JP4218428B2 - Anti-counterfeiting method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for preventing forgery of an image forming apparatus for preventing forgery copying of banknotes, securities, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an anti-counterfeit function used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, for example, a function of printing a tracking mark indicating the date and time when a forgery copy was performed has been devised (for example, see Patent Document 1). .)
[0003]
Other anti-counterfeiting functions include determining whether or not the image to be copied is banknotes / securities, etc. (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the case of banknotes, securities, etc., those that output invalid images have been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-059601 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-054186 [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-123249
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, during the period from the manufacturing process to the market installation (hereinafter referred to as the manufacturing period), there is a high possibility that counterfeit copying is performed during a trial run in a product check. It is difficult to prevent counterfeit copying performed during the manufacturing period.
For example, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if an attempt is made to print a tracking mark to prevent forgery copying, the printed part can be erased later (that is, even if erased, the document image is not affected) If it is difficult to visually determine the presence or absence even if there is an effect), or if it is difficult to visually determine the presence or absence of a tracking mark because the printed portion is generally relatively small, forged copies are made during the manufacturing period. There is a fear of being done.
In addition, in the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, it is difficult to accurately determine whether an image to be forged copied is a banknote / securities or not. If the correct determination is not made, forgery copying may occur during the manufacturing period. Furthermore, the determination is invalid for banknotes, securities, etc. that are not registered as anti-counterfeiting objects, and forgery copying may occur during the manufacturing period.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to prevent forgery copying during the manufacturing period of an image forming apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
An anti-counterfeit method for preventing forgery copying performed during the manufacturing period for an image forming apparatus during the manufacturing period,
At the time when the function of reading an image from a manuscript during a manufacturing period and making a copy output is usable, all input images are preset to change the image contents of a predetermined portion instead of the entire image. A forgery prevention mode for performing image formation by synthesizing pattern images is preset, and image formation is performed based on the forgery prevention mode.
[0013]
Furthermore, as in the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1 ,
It is preferable to release the forgery prevention mode when preset authentication data is input.
[0016]
Further, as in the embodiment described in claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or 2,
The image after the image formation is preferably printed out or stored in a memory.
[0017]
Therefore, when image formation is performed during the manufacturing period of the image forming apparatus, a change that can be easily visually confirmed is applied to a predetermined portion of the input image, so the type of the input image (banknote, securities, etc.). Can be easily confirmed that the image after the image formation is not the input image itself. Therefore, the image after the image formation is stored in the memory as a printout or data during the manufacturing period. For example, it is practically impossible to perform counterfeit copying, and security against counterfeit copying during manufacturing can be improved.
Further, after the manufacturing period of the image forming apparatus, before the image forming apparatus is installed in the market, authentication data for canceling the function of preventing forgery copying is set. When input, the function for preventing forgery copying is canceled, and normal image formation for forming an image on the input image becomes executable. In other words, after the image forming apparatus is installed on the market, the function for preventing forgery copying continues as it is unless the authentication data is input, so that security against forgery copying after market installation is improved.
Furthermore, changes made to the input image to prevent forgery copying are made not to the entire image but to a predetermined part, and much of the image content of the input image is kept unchanged in the image after image formation. Therefore, the product check during the manufacturing period using the image after the image formation is less affected by the change.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The image forming apparatus 100 to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 is a copying apparatus that reads an image from a document and prints it out. As shown in FIG. 1, a setting input unit 10, an image input unit 20, a control unit 30, a ROM 40, a RAM 50, and an image output unit. 60 is configured.
[0019]
In the image forming apparatus 100, it is assumed that the forgery prevention mode is set in advance, particularly during the manufacturing period. The image forming apparatus 100 set in the forgery prevention mode prevents the banknotes, securities, and the like from being counterfeited during the manufacturing period, so that the image input unit 20 does not depend on the type of image to be copied. For all the originals set, a predetermined pattern image is synthesized with the read image to form an image and copy it. Here, the copy output means that an image after image formation is printed out or stored as data in a memory (a RAM 50 or a recording medium described later).
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows how the pattern image is synthesized. The pattern image is not limited to the pattern shown in FIG. 2, and may be another pattern such as a lattice pattern. Further, the pattern image is preferably a pattern image that is not a full-surface image and consumes less toner, and more preferably does not affect the product check during the manufacturing period.
[0021]
The setting input unit 10 includes a keyboard (not shown), various input keys, a pointing device such as a touch panel, and the like, and inputs various instructions to the control unit 30. The image input unit 20 includes an image reading device such as a scanner (not shown), and outputs the read image to the control unit 30.
[0022]
The control unit 30 executes various programs stored in the ROM 40 and controls the image forming apparatus 100 in an integrated manner. In particular, the control unit 30 performs the forgery prevention process shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0023]
A ROM (Random Access Memory) 40 stores various programs executed by the control unit 30 and stores various data necessary for executing the programs. In particular, the ROM 40 stores a program for performing anti-counterfeiting processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4 and stores a forgery-preventing pattern image (described later, see FIG. 2) necessary for executing the program.
[0024]
A RAM (Read Only Memory) 50 is a memory that stores the above-described various programs expanded by the control unit 30 and temporarily stores various data generated when the programs are executed. Further, the RAM 50 stores an image read by the image input unit 20 and an image after pattern image synthesis in the forgery prevention mode.
[0025]
The RAM 50 is detachably provided with a memory (not shown) that can write and read data (for example, a recording medium such as a memory card), and an image read by the image input unit 20 on the recording medium and forgery prevention. An image after pattern image synthesis in the mode may be recorded.
[0026]
The image output unit 60 includes a display device such as a printer or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) (not shown), and copies and outputs an image after image formation output by the control unit 30. Further, the copy output image may be stored in a memory such as the RAM 50 or a recording medium.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining the forgery prevention processing.
[0028]
First, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. Here, in the image forming apparatus 100, the forgery prevention mode is set in advance when the copy function (that is, the function of reading an image from a document and outputting the copy) becomes available during the manufacturing period. And
[0029]
The control unit 30 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to perform various product checks during the manufacturing period before market installation, that is, operations (trial operation) according to various checks as to whether the image forming apparatus 100 operates normally (trial operation) ( Step S10). For example, when checking the copy operation, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 to be described later is performed.
[0030]
Thereafter, when a password (hereinafter referred to as a forgery prevention mode canceling password) is set as authentication data for canceling the forgery prevention mode, the control unit 30 will set the image forming apparatus 100 after being installed in the market as a product. The forgery prevention mode is canceled by inputting the password for canceling the forgery prevention mode (step S11).
[0031]
The forgery prevention mode cancellation password is notified to a service center that sells the image forming apparatus 100 as a product, and the forgery prevention mode cancellation password is managed by the service center.
[0032]
Thereafter, after the image forming apparatus 100 is installed in the market as a product via the service center, when the forgery prevention mode cancel password is input, the control unit 30 cancels the forgery prevention mode and forms an image. Sometimes it is set not to combine the pattern images (step S12).
[0033]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
The control unit 30 monitors whether or not a copy start instruction is input from the setting input unit 10 (step S20). When the copy start instruction is input (step S20; Yes), the control unit 30 is set in the image input unit 20. The image is read from the original document, and it is determined whether or not the image forming apparatus 100 is currently set in the forgery prevention mode (step S21).
[0034]
If the forgery prevention mode is set in step S21 (step S21; Yes), the control unit 30 combines the pattern image with the read image to form an image (step S22), and the pattern combination is performed. The copied image is copied and output (step S23). Further, when the forgery prevention mode is canceled at the stage of step S21 (step S21; No), the control unit 30 copies and outputs the read image as it is (step S23).
[0035]
As described above, in the image forming apparatus 100, the forgery prevention mode is set during the manufacturing period, and an image is formed and copied (printed out or stored in memory as data) when the forgery prevention mode is set. A specific pattern image is synthesized in. Before the image forming apparatus 100 is installed in the market, a forgery prevention mode release password for releasing the forgery prevention mode is set, and the forgery prevention mode release password is set by the service center that sells the image forming apparatus 100. Managed. After that, when the image forming apparatus 100 is installed in the market via this service center, when the forgery prevention mode cancel password is input, the forgery prevention mode is canceled.
[0036]
Therefore, when image formation is performed during the manufacturing period, the pattern image is synthesized with a predetermined portion of the input image, and the image formation is performed such that a change that can be easily visually confirmed is added to the input image. Any type of input image (banknotes, securities, etc.) can be easily confirmed that the image after the image formation is not the input image itself. It is impossible to forge a copy of a later image by printing it out or storing it in memory as data.
Further, if the password for canceling the forgery prevention mode is set as authentication data after the manufacturing period and before the image forming apparatus 100 is installed in the market, the password for releasing the forgery prevention mode is input after the market installation. Then, the forgery copy prevention mode for preventing forgery copy is canceled, and the state is switched to a state in which normal image formation such as image formation can be performed on the input image.
Further, since the pattern image synthesis applied to the input image at the time of image formation is performed so as to change the image content of a predetermined portion instead of the entire image, the input image is also displayed in the image after the image formation. Most of the image contents are kept unchanged, and the influence on the product check performed during the manufacturing period using the image after the image formation can be reduced.
[0037]
Note that the description in the present embodiment shows an example of a method for manufacturing an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a forgery prevention method according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0038]
For example, as an example, the image forming apparatus 100 has been described as a copying apparatus including the image input unit 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 100 has only a function of forming an image on an input image. It may have a function of forming an image on an input image and printing the image after the image formation or storing it in a memory as data. The present invention is also applicable.
[0039]
In addition, although the forgery prevention mode of the image forming apparatus 100 is canceled by inputting the forgery prevention mode cancel password as authentication data, not only the forgery prevention mode cancel password is input but also the image forming apparatus 100 The anti-counterfeiting mode may be canceled depending on whether the operation sequence at the time of activation is correct, or forgery is performed by performing a redundant operation (for example, pressing a specific key ten times after inputting power). You may make it cancel prevention mode. Alternatively, a plurality of forgery prevention mode cancellation passwords may be set, and the forgery prevention mode may be canceled when all the forgery prevention mode cancellation passwords match. That is, any of the above-described methods for canceling the forgery prevention mode using the authentication data may be used, and any combination of the above may be used.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when image formation is performed during the manufacturing period of the image forming apparatus, a change that can be easily visually confirmed is added to a predetermined portion of the input image. Whatever the securities, etc.), it can be easily confirmed that the image after the image formation is not the input image itself, and therefore, the image after the image formation is printed out or the data during the manufacturing period. As a result, it is practically impossible to make a counterfeit copy by storing it in a memory, and the security against the counterfeit copy during the manufacturing period can be improved.
Further, after the manufacturing period of the image forming apparatus, before the image forming apparatus is installed in the market, authentication data for canceling the function of preventing forgery copying is set. When input, the function for preventing forgery copying is canceled, and normal image formation for forming an image on the input image becomes executable. In other words, after the image forming apparatus is installed on the market, the function for preventing forgery copying continues as it is unless the authentication data is input, so that security against forgery copying after market installation is improved.
Furthermore, changes made to the input image to prevent forgery copying are made not to the entire image but to a predetermined part, and much of the image content of the input image is kept unchanged in the image after image formation. Therefore, the product check during the manufacturing period using the image after the image formation is less affected by the change.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a document is copied in a forgery prevention process to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating forgery prevention processing to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating forgery prevention processing to which the present invention is applied.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Setting Input Unit 20 Image Input Unit 30 Control Unit 40 ROM
50 RAM
60 Image output unit 100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (3)

An anti-counterfeit method for preventing forgery copying performed during the manufacturing period for an image forming apparatus during the manufacturing period,
At the time when the function of reading an image from a manuscript during a manufacturing period and making a copy output is usable, all input images are preset to change the image contents of a predetermined portion instead of the entire image. A forgery prevention method, wherein a forgery prevention mode for performing image formation by synthesizing pattern images is preset, and image formation is performed based on the forgery prevention mode.   The forgery prevention method according to claim 1, wherein the forgery prevention mode is canceled when preset authentication data is input.   3. The forgery prevention method according to claim 1, wherein the image after the image formation is printed out or stored in a memory.

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