determination process is skipped. Of course, some scanners are not provided with a specific image determination function. Since it can be seen from the information added to the image file that the image file obtained by such a scanner has not been determined at all, determination is made for all the specific originals that can be determined by the printer driver.
[0053]
If the printer driver recognizes from the information added to the image file that the scanner used to create the image file does not have a specific image determination function, the printer driver performs image processing after print processing. A message is displayed on the display section of the data controller 1200 to install a new version of the scanner driver having the specific image determination function via the Internet or the like.
[0054]
If information indicating the manufacturer of the scanner is added to the image file, the address information for each manufacturer managed by the printer driver is referenced from this information, the IP address of the manufacturer is searched, and this IP address is used as the above message. By adopting a configuration in which it is displayed at the same time, an operation environment that is easy for the operator to use can be provided.
[0055]
By adopting the above configuration, it is possible to determine a specific image using a scanner driver and a printer driver. In addition, since the configuration in which the printer driver determines only specific images that are not determined by the scanner driver is employed, it is possible to eliminate the waste of determining the same specific image by both the scanner driver and the printer driver. As a result, the total printing (copying) time can be reduced.
[0056]
Also, since the information on the determined specific image type added to the image file obtained by scanning is protected so that it cannot be rewritten or the image file itself cannot be opened once rewritten, it is high. Security can be secured.
[0057]
Depending on the version of the scanner driver, the specific image determination function may not be provided, but the information about the image file is not determined from the information added to the image file, so the printer driver is efficient. This makes it possible to make a determination.
[0058]
If the printer driver recognizes from the information added to the image file that the scanner used to create the image file does not have the specific image determination function, the printer driver has the specific image determination function. Since the message and IP address are displayed in order to have the driver installed, the scanner driver having the specific image determination function can be easily installed, and the processing can be distributed between the printer driver and the scanner driver.
[0059]
As a result, it is possible to distribute the time required for specific image determination to scan processing and print processing. When making a determination only at the time of printing, the operator feels that the printing time has been considerably delayed. The feeling that the processing is slowed down is difficult to occur by dividing the processing into scanning and printing in which the processing is performed at different timings.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform specific image determination processing by distributing processing in the first device and the second device.
[0061]
Further, different specific images can be efficiently determined in the first device and the second device.
[0062]
In addition, when the first apparatus determines that the specific image is obtained using the low resolution image signal, the second apparatus uses the high resolution image signal to determine the specific image. It is possible to reduce the waste of processing due to the determination using the image signal.
[0063]
As a result of determining whether the image is a specific image, an image file that is not a specific image can be used. In addition, since the determination process can be performed in consideration of the information of the determined specific image, efficient determination can be performed.
[0064]
Furthermore, since the information of the determined specific image is protected, high security of this information can be realized.
[0065]
In addition, it is possible to easily provide the specific image determination function to the apparatus that created the image file.
[0066]
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a storage medium storing an image subjected to specific image determination, and to provide a storage medium to which information on what specific image is determined is added. Moreover, since this information can be protected, high security can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an image processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal block of the scanner.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an internal block of an image data controller.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the scanner.
FIG. 5 is a warning display screen.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printer.
FIG. 7 is a warning display screen.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a distributed image comparison operation between a scanner and a printer.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an internal block of the printer.
FIG. 10 is an example of a specific image.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of two-stage image comparison.
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram in another embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an image data controller according to another embodiment.

Claims (9)

An image processing system having a first device for inputting an image signal and a second device for outputting an image using the image signal,
The first device has first determination means for comparing the read image signal with data corresponding to the specific image;
The second device has second determination means for comparing the image signal with data corresponding to a specific image,
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first determination unit and the second determination unit determine different specific images. An image processing method in an image processing system having a first device for inputting an image signal and a second device for outputting an image using the image signal,
The first device makes a first determination for comparing the read image signal with data corresponding to the specific image, and the second device compares the image signal with data corresponding to the specific image. Judgment of 2,
In the image processing method, the first determination and the second determination are performed by determining different specific images.   The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the data corresponding to the specific image is pattern data.   3. The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the data corresponding to the specific image is digital watermark data.   3. The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the first device is a scanner, and the second device is a printer.   The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the data corresponding to the specific image is downloaded from a computer. An image processing method in an image processing system having a first device for inputting an image signal and a second device for outputting an image using the image signal,
The first device makes a first determination for comparing the read image signal with data corresponding to the specific image, and the second device compares the image signal with data corresponding to the specific image. Judgment of 2,
The second device obtains information indicating whether or not the first determination is being performed from the first device, and if the first determination is being performed, the first determination is being performed. An image processing method , wherein the second determination is performed for a specific image that does not exist and the second determination is performed for a specific image that can be determined if the first determination is not performed at all . 8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the specific image is a securities, and at least one of a color, a pattern, and a digital watermark is used for the determination.   8. The image processing method according to claim 7, wherein the information is protected.

Images