JP4492558B2 - Image processing apparatus and control program therefor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of handling code data embedded in copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data in image data.

In recent years, image processing techniques and image forming techniques have improved significantly.
In response to such a situation, an image forming apparatus equipped with a function of discriminating a special manuscript that is prohibited from being copied, such as banknotes and securities, and prohibiting illegal copying thereof has been put into practical use.

  Various techniques for prohibiting illegal copying of documents and works used in offices are also disclosed.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing method in which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern including copy permission information is given as a background image in advance in a copying apparatus or the like, and users who can copy based on the permission conditions corresponding to the copy permission information are limited. It is disclosed. Specifically, in Patent Document 1, when a text image is read, digital watermark information is extracted from electronic data corresponding to the text image, and on the other hand, an input of copy permission information is accepted from the user. A technique for permitting copying when the extracted digital watermark information matches the copy permission information is disclosed.
JP 2004-228897 A

  However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 requires the user to input copy permission information, when the user feels complicated, or the user forgets the copy permission information. There was a problem that even though it was a licensed user, copying could not be executed.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing illegal copying while suppressing the burden on the user.

The image processing apparatus according to some aspects of the present invention, to read a communication unit via the network transmitting and receiving information to and from the other image processing apparatus, and an output unit for outputting image data, the originals A data generation unit for generating image data, an information storage unit for storing code data indicating information unique to the image processing device for specifying whether or not the device is permitted to output the image data, Based on the detection unit that detects code data included in the image data generated by the data generation unit , and the detected code data and the code data stored in the information storage unit, the device itself and a discrimination unit for discriminating whether it is permitted to output, code data the information storage unit stores the image can communicate by specific information and the communication unit to the own device Information unique to a processing device, wherein the determination unit is permitted to output image data when the detected code data matches at least one of the stored code data. It is characterized that it is determined .

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when it is determined that not allowed to output the image data by the determination unit, the output unit, the image data the generated different from the image data It is preferable to output by replacing with predetermined image data.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when it is determined that not allowed to output the image data by the determination unit, the output unit preferably stops outputting the images data.

In the image processing device according to the present invention, the code data included in the image data detected by the detection unit is code data embedded in a background pattern added to the document,
When the it is determined that the determination unit is authorized to output the image data by the output unit may output the image to the background pattern data is removed from the image data that is generated.

A control program according to the present invention is a control program for an image processing apparatus including a communication unit, an output unit, a data generation unit, an information storage unit, a detection unit, and a determination unit. Includes a step of transmitting / receiving information to / from another image processing apparatus via a network, a step of outputting image data by the output unit, and a step of outputting image data by the data generation unit reading a document. A step of generating, a step of storing code data indicating information unique to the image processing device for specifying whether or not the device is permitted to output the image data, and the detection A step of detecting code data included in the generated image data; and the determination unit is configured to detect the detected code data and the stored code data. And the step of determining whether or not the device is permitted to output the image data based on the data, the code data to be stored can be communicated by information unique to the device and the communication unit Information that is unique to the image processing apparatus, and the step of determining includes outputting the image data when the detected code data matches at least one of the stored code data. Determine that it is allowed.

In the control program according to the present invention, when it is determined that the output of the image data is not permitted in the determining step, the outputting step differs the generated image data from the image data. It is preferable to output by replacing with predetermined image data.

In the control program according to the present invention, when it is determined that the output of the image data is not permitted in the determining step, the output of the data preferably stops the output of the image data.

In the control program according to the present invention, the code data included in the image data detected in the detecting step is code data embedded in a background pattern added to the document, and the image data is determined in the determining step. When the output is determined to be permitted, it is preferable that the outputting step outputs an image in which the tint block data is removed from the generated image data.

In the image processing apparatus, information unique to the apparatus itself and code data which is information unique to the image processing apparatus communicable by the communication unit are stored, and the code detected in the image data generated by reading the document If the data matches at least one of the code data stored as described above, it is determined that the device itself is permitted to output image data.

As a result, when information for selecting a device is added to the output image data, it is necessary to input information (such as the above-mentioned copy permission information) from the user as a copy mode of the output image data. Instead, it can be changed for each apparatus based on information added to the image data.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when image data of a document to be copied is read and output, output is performed by processing on the apparatus side without requiring input of information from the user. Can be changed.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in the image processing apparatus, illegal copying can be suppressed while suppressing the burden on the user by performing setting or the like for each apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an installation state of image processing apparatuses 100A to 100D according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Each of image processing apparatuses 100A to 100D is configured by an apparatus that generates image data by reading a document image, such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals).

  FIG. 1 shows a state where four image processing apparatuses 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> D are installed in the office 500. FIG. 1 shows a state where three image processing apparatuses 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> C are installed in a predetermined area 501 in the office 500.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 (a general term for the image processing apparatuses 100A to 100D) is the image processing apparatus 100A to 100A installed in the area 501 among the image processing apparatuses 100A to 100D installed in the office 500. Only in some image processing apparatuses 100 such as 100C, a certain original can be copied and output as it is. This will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 2, it is assumed that a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is applied to document 200 and an authentication code is embedded in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern.

  When the authentication code corresponding to the authentication code embedded in the original 200 is stored in the image processing apparatus 100 in which the original 200 is copied, the data 201 represents the image of the original 200 as a copy output. It is generated in the read image processing apparatus 100 and stored. Data 201 is data corresponding to an image obtained by copying the original document 200 as it is. Further, instead of storing the data 201 in the image processing apparatus 100, the data 201 may be printed on paper and output.

  On the other hand, when the document 200 is copied in the image processing apparatus 100 in which the above-described authentication code is not stored, the output image data is image data created by reading the document 200 as data 202. On the other hand, processing such as embossing of the tint block or painting of a part or all of the image is performed, output is stopped, or image data created by reading the original 200 as data 203 is other data. It is replaced with and output. Such processing for image data, stop of output, or replacement of image data is performed in the present embodiment when the document 200 including the authentication code is copied by the image processing apparatus 100 that does not store the authentication code. In this case, it is considered that the copy is an illegal copy, so that the content of the document 200 is not output as it is. Accordingly, in FIG. 2, as a mode in which the document 200 is copied by the image processing apparatus 100 that does not store the authentication code, the data 202 obtained by processing a part or all of the generated image data is displayed. It is exemplified that the data is output, nothing is output, or the data 203 is output such that the data is replaced and the image is different from the original, but the content of the original 200 is not output as it is. For example, it may be other than this.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus 100. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram corresponding to a characteristic part of the image processing apparatus 100 relating to the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 3, an image processing apparatus 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1 that controls the overall operation of the image processing apparatus 100, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 2 that temporarily stores data, a program, and the like. ROM (Read Only Memory) 3 for storing data and constants, memory 4 for storing data in a rewritable manner, panel operation unit 5 for displaying information and touch keys operated by the user, printer 6 for outputting images, It includes a scanner 7 that reads an image of a document and generates image data, and a communication unit 8 that transmits and receives information to and from other devices.

  Referring to FIG. 4, image processing apparatus 100 includes an authentication code detection unit 111, an authentication code determination unit 112, a network communication unit 113, and an image processing unit 114.

  The authentication code detection unit 111 receives image data generated by reading an image of a document with the scanner 7. The authentication code detection unit 111 first determines whether or not code data is included in the input image data, and if the code data is included, the included code is included. The contents of the data are detected.

Here, the code data will be described.
The code data includes one or more data cells. In the data cell, there are two types of patterns: a first dot pattern corresponding to a value of 0 and a second dot pattern corresponding to a value of 1. Each of the first dot pattern and the second dot pattern includes a position recognition dot and a data expression dot. The position recognition dot is a dot indicating the reference position of each dot pattern, and is composed of a position expression dot and a position expression auxiliary dot. A data expression dot is a dot for expressing a value of 0 or 1 in each dot pattern. An example of the first dot pattern is shown in FIG. 5A, and an example of the second dot pattern is shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, each of the first dot pattern 14A and the second dot pattern 14B is a 16 × 16 pixel binary pattern (hereinafter referred to as a data cell). Including. In these, one pixel and a position expressing dot D1 indicating the reference position are arranged at the upper left corner. Here, the reference position is a reference position that is referred to in order to determine the position of a data expression dot D3 described later. By embedding the code pattern in the image data, in the output image, the position expression dots D1 are arranged at intervals of 16 pixels in two directions, the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction (horizontal direction).

  That is, whether or not code data is included in the image data is determined by determining whether or not position recognition dots are present on the image data. Whether or not position recognition dots exist is determined by whether or not dots arranged at intervals of 16 pixels exist continuously for a predetermined number of times.

  Then, a position expression auxiliary dot D2 is arranged at a position 8 pixels away from the position expression dot D1 on the right and bottom. That is, by repeatedly arranging the data cells in the code pattern, the position representation auxiliary dot D2 is located 8 pixels away from the position representation dot D1 in two directions, the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the horizontal direction (horizontal direction). Be placed.

  In the first dot pattern 14A and the second dot pattern 14B, data expression dots D3 are arranged at different positions for data 0 (see FIG. 5A) and data 1 (see FIG. 5B). .

  If the authentication code detecting unit 111 determines that the code data is included in the image data, the code is determined based on the combination of the arrangement of the first dot pattern 14A and the dot pattern 14B in the code data. The data content is composed.

  When the data cell is embedded at a resolution of 600 dpi, the data cell is very small, 16/600 inches (0.068 cm) on a side, and thus the data cell appears gray on the printed paper. Looks like a background image.

  The authentication code determination unit 112 stores an authentication code for determining whether or not copying of the document 200 is permitted. Then, the authentication code determination unit 112 determines whether or not the stored authentication code matches the content of the code data detected by the authentication code detection unit 111. Note that the authentication code need not be stored in the authentication code 112, and may be stored, for example, in another device to which the image processing apparatus 100 is connected via the network communication unit 113. In this case, the authentication code determination unit 112 determines whether or not the authentication code read via the network communication unit 113 matches the content of the code data detected by the authentication code detection unit 111.

  The image processing unit 114 is generated when the document 200 is read when the authentication code determination unit 112 determines that the stored authentication code and the content of the code data detected from the image data do not match. The processed image data is processed so that data 202 (FIG. 2) and data 203 (FIG. 2) are output.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a copy operation executed by the CPU 1 when a document is copied in the image processing apparatus 100.

  Referring to FIG. 6, in image processing apparatus 100, when an input for causing panel operation unit 5 to start a copying operation is performed, CPU 1 causes scanner 7 to scan a document in step SA 10. Thereby, image data corresponding to the document is generated in the scanner 7.

  Next, in step SA20, the CPU 1 inputs the image data generated in step SA10 to the authentication code detection unit 111, and causes the authentication code detection unit 111 to detect the contents of the code data as described above.

  Next, in step SA30, the CPU 1 outputs the image data generated in step SA10 as it is (as in data 201 (FIG. 2)) based on the contents of the code data detected in step SA20. Determine whether or not you are allowed to do so. The determination in step SA30 is specifically a determination of whether or not the authentication code stored in authentication code determination unit 112 or the like matches the content of the code data detected in step SA20. If they match, the CPU 1 determines that its own device is permitted to output the image data generated from the document 200 as it is, and advances the process to step SA50. On the other hand, if they do not match, the CPU 1 proceeds to step SA40, assuming that its own device is not permitted to output as it is.

  In step SA40, the CPU 1 causes the image processing unit 114 to perform image processing (data conversion or the like) as described with reference to FIG. 2 on the image data generated in step SA10, and then in step SA60. The processed image data is output to the printer 6 and the copying operation is terminated. In the description with reference to FIG. 2, when the image data is “not output”, the CPU 1 ends the copy operation without executing the processing of step SA40 and step SA60 as described herein. . In such a case, the CPU 1 may display a message such as “This image processing apparatus is not allowed to copy this document” on the panel operation unit 5.

  In step SA50, the CPU 1 executes image processing executed in a normal copy operation on the image data generated in step SA10. Note that the image processing here includes removal of a background pattern. In step SA60, the CPU 1 outputs the processed data to the printer 6 and ends the copying operation.

  In the copy operation described with reference to FIG. 6, the output of the image data is a print output on paper by the printer 6 (step SA60), but the output of the image data in the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the output of the image data may be that the image data processed in step SA40 or step SA50 is stored in a predetermined memory in the image processing apparatus 100, or other data may be output via the communication unit 8. It may be transmitted to the device.

  In the present embodiment described above, it is possible to set permission / non-permission of image output for a predetermined document for each image processing apparatus even in the office 500.

  As a result, even within the same company, information can be supplied only to users who use specific devices.

  Further, in the present embodiment, whether image output is permitted / not permitted is discriminated based on information unique to each image processing apparatus 100 (authentication code storage) rather than a user input of a password, an authentication code, or the like. Therefore, it is possible to suppress illegal or undesired copying operations while eliminating the burden on the user.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Note that the description of the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment that is the same as that of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will not be repeated.

  The hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can be basically the same as that of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a control block diagram corresponding to a characteristic part of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment with respect to the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 7, image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a tint block pattern adding unit 121, a network communication unit 122, a setting unit 123, and a code generation unit 124. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern addition unit 121 receives image data generated by the scanner 7 or image data via the network communication unit 122, and adds a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern to the image data. The background pattern added here is embedded with code data as described in the first embodiment corresponding to predetermined information. The predetermined information is information corresponding to the authentication code stored in the image processing apparatus 100 as described in the first embodiment.

  In other words, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that can output image data including code data, that is, image data that has been “document” in the first embodiment.

  When the code data is embedded in the background pattern, the image processing apparatus 100 for which the code data corresponds to the authentication code is determined based on, for example, information input to the panel operation unit 5 by the user. It is set in the setting unit 123. Specifically, the setting unit 123 specifies information for designating (from among the image processing devices 100A to 100D) the image processing device 100 that permits copying of the document that is the target of the copy operation from the panel operation unit 5. Entered. Based on this, the setting unit 123 connects to the designated image processing device 100 via the network or the like to the network communication unit 122 and reads the authentication code stored in the image processing device 100. Then, the setting unit 123 creates copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data in which code data corresponding to the read authentication code is embedded. The generated tint block data is added to the image data by the tint block pattern adding unit 121 via the image data generated by the scanner 7 or the network communication unit 122.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 1 when an image output operation is executed in the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 8, when an input for outputting an image is made, CPU 1 inputs the image data to tint block pattern adding unit 121 in step SB10. Note that the image input in this case may be image data generated by reading a document by the scanner 7 or image data input from another device via the communication unit 8. Also good.

  Next, in step SB20, the CPU 1 causes the code generation unit 124 to create code data (authentication code) to be embedded in the background pattern. The code data embedded here may correspond to the own device or may correspond to the image processing apparatus 100 designated by the user.

  Next, in step SB30, the CPU 1 causes the background pattern pattern adding unit 121 to add the background pattern embedded with the code data created in step SB20 to the image data input to the background pattern pattern adding unit 121.

  In step SB40, the CPU 1 outputs the image data to which the background pattern is added in step SB30, and ends the image output operation. The output of the image data may be a print output on paper by the printer 6, may be stored in a predetermined memory in the image processing apparatus 100, or via the communication unit 8. It may be transmitted to other devices.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Note that the description of the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment that is the same as that of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will not be repeated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that there are image processing apparatuses 100A to 100C connected to the network 300 and an image processing apparatus 100D not connected to the network 300. In the image processing apparatuses 100A to 100C, the image processing apparatus corresponding to the code data embedded in the document is connected to the network 300 when a certain document is copied. It is allowed to output the data as it is.

  Note that the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a block configuration as illustrated in FIG. 4, as with the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 1 when a copy operation is executed in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 10, in image processing apparatus 100, when input for starting copy operation to panel operation unit 5 is made, CPU 1 in step SA10, as described in the first embodiment, The scanner 7 scans the document to generate image data, and in step SA20, the authentication code detection unit 111 performs code data detection on the image data. In step SA30, the content of the detected code data is changed. Based on this, it is determined whether or not the device is permitted to output the image data generated in step SA10 as it is.

  In the present embodiment, the authentication code determination unit 112 stores the authentication codes of all the image processing apparatuses 100A to 100C (see FIG. 9) connected to the network 300. In step SA30, these authentication codes are stored. If at least one of the codes matches the content of the code data detected in step SA20, it is determined that the own device is permitted to output the image data as it is.

  In the present embodiment, when it is determined in step SA30 that image data is allowed to be output as it is, the process proceeds to step SA31. On the other hand, when determining that it is not permitted, the CPU 1 advances the process to step SA40.

  In step SA40, the CPU 1 causes the image processing unit 114 to perform image processing on the image data generated in step SA10, and then in step SA60, the processed image, as in the first embodiment. Data is output to the printer 6 and the copying operation is terminated.

  In step SA31, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the own apparatus can be connected to the image processing apparatus corresponding to the content of the code data detected in step SA20. If the CPU 1 determines that the connection is possible, the process proceeds to step SA50. If the CPU 1 determines that the connection is not possible, the process proceeds to step SA40. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 9, in the image processing apparatus 100 </ b> A, when the code data detected in step SA <b> 20 corresponds to the image processing apparatuses 100 </ b> A to 100 </ b> C, connection is made via the own apparatus or the network 300. If it is possible to connect to the image processing apparatus 100D, the process proceeds to step SA40.

  In step SA50, the CPU 1 executes image processing executed in a normal copy operation on the image data generated in step SA10. Note that the image processing here includes removal of a background pattern. In step SA60, the CPU 1 outputs the processed data to the printer 6 and ends the copying operation.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Note that the description of the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment that is the same as that of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will not be repeated. It is assumed that the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has the same block configuration as the image processing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 1 when an image output operation is executed in the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus that can output image data including code data.

  Referring to FIG. 11, when an input for outputting an image is made, CPU 1 inputs the image data to tint block pattern adding unit 121 in step SB10.

  Next, in the present embodiment, the CPU 1 confirms the image processing apparatus 100 that can be connected to the own apparatus in step SB11. Specifically, the CPU 1 communicates with each image processing apparatus 100 on the network 300 in the communication unit 8 and records information specifying the image processing apparatus 100 that has responded in the RAM 2 or the like.

  Next, in step SB12, the CPU 1 presents a list of connectable image processing apparatuses 100 confirmed in step SB11 to the user on the panel operation unit 5 or the like. The selection of the image processing apparatus 100 that permits the document to be output as it is from the list is accepted. Information for specifying the image processing apparatus 100 selected by the user is recorded in the RAM 2.

  Next, in step SB13, the CPU 1 accepts information for setting a time limit for permitting image output from the user via the panel operation unit 5 or the like for each of the image processing apparatuses 100 selected in step SB12. , Recorded in the RAM 2.

  In step SB20, the CPU 1 causes the code generation unit 124 to create code data (authentication code) to be embedded in the background pattern. The code data created here is allowed to output the original image data as it is in the copying operation set in step SB13 for each device and the information for specifying the image processing device 100 selected in step SB12. And information for specifying the period to be executed.

  In step SB30, the CPU 1 causes the tint block pattern adding unit 121 to add the tint block representing the code data generated in step SB20 to the image data input to the tint block pattern adding unit 121.

  In step SB40, the CPU 1 outputs the image data to which the background pattern is added in step SB30, and ends the image output operation.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Note that the description of the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment that is the same as that of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will not be repeated. Further, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a block configuration as shown in FIG. 4, similarly to the image processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of processing executed by the CPU 1 when a copy operation is executed in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. Note that the copy operation executed in the present embodiment is a copy operation for a document in which code data including information for specifying a permitted period is embedded as output in the fourth embodiment. Equivalent to.

  Referring to FIG. 12, in image processing apparatus 100, when an input for causing panel operation unit 5 to start a copying operation is made, CPU 1 in step SA10, as described in the first embodiment, The scanner 7 scans the document to generate image data. In step SA20, the authentication code detection unit 111 detects the content of the code data for the image data. In step SA30, the detected code data is detected. Based on the contents, it is determined whether or not the own device is permitted to output the image data generated in step SA10 as it is.

  In the present embodiment, the authentication code determination unit 112 stores the authentication codes of all the image processing apparatuses 100A to 100C (see FIG. 9) connected to the network 300. In step SA30, these authentication codes are stored. If at least one of the codes matches the content of the code data detected in step SA20, it is determined that the own device is permitted to output the image data as it is.

  In the present embodiment, when it is determined in step SA30 that output of image data is permitted as it is, the process proceeds to step SA32. On the other hand, when determining that it is not permitted, the CPU 1 advances the process to step SA40.

  In step SA40, the CPU 1 causes the image processing unit 114 to perform image processing on the image data generated in step SA10, and then in step SA60, the processed image, as in the first embodiment. Data is output to the printer 6 and the copying operation is terminated.

  In step SA32, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the current time is within the period for permitting image output included in the code data detected in step SA20. If it is determined that the current time is within the period, the process proceeds to step SA50. If it is determined that it is not within the period, the process proceeds to step SA40.

  In step SA50, the CPU 1 executes image processing executed in a normal copy operation on the image data generated in step SA10. Note that the image processing here includes removal of a background pattern. In step SA60, the CPU 1 outputs the processed data to the printer 6 and ends the copying operation.

  Each embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. In addition, each embodiment is intended to be implemented in combination as much as possible.

It is a figure which shows typically the installation state of the image processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mode in which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention performs copy output. FIG. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the image processing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial control block diagram of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the dot pattern recognized with the image processing apparatus of FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a copy operation executed by the CPU of FIG. 3. It is a partial control block diagram of the image processing apparatus which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the image output operation | movement which CPU of the image processing apparatus which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the image processing apparatus which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the copy operation | movement which CPU of the image processing apparatus which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart of the image output operation | movement which CPU of the image processing apparatus which is the 4th Embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart of the copy operation | movement which CPU of the image processing apparatus which is the 5th Embodiment of this invention performs.

Explanation of symbols

  1 CPU, 2 RAM, 3 ROM, 4 memory, 5 panel operation unit, 6 printer, 7 scanner, 8 communication unit, 111 authentication code detection unit, 112 authentication code determination unit, 113, 122 network communication unit, 114 image processing unit 121 ground pattern pattern addition unit, 123 setting unit, 124 code generation unit.

Claims (8)

A communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from other image processing apparatuses via a network;
An output unit for outputting image data;
A data generating unit that generates image data by reading an original manuscript,
An information storage unit for storing code data indicating information unique to the image processing device for specifying whether or not the device itself is permitted to output the image data ;
A detection unit for detecting code data included in the image data generated by the data generation unit ;
Based on the detected code data and the code data stored in the information storage unit, the apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether or not output of the image data is permitted ,
The code data stored in the information storage unit is information specific to the device itself and information specific to the image processing device that can communicate with the communication unit,
The discriminating unit discriminates that its own device is permitted to output image data when the detected code data matches at least one of the stored code data . Wherein when it is determined that not allowed to output the image data by the determination unit, the output unit, and outputs the replaced different predetermined image data is image data that the generated with the image data, wherein Item 8. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1. If it is determined that not allowed to output the image data by the determination unit, the output unit stops outputting the images data, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The code data included in the image data detected by the detection unit is code data embedded in a background pattern added to the document,
When it is judged as being permitted to output the image data by the determination unit, the output unit outputs the image background pattern data is removed from the image data the generated, claims 1 to 3 An image processing apparatus according to any one of the above. A control program executed by an image processing apparatus including a communication unit, an output unit, a data generation unit, an information storage unit, a detection unit, and a determination unit,
In the image processing apparatus,
The communication unit transmits and receives information to and from another image processing apparatus via a network;
The output unit outputting image data;
The data generation unit generating image data by reading a document;
The information storage unit storing code data indicating information unique to the image processing device for specifying whether the device is permitted to output the image data;
The detecting unit detecting code data included in the generated image data;
The determination unit, based on the detected code data and the stored code data, to determine whether the device itself is permitted to output the image data,
The code data to be stored is information unique to the device itself and information unique to the image processing device that can communicate with the communication unit,
The determining step is a control program for determining that the device itself is permitted to output image data when the detected code data matches at least one of the stored code data. When it is determined that the output of image data is not permitted in the determining step, the outputting step replaces the generated image data with predetermined image data different from the image data, and outputs the image data. The control program according to claim 5. The control program according to claim 5, wherein when it is determined in the determining step that output of image data is not permitted, the step of outputting data stops output of image data. The code data included in the image data detected in the detecting step is code data embedded in a background pattern added to the document,
The output step outputs an image in which the tint block data is removed from the generated image data when it is determined in the determining step that output of image data is permitted. Item 8. The control program according to any one of Items 7.

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