JP4293052B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing apparatus management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of prohibiting image processing of a copy-prohibited document.

  In recent years, the performance of color copiers has improved dramatically, making it possible to copy at a level indistinguishable from original documents. For this reason, there is a possibility that a copy-prohibited manuscript that is prohibited from being copied, such as securities or banknotes, may be easily forged, which is a social problem.

Patent Document 1 discloses that image data created by a reading unit in a copying apparatus is transmitted to a management apparatus via a transmission unit, and whether the transmitted image data is an image to be recorded prohibited in a determination unit of the management apparatus. A copying apparatus management system is disclosed in which an image recording prohibition signal is transmitted from the prohibiting means to the copying apparatus if applicable, and the copying apparatus prohibits the operation of the recording means in response to this signal. .
JP-A-7-131638

  As in the conventional copying apparatus of the above-mentioned document, when the image data created from the copying apparatus is transmitted to the management apparatus to determine whether the image is a recording-prohibited object, the copying apparatus and the management apparatus When communication processing is congested, there is a possibility that it takes time to prohibit the operation of the recording means of the copying apparatus.

  In addition, the accuracy of detection of the image to be prohibited from recording is not necessarily 100%, and there is a high possibility of erroneous detection. If the operation of the recording means is prohibited each time, There is a problem that processing frequently occurs and the operation rate and maintenance efficiency of the copying apparatus are lowered.

  The present invention has been made under the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of effectively preventing copying of a copy-prohibited document.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that includes a reading unit that reads a document and acquires image data, and an output unit that outputs the image data, and is capable of communicating with an external management device. A detection unit that detects whether at least a part of the image data read by the copying unit is a copy-prohibited document, and the operation of the reading unit and the output unit when the copy-prohibited document is detected A prohibition unit, a reception unit that accepts a manual release operation known by an administrator of the image processing apparatus as a release operation for canceling the prohibition of the operation after the operation is prohibited by the prohibition unit; and An authentication unit that performs authentication, and when the cancellation operation is authenticated, a cancellation unit that cancels the prohibition, a communication unit that communicates with the management device, and the cancellation by the cancellation operation in the cancellation unit A monitoring unit for viewing, when the release operation is authenticated, a notification unit for notifying via the communication unit the result of the authentication to the management apparatus by the communication unit,
A counting unit that counts the number of times the prohibition is canceled by the cancellation unit;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the number of cancellations exceeds a predetermined number;
A receiving unit that receives a communication cancellation operation known only by an administrator of the management device as a cancellation operation for canceling the prohibition of the operation from the management device via the communication unit;
When the determination unit determines that the number of cancellations exceeds the predetermined number of times, the authentication unit enters the communication cancellation mode in which the communication cancellation operation is received as the cancellation operation from the management device via the reception unit. A release mode setting unit configured to set a manual release mode in which the manual release operation is received from the reception unit as the release operation when the authentication unit authenticates the communication release operation received by the reception unit. Prepared,
The notification unit notifies the management device that the number of cancellations exceeds the predetermined number of times via the communication unit when the determination unit determines that the number of cancellations exceeds the predetermined number of times. And
The authentication unit includes a storage unit that stores in advance the manual release operation used in the manual release mode and the communication release operation used in the communication release mode. In the manual release mode, the reception unit In the communication release mode, the release operation received by the receiving unit is stored in the storage unit when the release operation received in step S1 is coincident with the manual release operation stored in the storage unit. It is determined whether or not it matches the stored communication canceling operation, and when it is determined to match, the canceling operation is authenticated .

  Here, as for the operation of the output unit, for example, only a part of the operation that leads to forgery of a copy-prohibited document such as full-color printing or fine printing can be prohibited. The release operation is, for example, a password input or a predetermined key operation known only by the administrator of the image processing apparatus.

  According to the present invention, since the release operation is authenticated by the authentication unit and the prohibition is released by the release unit, the management device can be notified via the communication network. An image processing apparatus capable of monitoring and managing operations is provided.

Further , according to this configuration, the monitoring unit notifies the management device when the release is performed more than a predetermined number of times, so that unnecessary notification is managed when the copy detection accuracy of the copy-prohibited document is low. The device can be prevented from being performed frequently. In addition, since the administrator of the image processing apparatus may repeat the release operation to perform counterfeiting, if the release operation is repeated more than a predetermined number of times, the management apparatus can be notified and detection and prevention of counterfeiting can be performed. It becomes possible.

  Here, the manual release operation is input of a password or a predetermined key operation known only by the administrator of the image processing apparatus, and is registered in the storage unit. The communication canceling operation is a password input or a predetermined key operation that is known only to the administrator of the management apparatus, and is registered in the storage unit.

Further, according to this configuration, since the manual release operation and the communication release operation can be individually registered in the storage unit, the security is enhanced and the reliability of the system is improved.

  In the image processing device, a storage unit that stores the image data in which the detection unit has detected the copy-prohibited document, and the management of the image data stored in the storage unit in response to a request from the management device And a transmission unit that transmits to the apparatus.

  According to this configuration, the image data when the copy-prohibited document is detected can be transmitted to the management apparatus. Therefore, when the unauthorized release operation is repeated on the image processing apparatus side, the image data is monitored on the management apparatus side. It is possible to detect fraud.

  The image processing apparatus includes: a change receiving unit that receives the change of the release operation from the management device; and a change unit that changes the release operation based on the change received by the change receiving unit. it can.

  According to this configuration, the release operation can be changed remotely from the management device. For example, when the release operation exceeds a predetermined number of times, it is possible to prevent the same release operation from being repeated further by changing the release operation as necessary.

An image processing apparatus management system according to the present invention includes the image processing apparatus and a management apparatus that manages the image processing apparatus that can communicate with the image processing apparatus. Further, in the image processing device management system, when the management device receives a notification from the notification unit of the image processing device, and the reception unit receives the notification from the image processing device, A request unit that requests the image processing apparatus to request the image data read by the reading unit of the image processing apparatus, and an image that receives the image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus in response to the request. A receiving unit; and an analyzing unit that analyzes whether at least a part of the image data received by the image receiving unit includes the copy-prohibited document.
In the image processing apparatus management system, when the analysis unit of the management apparatus confirms that at least a part of the image data includes the copy-prohibited document, the release operation is changed to the image processing apparatus. It is possible to provide a change instruction unit that transmits an instruction to perform.

  According to the present invention, image processing such as copying of copy-prohibited originals in the image processing apparatus can be effectively monitored and prevented by the management apparatus.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an image processing apparatus capable of effectively preventing copying of a copy-prohibited document is provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus including the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 is, for example, a full color copying apparatus. In FIG. 1, the configuration of the part not related to the essence of the present invention is omitted.

  Each component of the image processing apparatus 10 includes an arbitrary computer CPU, memory, a program for realizing the components shown in the figure loaded in the memory, a storage unit such as a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. It is realized by any combination of hardware and software. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications to the implementation method and apparatus. Each drawing described below shows a functional unit block, not a hardware unit configuration.

  The image processing apparatus 10 includes a reading unit 11, an image data storage unit 13, an output unit 15, a prohibited document copy prevention unit 20, a monitoring unit 30, and a communication unit 50.

  The reading unit 11 reads a document in color or monochrome and acquires image data. The image data storage unit 13 stores the image data acquired by the reading unit 11. The output unit 15 outputs the image data stored in the image data storage unit 13 in color or monochrome. The output operation of the output unit 15 includes printing on a printer, recording on a medium, and the like.

  The prohibited document copy prevention unit 20 has a function of preventing prohibited document copying. When a copy prohibited document is detected from the image data read by the reading unit 11, the prohibited document copy prevention unit 20 prohibits the operation and authenticates a predetermined release operation. To cancel the prohibition. The monitoring unit 30 monitors the release operation in the prohibited document copy prevention unit 20. The communication unit 50 communicates with an external management device 60 via a communication network. Here, the communication network is, for example, a network such as the Internet. The communication unit 50 transmits the monitoring result notification from the monitoring unit 30 to the management device 60. Further, the communication unit 50 receives a cancel operation from the management device 60 and notifies the prohibited document copy prevention unit 20 of the cancel operation.

  Further, the prohibited document copy prevention unit 20 includes a detection unit 21, a lock / release unit 23, a reception unit 25, an authentication unit 27, and a release operation storage unit 29.

  The detection unit 21 detects whether the image data read by the reading unit 11 is image data read in color, and determines whether at least a part of the image data read in color is a copy-prohibited document. Detect. The detection unit 21 detects a copy-prohibited document using a known technique. The lock / release unit 23 prohibits a part of the operation of the output unit 15 when the detection unit 21 detects that the image data is a copy-prohibited document. Further, the lock / release unit 23 cancels the prohibition of the operation after authenticating the release operation described later.

  The accepting unit 25 accepts a release operation after the lock / release unit 23 prohibits the operation. The release operation is, for example, input of a password known only by the administrator or predetermined key operation.

  The authentication unit 27 authenticates the release operation received by the reception unit 25. The release operation storage unit 29 stores a manual release operation 29 a registered by the administrator of the image processing apparatus 10 and a communication release operation 29 b registered by the administrator of the management apparatus 60. The manual cancellation operation 29a is an input of a password known only by the administrator of the image processing apparatus 10 or a predetermined key operation, and the communication cancellation operation 29b is an input of a password known only by the administrator of the management apparatus 60 or This is a predetermined key operation.

  According to this configuration, since the manual release operation and the communication release operation can be individually registered in the release operation storage unit 29, the security is enhanced and the reliability of the system is improved.

  The authentication unit 27 refers to the release operation storage unit 29 when authenticating the release operation. Here, the release mode in the image processing apparatus 10 includes a manual release mode in which the release operation is manually performed, and a communication release mode in which the release operation is performed remotely from the management device 60.

  The authentication unit 27 determines whether or not the cancellation operation received by the reception unit 25 coincides with the manual cancellation operation 29a of the cancellation operation storage unit 29 in the manual cancellation mode, and monitoring described later in the communication cancellation mode. It is determined whether or not the release operation received from the management device 60 by the release operation reception unit 35 of the unit 30 matches the communication release operation 29 b of the release operation storage unit 29. If the authentication unit 27 determines that each release operation matches the release operation in the release operation storage unit 29, the authentication unit 27 authenticates the release operation and notifies the lock / release unit 23 of the release of the prohibition.

  When the detection unit 21 notifies the image data of the copy-prohibited document, the lock / release unit 23 shifts the operation mode to the lock mode. Here, the lock mode is a mode in which the operation of the output unit 15 is prohibited. For example, the operation of the output unit 15 can prohibit only a part of the operation that leads to forgery of a copy-prohibited document such as full-color printing or fine printing. The lock / release unit 23 shifts the operation mode from the lock mode to the normal mode when the authentication unit 27 authenticates the release operation. The normal mode is a mode that does not limit the operation of the output unit 15.

  Furthermore, the monitoring unit 30 includes a determination unit 31, a notification unit 33, and a release operation reception unit 35.

  The determination unit 31 determines whether the release operation has been authenticated by the authentication unit 27 of the prohibited document copy prevention unit 20. When the authentication unit 27 authenticates the release operation, the notification unit 33 notifies the management device 60 of the determination result by the determination unit 31 via the communication unit 50. The release operation receiving unit 35 receives a release operation instruction from the management device 60 via the communication unit 50. The received release operation is notified to the authentication unit 27.

  According to the image processing apparatus 10 configured as described above, the communication unit 50 notifies the management apparatus 60 via the communication network that the release operation is authenticated by the authentication unit 27 and the prohibition is released by the lock / release unit 23. Therefore, the release operation of the image processing apparatus 10 can be monitored and managed on the management apparatus 60 side.

  FIG. 2 is a detailed functional block diagram of the monitoring unit 30 which is a main configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. In addition to the notification unit 33 and the release operation reception unit 35 in FIG. 1, the monitoring unit 30 includes a count unit 37, a release count determination unit 39, a release mode holding unit 41, a release mode setting unit 43, and a prohibition A document image data storage unit 45 (shown as “storage unit” in the drawing).

  The count unit 37 counts the number of times the release operation has been authenticated by the authentication unit 27. The cancellation number determination unit 39 determines whether the number of cancellations counted by the counting unit 37 exceeds a predetermined number. When the number-of-releases determination unit 39 determines that the number of cancellations exceeds a predetermined number, the notification unit 33 notifies the management device 60 of this via the communication unit 50.

  The release mode holding unit 41 holds whether the release mode for performing the release operation in the image processing apparatus 10 is currently the manual release mode or the communication release mode.

  The cancel mode setting unit 43 cancels communication that the authentication unit 27 receives from the management device 60 via the cancel operation receiving unit 35 when the cancel count determining unit 39 determines that the cancel count has exceeded a predetermined number of times. Set to mode. Further, the release mode setting unit 43 sets the manual release mode in which the authentication unit 27 receives the release operation from the reception unit 25 when the authentication unit 27 authenticates the release operation received by the release operation reception unit 35.

  The prohibited document image data storage unit 45 (shown as “storage unit” in the figure) stores image data detected by the detection unit 21 of the prohibited document copy prevention unit 20 as a copy prohibited document. The prohibited document image data storage unit 45 may also record the date and time when the image data is detected.

  The operation of the image processing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image processing apparatus 10. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  First, the reading unit 11 reads a document and acquires image data (S11). The image data is stored in the image data storage unit 13. Subsequently, the authentication unit 27 refers to the release mode holding unit 41 and determines whether or not the current release mode is the communication release mode (S13). When it is determined that the communication cancellation mode is set (YES in S13), the authentication unit 27 performs a communication cancellation process (S15). The communication release process will be described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the manual release mode is set (NO in S13), the detection unit 21 detects whether the image data stored in the image data storage unit 13 is color (S17). When the image data is color (YES in S17), the authentication unit 27 determines whether or not the operation mode is the lock mode (S19). In the lock mode (YES in S19), the authentication unit 27 performs an authentication process described later (S21).

  On the other hand, when the image data is not color (NO in S17), the output unit 15 operates without restriction (S25). When the lock mode is not set (NO in S19), the detection unit 21 detects whether at least a part of the image data is image data of a copy-prohibited document (S23). If the document is not a copy-prohibited document (NO in S23), the process proceeds to step S25, and the output unit 15 operates without restriction.

  On the other hand, in the case of a copy-prohibited document (YES in S23), the lock / release unit 23 is notified, and the lock / release unit 23 shifts the operation mode to the lock mode (S27). Subsequently, the image data detected as a copy-prohibited document is stored in the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 (S29).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the authentication processing of FIG. This authentication process shows the authentication process in the authentication unit 27 in the manual release mode. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

  First, when the authentication process starts, the accepting unit 25 accepts a release operation such as a predetermined key operation or password input (S31). Subsequently, the authentication unit 27 refers to the release operation storage unit 29 and determines whether or not the release operation received by the reception unit 25 matches the manual release operation 29a (S33). When the authentication unit 27 determines that the release operation received by the reception unit 25 matches the manual release operation 29a and authenticates the release operation (YES in S33), the count unit 37 counts the number of times of release (S35).

  Subsequently, the cancellation number determination unit 39 determines whether or not the number of cancellations counted by the counting unit 37 exceeds a predetermined number (S37). If the predetermined number of times has not been exceeded (NO in S37), the lock / release unit 23 releases the lock mode (S41), ends the authentication process, and returns to the process in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined number of times is exceeded (YES in S37), the notification unit 33 notifies the management device 60 via the communication unit 50 that the number of times of cancellation has exceeded the predetermined number of times (S39). Subsequently, the cancellation number determination unit 39 causes the cancellation mode setting unit 43 to shift the cancellation mode to the communication cancellation mode (S43). Subsequently, a message indicating that manual release is not possible is displayed on a display unit (not shown) (S45), the present authentication process is terminated, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

  According to the image processing apparatus 10 configured as described above, the monitoring unit 30 notifies the management apparatus 60 when the number of cancellations exceeds a predetermined number, so that the copy detection accuracy of the copy-prohibited document is low. In such a case, unnecessary notifications can be prevented from being frequently sent to the management device 60. In addition, since there is a possibility that the administrator of the image processing apparatus 10 repeats the release operation to perform forgery, when the release operation is repeated more than a predetermined number of times, the management device 60 can be notified, and the detection of forgery and Prevention becomes possible.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the communication cancellation process of FIG. This process is an authentication process in the authentication unit 27 in the communication release mode. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5.

  First, when the communication cancellation process starts, the cancellation operation receiving unit 35 receives the cancellation operation from the management device 60 via the communication unit 50 and notifies the authentication unit 27 (S51). Subsequently, the authentication unit 27 determines whether or not the release operation received from the management device 60 is authenticated (S53). That is, the authentication unit 27 determines whether or not the release operation received from the management device 60 matches the communication release operation 29b stored in the release operation storage unit 29. If they match (YES in S53), the release is performed. The operation is authenticated, and the cancel mode setting unit 43 cancels the communication cancel mode and shifts to the manual cancel mode (S55). At this time, the number of cancellations counted by the counting unit 37 is reset. Subsequently, the authentication unit 27 notifies the management device 60 that the communication cancellation mode has been canceled via the communication unit 50 (S59).

  On the other hand, when the authentication unit 27 determines that the release operation received from the management device 60 does not match the communication release operation 29b stored in the release operation storage unit 29 (NO in S53), the release operation is not authenticated, A message indicating that the release is impossible is displayed on the display unit (S57). Subsequently, the authentication unit 27 notifies the management device 60 that the communication cancellation operation has not been authenticated via the communication unit 50 (S59).

  After step S59, the communication cancellation process is terminated, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

  As described above, the management device 60 can perform the release operation of the image processing apparatus 10 in the communication release mode.

  FIG. 6 is a detailed functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus 10 and the management apparatus 60 of the present embodiment. Here, the management device 60 receives notification from the image processing device 10 that the release operation has been performed more than a predetermined number of times, requests the image processing device 10 for image data, and analyzes the acquired image data in detail. The image processing apparatus 10 is controlled according to the result.

  The management device 60 includes a communication unit 61, a notification reception unit 63, a request unit 65, an image reception unit 67, an analysis unit 69, a release instruction unit 71, and a change instruction unit 73.

  The communication unit 61 communicates with the communication unit 50 of the image processing apparatus 10 via a communication network. The notification receiving unit 63 receives a message notifying that the number of cancellations exceeds a predetermined number from the image processing apparatus 10. The request unit 65 requests the image processing device 10 to transmit the image data stored in the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 of the image processing device 10 when the notification receiving unit 63 receives the message.

  The image receiving unit 67 receives the image data stored in the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 from the image processing apparatus 10. The analysis unit 69 analyzes the received image data. The release instruction unit 71 instructs the image processing device 10 to perform a release operation when, for example, an erroneous detection of a copy-prohibited document in the image processing device 10 is confirmed based on the analysis result of the analysis unit 69. For example, when the image data of the copy-prohibited document is confirmed based on the analysis result of the analysis unit 69, the change instruction unit 73 transmits an instruction to change the release operation to the image processing apparatus 10.

  The monitoring unit 30 includes a request reception unit 51, an image transmission unit 53, a change instruction reception unit 55, a release operation change unit 57, and a change completion notification unit 59 in addition to the configuration of FIG. In FIG. 5, the configuration of the monitoring unit 30 in FIG. 2 is omitted.

  The request receiving unit 51 receives a transmission request for image data transmitted from the management device 60 via the communication unit 50. The image transmission unit 53 transmits the image data stored in the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 to the management apparatus 60 via the communication unit 50 in response to the transmission request received by the request reception unit 51.

  The change instruction receiving unit 55 receives the release operation change instruction transmitted from the management device 60 via the communication unit 50. The change instruction receiving unit 55 changes the release operation registered in the release operation storage unit 29 in response to the change instruction. At this time, at least the manual release operation 29a stored in the release operation storage unit 29 is changed. The change completion notification unit 59 transmits a message for notifying the management device 60 of the completion of the change via the communication unit 50 when the release operation change unit 57 finishes changing the release operation.

  The operation of the image processing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described below. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the management device 60 of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of changing the release operation of the image processing apparatus 10 of FIG. This will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8.

  First, an operation when the management apparatus 60 receives a message indicating that the release operation has been performed more than a predetermined number from the image processing apparatus 10 will be described. First, in FIG. 7, the notification receiving unit 63 receives a message indicating that the release operation has been performed more than a predetermined number of times from the notification unit 33 of the image processing apparatus 10 via the communication unit 61 (S61). In response to the message reception, the request unit 65 requests the image processing apparatus 10 to transmit image data (S63). Here, in the image processing apparatus 10, the request reception unit 51 receives the transmission request for the image data via the communication unit 50, and the image transmission unit 53 responds to the transmission request and the prohibited document image data storage unit. The image data stored in 45 is transmitted to the management device 60 via the communication unit 50 (not shown).

  The image receiving unit 67 of the management device 60 receives the image data transmitted from the image processing device 10 via the communication unit 61 (S65). Subsequently, the analysis unit 69 analyzes the received image data in detail (S67). When the analysis unit 69 detects a copy-prohibited document (YES in S69), the change instruction unit 73 transmits an instruction to change the communication release operation to the image processing apparatus 10 via the communication unit 61 (S71). Exit. On the other hand, when the analysis unit 69 does not detect a copy-prohibited document (NO in S69), the present process is terminated.

  Next, an operation when the image processing apparatus 10 receives a change instruction for a release operation will be described. First, in FIG. 8, the change instruction receiving unit 55 of the image processing apparatus 10 receives an instruction to change the communication cancellation operation from the management apparatus 60 via the communication unit 50 (S81). Subsequently, the release operation changing unit 57 changes the communication release operation 29b of the release operation storage unit 29 to the received communication release operation (S83). Subsequently, the change completion notification unit 59 notifies the management device 60 via the communication unit 50 that the change of the communication release operation by the release operation change unit 57 has been completed (S85).

  According to the image processing apparatus 10 configured as described above, image data when a copy-prohibited document is detected can be transmitted to the management apparatus 60. Therefore, when an illegal release operation is repeated on the image processing apparatus 10 side, It is possible to detect fraud by monitoring the image data on the management device 60 side.

  Further, according to this configuration, the release operation can be changed remotely from the management device 60. For example, when the release operation exceeds a predetermined number of times, it is possible to prevent the same release operation from being repeated further by changing the release operation as necessary.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the release operation is authenticated by the authentication unit 27 and the prohibition is released by the release unit, the management device 60 can be notified via the communication network. On the management device 60 side, the release operation of the image processing device 10 can be monitored and managed.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that those skilled in the art can modify the above-described embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the network facsimile apparatus and the MFP have been described as the image processing apparatus 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image processing apparatus 10 includes a personal computer and a workstation provided with the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, when image data of a copy-prohibited document is detected, the mode is shifted to the lock mode and color printing, fine printing, and the like are prohibited. It is good also as a structure which prints by switching to.

  In the above embodiment, the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 stores all image data of copy prohibited documents detected by the detection unit 21, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the image data stored in the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 may be at least a part of the image data detected by the detection unit 21 as a copy prohibited document. Further, only the copy prohibited image portion may be extracted and stored in the prohibited document image data storage unit 45.

  Alternatively, the monitoring unit 30 may further include a color separation unit (not shown) that performs color separation on the image data of the copy-prohibited document detected by the detection unit 21, and the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 is a color separation unit. It is also possible to store at least one color-separated image data.

  In this way, the storage capacity of the prohibited document image data storage unit 45 can be effectively reduced.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is effective as an image processing apparatus capable of effectively preventing copying of copy-prohibited originals and capable of prohibiting image processing of copy-prohibited originals.

It is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a detailed functional block diagram of the monitoring part of the image processing apparatus of FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the authentication process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the communication cancellation | release process of FIG. It is a detailed functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus and management apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the management apparatus of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when changing the release operation of the image processing apparatus of FIG. 6. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 11 Reading part 13 Image data memory | storage part 15 Output part 20 Prohibited copy prevention part 21 Detection part 23 Lock / release part 25 Accepting part 27 Authentication part 29 Release operation memory | storage part 29a Manual release operation 29b Communication release operation 30 Monitoring Unit 31 determination unit 33 notification unit 35 release operation reception unit 35 release operation reception unit 37 count unit 39 release count determination unit 41 release mode holding unit 43 release mode setting unit 45 prohibited document image data storage unit 50 communication unit 51 request reception unit 53 Image transmitting unit 55 Change instruction receiving unit 57 Release operation changing unit 59 Change completion notifying unit 60 Management device 61 Communication unit 63 Notification receiving unit 65 Request unit 67 Image receiving unit 69 Analyzing unit 71 Release instruction unit 73 Change instruction unit

Claims (6)

A reading unit that reads a document and acquires image data;
An output processing unit for outputting the image data, and an image processing device capable of communicating with an external management device,
A detection unit that detects whether at least a part of the image data read by the reading unit is a copy-prohibited document;
When it is detected that the original is a copy-prohibited document, a prohibition unit that prohibits the operation of the reading unit and the output unit;
A reception unit that accepts a manual release operation known by an administrator of the image processing apparatus as a release operation for releasing the prohibition of the operation after the operation is prohibited by the prohibition unit;
An authentication unit for authenticating the release operation;
A release unit for releasing the prohibition when the release operation is authenticated;
A communication unit communicating with the management device;
A monitoring unit that monitors the cancellation of the prohibition by the cancellation operation in the cancellation unit;
When the release operation is authenticated, a notification unit that notifies the management device of the result of the authentication via the communication unit by the communication unit;
A counting unit that counts the number of times the prohibition is canceled by the cancellation unit;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the number of cancellations exceeds a predetermined number;
A receiving unit that receives a communication cancellation operation known only by an administrator of the management device as a cancellation operation for canceling the prohibition of the operation from the management device via the communication unit;
When the determination unit determines that the number of cancellations exceeds the predetermined number of times, the authentication unit enters the communication cancellation mode in which the communication cancellation operation is received as the cancellation operation from the management device via the reception unit. A release mode setting unit configured to set a manual release mode in which the manual release operation is received from the reception unit as the release operation when the authentication unit authenticates the communication release operation received by the reception unit. Prepared,
The notification unit notifies the management device that the number of cancellations exceeds the predetermined number of times via the communication unit when the determination unit determines that the number of cancellations exceeds the predetermined number of times. And
The authentication unit includes a storage unit that stores in advance the manual release operation used in the manual release mode and the communication release operation used in the communication release mode. In the manual release mode, the reception unit In the communication release mode, the release operation received by the receiving unit is stored in the storage unit when the release operation received in step S1 is coincident with the manual release operation stored in the storage unit. An image processing apparatus that determines whether or not the stored communication canceling operation is matched, and authenticates the canceling operation when it is determined that they match . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 .
A storage unit for storing the image data in which the detection unit has detected the copy-prohibited document;
A transmission unit that transmits the image data stored in the storage unit to the management device in response to a request from the management device;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A change receiving unit for receiving a change in the release operation from the management device;
Based on the change received by the change receiving unit, a changing unit that changes the release operation;
An image processing apparatus comprising: An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An image processing apparatus management system comprising: a management apparatus that manages the image processing apparatus that can communicate with the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus management system according to claim 4 .
The management device is
A receiving unit that receives a notification from the notification unit of the image processing apparatus;
A requesting unit that requests the image data read by the reading unit of the image processing device to the image processing device when the receiving unit receives the notification from the image processing device;
An image receiving unit that receives the image data transmitted in response to the request from the image processing device;
An image processing apparatus management system comprising: an analysis unit that analyzes whether at least a part of the image data received by the image reception unit includes the copy-prohibited document. The image processing apparatus management system according to claim 5 .
When the analysis unit of the management apparatus confirms that at least a part of the image data includes the copy-prohibited document, the management unit includes a change instruction unit that transmits an instruction to change the release operation to the image processing apparatus. Image processing device management system.

Images