JP4674539B2 - Printing instruction apparatus, instruction method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for preventing unauthorized copying of a document image.

  In recent years, copying of documents has become extremely simple due to the widespread use of devices having an image forming function such as personal computers, printers, and copiers. In such a situation, a manuscript to which copyright has been granted or a manuscript that prohibits unauthorized duplication such as “copy prohibited”, “restrict copying”, “confidential”, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as “confidential manuscript”) There is a drawback that copying is easily performed. In other words, it is a manuscript image containing character strings, figures, tables, graphs, etc., and it is necessary to prevent leakage of important information. The leakage of important information (confidential content) has become a problem. Therefore, it is necessary for an apparatus having an image forming function to have a function to prevent misuse and duplication of confidential documents.

  In Patent Document 1, copy prohibition information (whether or not to prohibit copying), copy permission condition information (information for permitting copying when the conditions are met), latent image information (information on a latent image that floats when copied) ) Is recorded as a background tint pattern of image data, and a technique for restricting users who can copy is disclosed.

JP 2003-280469 A

  However, when forming an image in which a control code is superimposed on a document image, there is a problem that the printing quality of the control code differs depending on the copying machine. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, even when the same control code is printed by three image forming apparatuses, the size and print width of the printed control code are different. As a result, when the control code is scanned, the detection accuracy varies, and erroneous detection may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a print instruction apparatus capable of copying a control code having a constant quality regardless of the characteristics of the image forming apparatus, an instruction method therefor, and a program therefor. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a print instruction apparatus according to the present invention is a print instruction apparatus that generates a print job of document information input as a print target from an application and sends it to a printer. The setting information is analyzed, print job analysis means for detecting designation information of a printer for forming an image and control information for controlling the formation of the image, and a print parameter for a control code representing the control information A plurality of storage means corresponding to the characteristics, and a print parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer instructed by the application is selected for the control code, and a print job for instructing printing of a document with control information is generated And job generation means.
As described above, according to the present invention, since the control parameter is printed by selecting the print parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection when the printed control code is read.

In the print instruction apparatus, the print parameter is set so that the print width becomes small in the case of a printer having a large print width of the control code when printed.
In the case of a printer in which the print width of the control code is small when printing is performed, the print width may be set to be large.

  In the printing instruction apparatus, the printing parameter may be set according to the density of the control code when printing is performed. The print parameters may be set according to the characteristics of the printer engine. The print parameters may be set according to printer model information.

  The printing instruction apparatus may include a counting unit that counts the number of printed sheets of the printer, and the print parameter may be set according to the number of printed sheets.

  The print instruction method of the present invention is a print instruction method for generating a print job of document information input as a print target from an application and sending it to a printer, analyzing the print setting information input from the application, A step of detecting designation information of a printer for forming an image and control information for controlling the formation of the image, and a plurality of control parameters for the control code representing the control information are prepared according to the characteristics of the printer, and the application Selecting a print parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer instructed from the control code, and generating a print job instructing printing of a document with control information.

  The print instruction program of the present invention is a print instruction program that generates a print job of document information input as a print target from an application and sends the print job to a printer, and analyzes the print setting information input from the application on a computer In accordance with the characteristics of the printer, a plurality of steps for detecting the designation information of the printer that forms the image and the control information for controlling the formation of the image, and the print parameters for the control code representing the control information are prepared. And a step of selecting a print parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer instructed by the application for the control code and a step of generating a print job instructing printing of a document with control information.

  The present invention can form a control code with a constant quality regardless of the characteristics of the image forming apparatus.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an image with a control code generated by the print instruction apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
A control code for restricting image formation is embedded in the image with the control code. This control code is embedded in the image as a background pattern image. The control code includes the following information.
(A) Copy prohibition information (whether or not to prohibit copying)
(B) ... Copy permission condition information (information for permitting copying if the conditions are met)
For example, a personal identification number, a user ID number that permits copying (employee number, etc.), a date and time when copying prohibition is released, a machine number of a copying machine that permits copying (C) ... latent image information (related to a latent image that floats when copied) information)
For example, latent image character string, font type, font size, latent image character string direction (angle), background tint image color

  Here, the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes a latent image IP and a background pattern PB that covers the entire surface of the output image O.

  The background pattern PB and the latent image IP are different from each other. However, the output image O is formed with a pattern having the same pixel area and pixel color per unit area so that it can be seen by the human eye as a uniform gray background.

  The latent image IP is composed of finer dots than other portions so that the image appears to the extent that the latent image IP can be identified by human eyes in the copied document.

  The background pattern PB is composed of codes. The code is composed of a condition code CD representing arbitrary code data and a prohibited copy code CP that restricts copying.

  The code is composed of a hatched pattern PS representing arbitrary code data. In the oblique line pattern PS, the one represented by a half line inclined 45 degrees counterclockwise with respect to the scanning direction D represents bit 0 of the code data, and the one inclined 135 degrees represents bit 1 of the code data.

  The forbidden copy code CP is composed of a pattern in which the entire hatched pattern PS represents bit 0 and a bit 1. The forbidden copy code CP is used to determine that a copy is restricted when two or more types of forbidden copy codes CP are detected.

The condition code CD is composed of a synchronization code area AS and a data code area AC.
The synchronous code area AS is a code area in which the outer periphery of a rectangular area of a predetermined size surrounding the data code area AC is composed of a hatched pattern PS1 in which all bits 1 are represented.
In the data code area, a code number, a user ID number permitting copying (employee number, etc.), a date and time for canceling copying prohibition, a machine number of a copying machine permitting copying, and the like are encoded and embedded as a condition code CD. ing.

  Next, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the PC 1 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 20 are connected by a network cable such as a LAN.

  The PC 1 includes an operation / input unit 6 including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 7 that displays various information, a control unit 2 that controls the entire PC 1, and a storage unit 4 that stores various information. The network interface 5 that controls the interface with the network, and the printer driver 3 that sends a print job to the printer 20 and performs a printing operation.

  In this system, the PC 1 gives a drawing command for document information (file data or the like) created by various applications, and outputs it to the printer 20 connected to the PC 1 via a network cable. That is, the PC 1 and the printer 20 cooperate to generate and output an image based on the document information to be printed.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the printer driver 3.
When the printer driver 3 receives a print job from the application, the print driver analysis unit 11 analyzes it. The print job analysis unit 11 extracts the following information by analysis.
First, components such as characters, graphics, and images, and information such as positions and sizes are extracted.
Next, copy prohibition information (whether or not to prohibit copying), copy permission condition information (information for permitting copying when the conditions are met), latent image information (information on a latent image that floats when copied), etc. The additional information is extracted.
Further, information specifying a printer for printing an image is taken out.

  Printer designation information is output to the code instruction unit 12. The code instruction unit 12 includes a memory 13. In the memory 13, print parameters that specify the size of the control code, the print width, and the like are registered for each image forming apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral. This print parameter is determined according to the characteristics of the printer. Upon receiving the printer designation information from the print job analysis unit 11, the code instruction unit 12 refers to the memory 13 and outputs the corresponding print parameter to the job control command generation unit 14.

  For example, if the control code is printed larger than normal when a normal normal size printing parameter is set as in the case of the multifunction device A shown in FIG. 1, the size and the printing width are shown in FIG. Set the print parameter that is smaller than usual. Note that the print parameters are set according to the density of the actually printed image. The printer has this print parameter information. When the printer is connected to the PC 1 and the printer driver is installed on the PC 1 side, the print parameter information is registered in the memory 14 on the PC 1 side.

  In addition, when the control code is printed smaller than normal when the normal normal print parameters are set as in the printer C shown in FIG. 1, the size and print width are set as shown in FIG. Set the print parameters larger than normal.

  The job control command generation unit 15 generates a control command (drawing command) necessary for printing the file data using the analysis result of the print job, and passes this control command to the PDL command generation unit 16.

  The PDL command generation unit 16 uses the control command generated by the job control command generation unit 15 to generate a PDL command that describes, in PDL format, which component is to be printed where and how, and so on. Are sent to the printer 20 as a print job.

  As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, since the control code is printed by selecting the print parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer, the control code for restricting the printing can be accurately recognized by the reading device. Therefore, there is no problem that the control code cannot be read and the printing cannot be restricted.

  Although the print parameters are set according to the characteristics of the printer, the print parameters may be changed depending on the printer driver, model name, and the like.

  In general, the higher the number of times the device is used, the narrower and thinner the control code, so the control unit 2 counts the number of times the printer is printed and sets the print parameters according to the count. You can also

  Next, the printer 20 that has received PDL data from the PC 1 via the network will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the printer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 20 includes an operation control unit 21, an image processing unit 22, and a printer unit 23. The operation control unit 21 includes a control unit 33 that performs overall control of the image processing unit 22 and the printer unit 23, a network I / F unit 31, and a control panel 32 that is a user interface. The network I / F unit 31 transmits and receives data via the network. The control panel 32 has an input / output device such as a touch panel display, and is a part that receives various operations and input of embedded information from the user.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the image processing unit 22 includes a document image generation unit 36, a background pattern image generation unit 34, a document image buffer 37, and a background pattern image buffer 35. The image processing unit 22 generates background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data in accordance with an instruction from the operation control unit 21, synthesizes it with the drawn document image data, and outputs it to the printer unit 23. The printer unit 23 prints and records the image data processed by the image processing unit 22 on paper.

The operation of the printer 20 will be described.
First, when the control unit 33 receives PDL data via a network, the control unit 33 stores the received PDL data in the internal memory of the control unit 33.
Next, the control unit 33 checks whether control code copy prohibition information and copy permission condition information are added to the header portion of the received PDL data.
When the control code is added to the header, the control unit 33 extracts the control code and notifies the background tint block image generation unit 34 of the image processing unit 22 to perform the background tint block image generation process. The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data is generated as binary image data of 600 dpi. The generated background pattern image data is stored in the background pattern image buffer 35.

  Further, the control unit 33 outputs the PDL data to the document image generation unit 36, and performs document image drawing / generation processing. The document image data is generated as, for example, 600 dpi, binary, YMCK full-color image data. The YMCK binary image drawing process is performed by a known method. The generated document image data is stored in the document image buffer 37.

  Further, the control unit 33 controls the image composition unit 38 to synthesize the document image data and the background pattern image data. At this time, it is set whether the background tint block image is to be combined with any one of the YMCK planes of the document image.

The control unit 33 controls the printer unit 23 to start a print output operation. In synchronization with the operation of the printer unit 23, the image composition unit 38 reads document image data from the document image buffer 37 and outputs the document image data to the printer unit 23. If it is set to synthesize a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image data is read from the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image buffer 35 in synchronism with the reading of the document image data, and ORed to a predetermined color plane of the document image data. (OR) Composition is performed, and the composite image data is output to the printer unit 23.
In the printer unit 23, the composite image data is printed and recorded on paper.

  The embodiment described above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the trouble of prior art. It is a figure which shows an example of the control code to which an image is added. It is a figure which shows the structure of PC1. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer driver. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a control code printed by a print job from a printer driver according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer.

Explanation of symbols

1 PC
2 Control unit 3 Printer driver 4 Storage unit 5 Network I / F
6 Operation / Input Unit 7 Display Unit 11 Print Job Analysis Unit 12 Code Instruction Unit 13 Memory 14 Print Job Generation Unit 15 Job Control Command Generation Unit 16 PDL Command Generation Unit 20 Printer

Claims (8)

A print instruction apparatus that generates a print job of document information input as a print target from an application and sends the print job to a printer.
Print job analysis means for analyzing print setting information input from the application and detecting designation information of a printer for forming an image and control information for controlling image formation;
Storage means for storing a plurality of print parameters for control codes representing the control information according to the characteristics of the printer;
Print job generation means for selecting a print parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer instructed by the application for the control code, and generating a print job instructing printing of a document with control information;
A printing instruction apparatus characterized by comprising: The print parameter is set so that the print width is small when the print width of the control code is large when printing is performed.
2. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print width is set to be large in a printer in which the print width of the control code is small when printing is performed. The print instruction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the print parameter is set according to a density of the control code at the time of printing.   The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print parameter is set according to characteristics of a printer engine.   The print instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print parameter is set according to model information of a printer. Having a counting means for counting the number of printed sheets of the printer;
The printing instruction apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the printing parameter is set according to the number of printed sheets. A print instruction method for generating a print job of document information input as a print target from an application and sending it to a printer,
Analyzing print setting information input from the application to detect designation information of a printer that forms an image and control information that controls formation of the image;
Preparing a plurality of printing parameters for the control code representing the control information according to the characteristics of the printer, and selecting a printing parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer instructed by the application for the control code;
Generating a print job instructing printing of a document with control information;
A printing instruction method characterized by comprising: A print instruction program that generates a print job of document information input as a print target from an application and sends the print job to a printer.
Analyzing print setting information input from the application on a computer to detect designation information of a printer for forming an image and control information for controlling image formation;
Preparing a plurality of printing parameters for the control code representing the control information according to the characteristics of the printer, and selecting a printing parameter that matches the characteristics of the printer instructed by the application for the control code;
Generating a print job instructing printing of a document with control information;
A print instruction program characterized in that

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