JP3993845B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that can suppress copying in a desired area of an entire image.

  Recent development of copier technology makes it easy to forge documents, banknotes, and securities, which is a major social problem. For this reason, a number of techniques for preventing forgery of the above documents have been developed.

  For example, in an image processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example) disclosed in JP-A-2-210481 (Patent Document 1), data generated by reading an image represents an image such as a banknote. Is detected, by prohibiting the output of faithful data to the image forming unit, counterfeiting of banknotes and the like is prevented.

  Further, in the image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-212484 (Patent Document 2) (hereinafter referred to as a second conventional example), a predetermined specific pattern is put in a document for which copying is prohibited. When it is recognized that the specific pattern is included in the original to be copied, the copy of the original is stopped.

  However, in the first conventional example, there is a problem that only copying of specific images such as banknotes is suppressed, and copying of general documents cannot be suppressed.

In the second conventional example, since copying of the document including the specific pattern is stopped, it is impossible to suppress copying only for an arbitrary area of the document. In other words, it is impossible to copy a part of one original while copying the other part. Further, when inputting an image while hiding the specific pattern, there is a problem that copying can be stopped and illegal copying is easily performed.
JP-A-2-210481 JP-A-7-212484

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program that can suppress copying of an image including a general document with respect to a desired region of the entire image.

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes first pattern storage means for storing data representing a first pattern in advance,
Image data storage means for storing image data representing an image;
A prohibited area specifying means for specifying an area where copying should be prohibited for an image represented by the image data stored in the image data storage means;
First pattern synthesis means for synthesizing the first pattern in the area specified by the prohibited area specification means of the image to form a first composite image ;
Second pattern storage means for storing data representing the second pattern in advance;
Composite image data storage means for storing image data representing the first composite image;
Area detecting means for detecting an area where the first pattern exists for the first synthesized image represented by the image data stored in the synthesized image data storage means;
Second pattern synthesis means for synthesizing the second pattern in the area detected by the area detection means to form a second synthesized image;
The a is characterized in Rukoto.

  According to the above configuration, for the image represented by the image data stored in the image data storage means, the prohibited area specifying means specifies the area where copying should be prohibited. The first pattern pre-stored in the first pattern storage unit is combined with the specified area by the first pattern combining unit to form a first combined image. For the area where the first pattern of the first synthesized image is synthesized, the original image of the area is prevented from being copied by deforming the image or further synthesizing another pattern. . Accordingly, copying of a desired portion of the image is suppressed.

  Here, the image represented by the image data refers to any image to be copied, such as characters, figures and tables.

  Here, the composition means that all the pixels corresponding to the pixels constituting the first pattern among all the pixels included in the image data are rewritten to the constituent pixels of the first pattern. means. Alternatively, it means that, among all the pixels included in the image data, for pixels that do not constitute an image, the pixels corresponding to the pixels constituting the first pattern are rewritten to the constituent pixels of the first pattern. To do. That is, it is rewritten to an image in which the first pattern is superimposed on the front side of the image represented by the image data, and the first pattern is superimposed on the back side of the image represented by the image data. It means both rewriting to an image.

Further , according to the above configuration , image data representing the first composite image is stored by the composite image data storage unit, and the first pattern exists for the image represented by the image data by the region detection unit. A region is detected. In this area, the second pattern is synthesized by the second pattern synthesizing unit to form a second synthesized image. As the second pattern, for example, by using a cross mark, painting, or a character indicating that copying is prohibited, an original image is formed on the portion of the image synthesized with the second pattern. Is disturbed. It is also clearly stated that copying is prohibited. Therefore, image copying is partially suppressed in the area where the first pattern exists.

  In the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment, the region detection unit detects a first pattern in a region where the first pattern is not detected and is surrounded by the region where the first pattern is detected. An area correcting means for correcting the corrected area is provided.

  According to the embodiment, an area in which the first pattern is not detected and is surrounded by the area in which the first pattern is detected is converted into the first pattern by the area correction unit. Is corrected to the detected area. Therefore, for example, when there is a portion where the first pattern is interrupted or missing, this portion is corrected as an area where the first pattern is detected. Thereby, for example, even when the first pattern is interrupted by the image superimposed on the first pattern, the second pattern is synthesized without any interruption or chipping. Therefore, the second pattern is reliably combined with the area where copying is prohibited, and copying of this area is appropriately prevented.

The image processing method of the present invention includes a step of storing data representing a first pattern in advance,
Storing image data representing an image;
Specifying an area where copying should be prohibited for the image represented by the image data;
Combining the first pattern in a region where the copying of the image should be prohibited to form a first composite image ,
Storing in advance data representing the second pattern;
Storing image data representing the first composite image;
Detecting a region where the first pattern exists for the first composite image represented by the image data;
Synthesizing the second pattern in a region where the presence of the first pattern is detected to form a second synthesized image; and
The a is characterized in Rukoto.

  According to the above configuration, data representing the first pattern is stored in advance, and image data representing the image is read. For the image represented by this image data, an area where copying should be prohibited is specified. The first pattern is synthesized in a region where the copying of the image should be prohibited to form a first synthesized image. With respect to the area where the first pattern is synthesized, by performing image deformation, insertion of another pattern, or the like, formation of an original image of the area is suppressed. Accordingly, by specifying a desired area for the image, copying of a desired portion is suppressed.

Further , according to the above configuration , data representing the second pattern is stored in advance. Then, image data representing the first composite image is read, and an area where the first pattern is present is detected for the first composite image. In this region, the second pattern is synthesized to form a second synthesized image. As the second pattern, for example, by using a cross mark, painting, or a character indicating that copying is prohibited, formation of an original image is prevented at a portion where the second pattern is synthesized. It is also clearly stated that copying is prohibited. Therefore, image copying is partially suppressed in the area where the first pattern exists.

An image processing program of the present invention is stored in a computer.
Storing in advance data representing the first pattern;
Storing image data representing an image;
Specifying an area where copying should be prohibited for the image represented by the image data;
Combining the first pattern in a region where the copying of the image should be prohibited to form a first composite image ,
In the above computer,
Storing in advance data representing the second pattern;
Storing image data representing the first composite image;
Detecting a region where the first pattern exists for the first composite image represented by the image data;
Synthesizing the second pattern in a region where the presence of the first pattern is detected to form a second synthesized image; and
Ru allowed to run.

  According to the above configuration, the computer stores in advance data representing the first pattern by the image processing program. Further, image data representing the image is read, and an area for which copying should be prohibited is specified for the image. A first composite image is formed by combining the first pattern in the specified area. For the area where the first pattern is synthesized, the original image in the area is prevented from being copied by performing image deformation, insertion of another pattern, or the like. Accordingly, by specifying a desired area for the image, copying of a desired portion is suppressed.

According to the above configuration , the computer stores in advance data representing the second pattern by the image processing program. And the area | region where the said 1st pattern exists is detected about the said read 1st synthesized image. The second pattern is synthesized with the area where the presence of the first pattern is detected to form a second synthesized image. As the second pattern, for example, by using a cross mark, painting, or a character that prohibits copying, the formation of the original image is prevented at the portion where the second pattern is synthesized. It is also clearly stated that copying is prohibited. Therefore, image copying is partially suppressed in the area where the first pattern exists.

  Thus, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, for the image represented by the image data stored in the image data storage means, the prohibited area specifying means specifies the area where copying should be prohibited. The first pattern is synthesized by the first pattern synthesizing unit in the specified area, thereby forming a first synthesized image. Copying of the original image in the region can be prevented by performing image deformation, insertion of another pattern, or the like in the region where the first pattern is synthesized. Therefore, copying of a desired portion of the image can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the image processing method of the present invention, an area that should not be copied is specified for the image represented by the read image data, and a first pattern in which data is stored in advance is synthesized in this area, A first composite image is formed. By copying the image or inserting another pattern in the area where the first pattern is synthesized, copying of the original image in the area can be prevented. Therefore, copying of a desired portion of the image can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the image processing program of the present invention, a step of storing data representing the first pattern in the computer, a step of storing image data representing the image, and an image represented by the image data are copied. The step of specifying the area to be prohibited and the step of forming the first composite image by combining the first pattern with the area to which the copying of the image is prohibited are executed. It is possible to suppress copying of the original image in the region by performing image deformation, insertion of another pattern, or the like on the region where the patterns are combined. Therefore, copying of a desired portion of the image can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a printer as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printer 1 includes an operation panel 13 on which operation settings are input and operated, and an external I / F (interface) 14 based on a standard such as Ethernet (Ethernet: registered trademark). It is connected to a personal computer (not shown) via a network line connected to the external I / F 14.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 1. In addition to the operation panel 13 and the external I / F 14, the printer 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12, and an image data A print engine 15 that performs printing is connected to each other via a bus 16. The RAM 12 is used not only as a storage location for programs and data, but also as a work area necessary for executing software (programs).

  The printer according to the present embodiment includes printer hardware and software executed by the CPU 10. The software is stored in the ROM 11 and loaded into the RAM 12 for execution. The printer hardware shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally known, and an essential part of this embodiment is software stored in the ROM 11 and loaded into the RAM 12. Since the configuration and operation of the hardware of the printer are general, detailed description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure executed by the CPU 10 by the first software stored in the ROM 11.

  First, in step S11, the CPU 10 receives data representing a document (hereinafter referred to as document data) from the personal computer or the like via the external I / F 14, and stores it in the RAM 12. Here, the document data corresponds to image data, and the RAM 12 functions as image data storage means. The document data may be data representing an image itself, such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) format data, or data representing characters or images in a description language called PDL (Page Description Language). There may be.

  In step S12, the CPU 10 extracts data representing an area where copying is prohibited from the data embedded in the document data, and writes the data representing the copying prohibited area into the RAM 12. In addition to extracting the data representing the copy-prohibited area from the document data, a preview image is displayed on the display device of the personal computer at the time of printing, and the user who is viewing this image receives the designation of the area where copying is prohibited. May be.

  Subsequently, in step S13, the CPU 10 reads data indicating the copy prohibited area from the RAM 12, and also reads data of the pattern 20 as shown in FIG. Then, an area for which copying is prohibited is specified from the image represented by the document data, and a pattern 20 is superimposed on this area to form a composite image. Here, the CPU 10 functions as a prohibited area specifying unit and a first pattern combining unit. The pattern 20 corresponds to the first pattern, and the ROM 11 or RAM 12 in which the pattern 20 is stored corresponds to the first pattern storage means. In addition, the composite image corresponds to a first composite image.

  Subsequently, in step S <b> 14, the CPU 10 outputs the composite image data to the print engine 15. The print engine 15 prints the composite image represented by the data on printing paper.

  The processing performed when the pattern 20 is combined with the document image in step S13 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a receipt as an example of the document. In this receipt, when a portion representing the amount is designated as a copy-prohibited region, the pattern 20 shown in FIG. 4 is combined with the portion representing the amount in a tile shape. That is, the pattern of FIG. 3 stored as the basic pattern is repeatedly arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the portion representing the amount of money. And among all the pixels which comprise the image of the part showing the said amount of money, a white pixel is replaced with the pixel which comprises the said pattern. As a result, a composite image as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. That is, in the portion representing the amount of money, a composite image in which the pattern 20 is superimposed on the back side of the image (character) representing the amount of money is obtained.

  Note that the pattern 20 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of the first pattern of the present invention, and a pattern having another shape may be used. In order to facilitate detection when detecting a pattern described later, A pattern having a color different from that of the image may be used. The pattern 20 may be synthesized so as to be superimposed on the front side of the image representing the amount of money.

  It is very difficult to remove only the pattern 20 from the portion showing the amount of money as shown in FIG. Therefore, by preventing the copying of the portion including the pattern 20 as described later, illegal copying can be effectively prevented only for the portion indicating the amount.

  The printer 1 according to this embodiment includes second software in the ROM 11. Processing executed when the composite image is printed by the second software will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S21, the CPU 10 reads image data from the personal computer or the like through the external I / F 14 and stores it in the RAM 12. This image data may be data representing the image itself, or data representing an image and characters in a description language such as PDL. Here, the RAM 12 functions as a composite image data storage unit.

  Subsequently, in step S22, the CPU 10 detects an area where the pattern 20 exists in the image represented by the image data read into the RAM 12. Here, the CPU 10 functions as a region detecting means.

  In step S23, the CPU 10 synthesizes a second pattern different from the pattern 20 in the area where the pattern 20 is detected to form a second synthesized image. Here, the CPU 10 functions as a second pattern synthesis unit.

  In step S24, the CPU 10 outputs the data of the second composite image to the print engine 15, and the print engine 15 prints the second composite image on printing paper.

  The process performed when the CPU 10 detects the pattern 20 in step S22 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. When the image of the image data read in step S21 is a receipt in which the pattern 20 is combined with the portion indicating the amount as shown in FIG. 6, the pattern 20 is detected by a general technique such as pattern matching. To do. Here, since the pattern 20 is overlapped with the character indicating the amount of money, as shown in FIG. 8A, the portion constituting the character is not detected and becomes the non-detection region 21, whereas A portion other than the portion constituting the character is detected and becomes a detection region 22. Therefore, the detection area of the pattern 20 is an area where the constituent parts of the characters are missing. Here, the non-detection region 21 is corrected to a detection region by performing an expansion process on the region where the pattern 20 is actually detected. For example, when the non-detection area 21 is surrounded by the detection area 20, the non-detection area 21 is corrected to the detection area. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, all the portions indicating the amount of money in the receipt are specified as the detection region of the pattern 20, thereby preventing the detection of the copy prohibition region. Here, the CPU 10 functions as an area correction unit.

  9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating examples of the second composite image formed in step S23.

  FIG. 9 is a composite image in which the second pattern in which all the constituent pixels are black is combined. With this second pattern, copying the receipt can be partially suppressed by painting the portion indicating the amount of money in black and hiding the copy prohibited area.

  FIG. 10 is a composite image in which the second pattern composed of cross marks is combined. By this second pattern, it is possible to clearly indicate that the portion indicating the amount is a portion for which copying is prohibited, whereby copy of the receipt can be partially suppressed. The second pattern may be a pattern formed of characters such as “copy prohibited”.

  As described above, according to the printer 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to set a desired area as a copy-prohibited area and to prevent only the copy-prohibited area from being copied.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 1 includes both the first software and the second software. However, the printer 1 may include only one of them. That is, the first software is provided in a personal computer, and a predetermined prohibited area is designated on the personal computer to create data of the first composite image. When the first composite image is printed, copying of the area can be suppressed by, for example, filling the area with black by the second software included in the printer.

  In the above embodiment, the image processing of the present invention is executed by the hardware of the printer 1 and the software executed by the CPU 10, but the hardware such as a personal computer or a workstation and the printer executed by this hardware. It may be executed by software such as a driver. In this case, the software is stored and distributed in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) or an FD (Flexible Disk), or distributed via a computer network, and is installed in a personal computer or a work piece. It is read into the station and executed. The first and second software may be stored and executed in a portable electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants).

  The printer 1 may be controlled by hardware such as a dedicated circuit in addition to being controlled by the CPU 10 and software. A copier may be configured by adding a scanner to the constituent parts of the printer 1. In this case, the scanner reads an image for which copying should be suppressed, a first composite image, and the like.

  Further, the image provided with the copy prohibition area is not limited to the receipt, and may be another document. Moreover, it is not restricted to a document, A banknote, a securities, etc. may be sufficient. For any image, a desired copy-prohibited area can be set for a part of the image, and copying in this area can be suppressed.

1 is a diagram illustrating a printer as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which CPU performs by 1st software. It is a figure which shows a 1st pattern. It is a figure which shows the receipt which should suppress a part of copying. It is a figure which shows the receipt by which the 1st pattern was synthesize | combined. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which CPU performs by 2nd software. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a region where the first pattern is actually detected, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a corrected detection region. It is a figure which shows the receipt by which the 2nd pattern was synthesize | combined. It is a figure which shows the receipt by which the other 2nd pattern was synthesize | combined.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printer 11 ROM
12 RAM
13 Operation panel 14 External I / F (interface)
15 Print engine 16 Bus

Claims (4)

First pattern storage means for previously storing data representing the first pattern;
Image data storage means for storing image data representing an image;
A prohibited area specifying means for specifying an area where copying should be prohibited for an image represented by the image data stored in the image data storage means;
First pattern synthesis means for synthesizing the first pattern in the area specified by the prohibited area specification means of the image to form a first composite image ;
Second pattern storage means for storing data representing the second pattern in advance;
Composite image data storage means for storing image data representing the first composite image;
Area detecting means for detecting an area where the first pattern exists for the first synthesized image represented by the image data stored in the synthesized image data storage means;
Second pattern synthesis means for synthesizing the second pattern in the area detected by the area detection means to form a second synthesized image;
The image processing apparatus according to claim Rukoto equipped with. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The area detection means includes an area correction means for correcting an area not detected by the first pattern and surrounded by the area where the first pattern is detected to an area where the first pattern is detected. the image processing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises. Storing in advance data representing the first pattern;
Storing image data representing an image;
Specifying an area where copying should be prohibited for the image represented by the image data;
Synthesizing the first pattern in an area where the copying of the image should be prohibited to form a first synthesized image;
With
Storing in advance data representing the second pattern;
Storing image data representing the first composite image;
Detecting a region where the first pattern exists for the first composite image represented by the image data;
Synthesizing the second pattern in a region where the presence of the first pattern is detected to form a second synthesized image; and
An image processing method comprising: On the computer,
Storing in advance data representing the first pattern;
Storing image data representing an image;
Specifying an area where copying should be prohibited for the image represented by the image data;
Synthesizing the first pattern in an area where the copying of the image should be prohibited to form a first synthesized image;
And execute
In the above computer,
Storing in advance data representing the second pattern;
Storing image data representing the first composite image;
Detecting a region where the first pattern exists for the first composite image represented by the image data;
Synthesizing the second pattern in a region where the presence of the first pattern is detected to form a second synthesized image; and
An image processing program for executing

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