JP4687486B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method, and image forming apparatus control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of embedding management information in an image, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus. Related to the control program.

  In order to prevent leakage of important information such as confidential information and personal information, copying is prohibited on print images and scanned images handled by image forming devices (MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), printers, facsimile devices, personal computers (PC), etc.) There is a technique for embedding information such as information and limiting copying.

In Patent Document 1 below, in order to manage content data, two types of watermarks are added to the content data, and if weak watermarks exist, the management information thereof is displayed. Discloses a technique for acquiring information using the management information.
JP 2001-344894 A

  However, when a conventional technique for embedding information in an image is employed, the following problems may occur.

  (1) Information such as copy prohibition information may be deleted from an image by a specific operation (for example, change of density setting of a print image).

  (2) Depending on the type of document, even if information such as copy prohibition information is to be embedded, the background is crushed, and as a result, copy prohibition information cannot be held.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control program capable of appropriately embedding information in an image. The purpose is that.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a combining unit that combines management information with a document image, a setting unit that sets a mode as an image output condition , and a set output condition. Output means for outputting the document image combined with the management information in step (a), and a determination means for determining whether or not the mode set by the setting means can be accepted when the output means performs output. The means determines whether a mode in which management information is embedded and output by the setting means and another mode for losing management information is set, and a mode in which the determination means embeds management information by the setting means and outputs When it is determined that another mode for losing management information has been set, a notification means for notifying a screen for selecting one of the modes is further provided.
Preferably, when another mode for losing the management information is set, the information processing apparatus further includes a changing unit that changes the management information combining process for the document image by the combining unit.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming apparatus, a composition step for combining management information with a document image, a setting step for setting a mode as an image output condition, and the management information combined with the set output condition. an output step of outputting the original image which is, when performing output at output step, and a determination step of determining whether or not it is possible to accept a mode set by the setting step, the determination step, setting step Determines whether a mode for embedding and outputting management information and another mode for losing management information have been set, and the decision step embeds and outputs management information in the setting step and loses the management information in the case where the another mode cell is determined to have been set, it notifies the screen for selecting either notification stearate Further comprising a flop.

An image forming apparatus control program according to an aspect of the present invention includes a composition step of combining management information with a document image, a setting step of setting a mode as an image output condition, and the management information combined with the set output condition an output step of outputting the original image which is, when performing output at output step, to execute a determination step in the computer whether it can accept the mode set by the setting step, the determination step , It is determined whether a mode in which management information is embedded and output in the setting step and another mode in which management information is lost is set, and a mode in which the determination step embeds and outputs management information in the setting step in the case where the another mode in which loss of information is determined to have been set, for selecting either Further causes the computer to execute the notification step of notifying the screen.

  According to these inventions, it is possible to determine whether or not management information is missing when outputting a document image in which management information is combined under a set output condition. Alternatively, when the setting for combining the management information is made, the setting of the output condition can be prohibited or the range can be limited.

  As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming apparatus control method, and an image forming apparatus control program capable of appropriately embedding information in an image.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to the figure, an image forming apparatus includes an ROM 8, a work memory 9, and a control unit 7, and an image input unit (scanner) 1 that optically reads an arbitrary image and converts it into electronic data, An image output unit (printer) 2 that prints image data on a predetermined sheet, a communication unit 10 that communicates with the outside through a LAN or a telephone line, and an image input unit 1 for input or via the communication unit 10 An image memory unit 3 for temporarily storing image data given from the outside, an operation / display unit (operation panel) 4 for performing various operation inputs and displaying various setting information related to the operation, and image data A compression / decryption unit 5 that compresses and decrypts the mail, a mailer (e-mail transmission / reception application) 6 that transmits / receives e-mails, a file format of image data, It includes a file conversion unit 12 for performing various file conversion such yl format, and an external interface unit 11 for external connection.

  Actually, the work memory 9 and the image memory unit 3 share the same volatile memory.

  An operation signal is generated in response to a user command on the operation / display unit 4, and the control unit 7 operates according to a software program stored in advance in the ROM 8 based on the operation signal.

The execution procedure of the software program in the image processing apparatus will be described later.
The image input unit 1 includes an image sensor such as a CCD, a slider control unit, various image processing control units, and the like, and is a block that optically reads a document and converts it into an electrical signal.

  The image output unit 2 includes an engine control unit such as a laser or an ink jet, various image processing control units, and the like, and is a block that outputs an electrical signal onto a recording sheet.

  The image memory unit 3 is a block for storing image data input from the image input unit 1 and image data input from the communication unit 10 and the external interface unit 11. The image memory unit 3 stores the code data after the image data is compressed by the compression / decoding unit 5.

  The operation / display unit 4 is a user interface unit including a numeric keypad, a start key, an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the like, and performs mode selection and simple key input operation.

  The compression / decoding unit 5 is a block that compresses input image data as necessary or expands code data.

  The control unit 7 includes a CPU that controls the entire blocks 1 to 13 and peripheral circuits, and is connected via a system bus. The control unit 7 is connected to a ROM for storing control programs and control data, a RAM used for temporary storage of control variables, and the like.

  The communication unit 10 uses a modem or NCU to connect to a network via a communication device using a telephone line or a LAN control unit (not shown), and exchanges image information and the like with other communication devices.

  The management information addition determination unit 13 determines whether management information can be embedded in a document to be output. The management information addition determination unit 13 detects a specific operation (copy density setting, document type setting, base color setting, resolution change, background removal, stamp, overlay, numbering change, etc.) by the user. It has a function of preventing management information from being lost by adding management information based on the result.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus of FIG.
Referring to the figure, when setting the operation condition at the time of copying output in step S101, the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed in step S103.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the operation / display unit 4 in step S101 of FIG.
On this screen 301, the user can set operating conditions for copying output.

  When the management information addition key 301-1 is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 3, the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed in step S103, and the management information addition setting is received from the user via the operation / display unit 4. .

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the operation / display unit 4 in step S103 of FIG.
On this screen 302, the user can make settings for adding management information. By the operation here, the user can embed information such as “urgent”, “circulation”, and “collection” as management information in the copy. When the key 302-2 for validating the management information is pressed on the screen 302, the setting for adding the management information becomes valid.

  Further, the user can set operation conditions (modes) at the time of copy output by selecting various tabs from the screen of FIG. 3 and displaying a setting screen. Here, the operation conditions at the time of copying output include, for example, setting of copying density, setting of document type, setting of base color, resolution change, background removal, stamp, overlay, and numbering change.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where the “basic setting” tab is selected from the screen of FIG. 3.
On this screen 303, the user can adjust copy density and background density.

  In step S105 in FIG. 2, it is determined whether management information addition setting is performed. If YES, the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, based on the set mode and the original to be copied, it is determined whether the set management information can be added to the image without missing information. If YES, the set management information is added and copying is performed in the set mode.

  If NO in step S107, copying is performed after automatically changing to a mode in which management information can be added without being lost in step S109.

If NO in step S105, copying is performed in the set mode.
In copying, the control unit 7 generates management information as a pattern image based on the setting and embeds (combines) the management information in the document image, and then prints out the document image.

  2, it is possible to determine whether the management information can be embedded after setting for embedding the management information at the time of copying from the main body operation panel of the image forming apparatus.

  That is, it is assumed that the user performs setting for adding management information on the screen 302 (FIG. 4) and then performs mode setting for losing management information on the screen 303 (FIG. 5). Here, a case where the management information is lost when the user changes the density setting will be described, but the same applies to changes in document type setting, base color setting, resolution change, background removal, stamp, overlay, and numbering.

  For example, in the conventional technique, a setting for adding management information by pressing a key 303-1 for increasing the density setting on the screen 303 and pressing the key 303-2 to confirm the density setting. Nevertheless, it is conceivable that the management information is not added to the output image because the density is too high. In this embodiment, when an image output execution instruction is issued in such a state, the image forming apparatus invalidates the density setting set on the screen 303 so that management information can be added. The image is output above.

  In this way, when a mode setting is performed in which management information is lost, it is possible to prevent management information from being lost by changing the mode so that the image forming apparatus can automatically add management information. Can do.

  Although the case where management information is added at the time of copying has been described here, the same processing may be performed at the time of scanning, print output, operation of stored documents, and the like.

  In the above example, the case where the mode setting is performed after the setting for adding the management information on the screen 302 has been described as an example. However, after the mode setting is performed on the screen 303, the screen 302 If management information is added, or management information is lost even if the mode is not changed, management information is lost, or if management information is added in the initial registration mode, management information is lost. The same applies even when the mode to be set is set.

  It should be noted that the mode setting may be automatically changed when an image output execution instruction is issued, or may be automatically changed when the user sets a mode to which management information cannot be added.

  Furthermore, when the user sets a mode in which management information cannot be added, the mode setting may be invalidated.

  In addition, before automatically changing (or disabling) the mode setting such as the density setting, a screen to that effect may be displayed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen for notifying invalidation.
Such a screen 401 is displayed (warning is performed) before the mode is automatically changed in step S109 in FIG. 2, so that the user can confirm it.

  Alternatively, a selection for discarding either the setting for adding management information or the density setting may be received from the user, and one of the setting for adding management information and the density setting may be canceled based on the selection.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen for accepting from the user a selection for discarding either the setting for adding management information or the density setting.

  That is, in step S109 in FIG. 2, the screen 402 in FIG. 7 is displayed, and on this screen, the user presses the key 401-1 or the key 402-2 to determine which of the setting contents is valid for the user. The selection is accepted. Any setting is canceled based on the selection.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Since the processing in steps S201 to S207 in the flowchart is the same as the processing in steps S101 to S107 in the flowchart in FIG. 2, description thereof will not be repeated here. This flowchart is characterized in that when NO is determined in step S207, the management information adding method added in step S209 is changed.

  The change of the composition method performed in step S209 includes, for example, adding a dark watermark to the image, writing information on the IC chip attached to the paper, changing the density of at least one of the management information and the original document image. The management information composition method is changed to a method of putting a visible mark (a mark such as “copy prohibited”) in an image.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Since the processes in steps S301 to S307 in the flowchart are the same as the processes in steps S101 to S107 in the flowchart in FIG. 2, the description thereof will not be repeated here. In this flowchart, when NO in step S307, a part of the output image is deleted in step S309, and management information is added to the deleted area in step S311.

  By performing such processing, management information can be easily added even to a dark document.

[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  Since the processing in steps S401 to S405 in the flowchart is the same as the processing in steps S101 to S105 in the flowchart in FIG. 2, description thereof will not be repeated here. In this flowchart, when YES is determined in the step S405, the mode change is prohibited in a step S407.

  By performing such processing, it is possible to prevent setting of a mode in which management information is deleted.

[Fifth Embodiment]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  Since the processing in steps S501 to S505 in the flowchart is the same as the processing in steps S101 to S105 in the flowchart in FIG. 2, description thereof will not be repeated here. In this flowchart, when YES is determined in the step S505, the mode change range is limited in a step S507.

  That is, for example, in the example of FIG. 5, the range in which the density can be changed is restricted to prevent the setting of the mode in which the management information is deleted.

[Effects of the embodiment]
By adopting the configuration in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent the distribution of a document without management information despite the setting for adding management information to the output document for the purpose of document management. Become.

[Others]
Note that the processing in the above-described embodiment may be performed by software or may be performed using a hardware circuit.

  In addition, a program for executing the processing of the flowchart in the above-described embodiment can be provided, and the program can be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a memory card, and the like. You may decide to provide it. The program may be downloaded to the apparatus via a communication line such as the Internet.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should 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.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on the operation / display part 4 by step S101 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the screen displayed on the operation / display part 4 by step S103 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state where a “basic setting” tab is selected from the screen of FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the screen which notifies that it invalidates. It is a figure which shows the screen which receives the selection for canceling either the setting which adds management information, or density | concentration setting from a user. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by an image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by an image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 image input unit, 2 image output unit, 3 image memory unit, 4 operation / display unit, 5 compression / decoding unit, 6 mailer, 7 control unit, 8 ROM, 9 work memory, 10 communication unit, 11 external interface unit, 12 File conversion unit, 13 Management information addition availability determination unit.

Claims (4)

A combining means for combining the management information with the document image;
Setting means for setting a mode as an image output condition;
Output means for outputting a document image in which the management information is synthesized under the set output conditions;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the mode set by the setting unit can be accepted when the output unit performs output;
The determination means determines whether a mode for embedding and outputting the management information by the setting means and another mode for losing the management information are set,
Wherein the mode judging means outputs embeds the management information by the setting unit, when it is determined that the another mode in which loss of the management information is set, notifies the screen for selecting either An image forming apparatus, further comprising a notifying unit.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a changing unit configured to change a process of combining the management information with respect to the document image by the combining unit when another mode for losing the management information is set. A compositing step for compositing the management information with the document image;
A setting step for setting a mode as an image output condition;
An output step of outputting a document image in which the management information is synthesized under the set output conditions;
A determination step for determining whether or not the mode set in the setting step can be accepted when performing the output in the output step ;
The determination step determines whether or not a mode for embedding and outputting the management information by the setting step and another mode for losing the management information are set,
When said determining step determines that the mode for outputting embeds the management information, and another mode in which loss of the management information is set by the setting step, a notification screen for selecting either A control method for an image forming apparatus, further comprising a notification step. A compositing step for compositing the management information with the document image;
A setting step for setting a mode as an image output condition;
An output step of outputting a document image in which the management information is synthesized under the set output conditions;
When performing output in the output step , causing the computer to execute a determination step for determining whether or not the mode set in the setting step can be accepted,
The determination step determines whether or not a mode for embedding and outputting the management information by the setting step and another mode for losing the management information are set,
When said determining step determines that the mode for outputting embeds the management information, and another mode in which loss of the management information is set by the setting step, a notification screen for selecting either An image forming apparatus control program for causing a computer to further execute a notification step.

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