JP4752742B2 - Image processing apparatus, certificate issuing system and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a certificate issuance system, and a program that can prevent information leakage of confidential documents.

  In recent years, with the spread of personal computers, printers, and copying machines, there has been a problem of information leakage due to unauthorized copying of confidential documents printed out. As a conventional technology for preventing and suppressing unauthorized copying of confidential documents, when printing confidential documents, copy prohibition information is embedded in the image and then printed out, and when copying, the original is read and embedded in the image. Multifunction devices having an illegal copy prohibition function are being studied, such as detecting copy prohibition information being detected and stopping normal copy operations when copy prohibition information is included (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

Further, the illegal copy prohibition function has been developed, and two types of copy prohibition information in an image and copy permission condition information (for example, a personal identification number) for permitting copying under a specific condition when a confidential document is printed. Print embed information output, detects the two types of information of copy inhibition information and copy permission condition information is embedded from an image taken readings when copying in the image, determines whether or meets the copy permission condition However, a multifunction device having an advanced illegal copy prohibition function that stops the copy operation when the copy permission condition is not met but performs the copy operation when the copy permission condition is met is also being studied. Here, as an embedding method of copy prohibition information / copy permission condition information, for example, the following method has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  That is, a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image having a comparatively low density is synthesized with a minute pattern on the entire background of the document image. The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is composed of two regions, a latent image character region and a background region, and each region is composed of different micropatterns. The latent image character area is composed of a relatively small dot pattern, and the background area is composed of an array of two kinds of minute oblique line patterns. The two types of diagonal lines represent bits 0 and 1, respectively, and two-dimensional code images in which the two types of diagonal patterns are two-dimensional arrays of a predetermined size are repeatedly arranged adjacent to each other in the background portion. It has become. The copy permission condition information is embedded in this two-dimensional code.

As copy prohibition information, the inside of the two-dimensional array is all embedded with a special code configured with a hatched pattern corresponding to bit 0, or the inside of the two-dimensional array is configured with a hatched pattern corresponding to bit 1 all. As another conventional example for preventing unauthorized copying of confidential documents, when printing confidential documents, information related to the user who performed the printing, date / time information, etc. are embedded and printed out, and the printed document is scanned, etc. An image processing apparatus that analyzes the user / client PC / printer / date and time embedded in the read image and identifies the information leakage source has been studied. This function can be configured as an additional function of the conventional multifunction peripheral.
JP 2003-280469 A JP 2003-283790 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, the code image synthesized on the document background cannot detect the minute diagonal line pattern of the portion overlapped with characters, figures, photos, etc., so that the embedded information cannot be detected depending on the contents of the document image There is. In that case, there is a problem that information may not be detected from the printed document even though the information embedding is instructed at the time of printing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus, a certificate issuance system, and a program capable of reliably detecting information from a document in which information is embedded.

To achieve this object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention combines an image input means for inputting a document image and a control code for restricting copying of the document image input by the image input means into the document image. A background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generating means for embedding in the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, an image combining means for generating a composite image by combining the document image and the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, and recording the composite image combined by the image combining means on a sheet An image recording unit for performing the above operation, an image reading unit for reading the composite image recorded on the sheet, and a determination unit for determining whether the control code can be detected from the composite image read by the image reading unit. If the determination unit determines that the embedded information can be detected, the sheet output from the image recording unit is discharged to the first tray. It is allowed, if has been determined that there can be detected the embedded information, and a discharge control unit for discharging the sheet on which the composite image is recorded on the second tray.
According to the present invention, a printed matter in which the control code embedded in the composite image can be detected correctly and a printed matter in which the control code cannot be detected correctly can be discharged to different discharge trays. Therefore, it is easy to distinguish between a printed matter in which the control code can be detected correctly and a printed matter in which the control code cannot be detected, and only the printed matter in which the control code can be detected can be provided.

In the image processing apparatus, the determination unit may check an area of non-white pixels of the document image and determine whether the embedded information can be detected based on an area ratio of non-white pixels of the document image.

In the image processing apparatus, the determination unit may block the document image and determine whether the embedded information can be detected based on the number of blocks in which a white area has a predetermined ratio or more.

The certificate issuance system of the present invention acquires the server device that has registered the original data of the certificate and the certificate data that has been applied for acquisition from the server device, and the certificate data is included in the certificate data. A composition device that synthesizes a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image embedded with a control code that restricts copying of the certificate recorded on the paper when recorded on the paper, and a composite image synthesized by the composition device A printing apparatus that prints a sheet on paper, a reading apparatus that reads a composite image of the paper output from the printing apparatus, and whether or not the control code can be detected based on the image read by the reading apparatus And when the determination device determines that the embedded information can be detected, a display for permitting the sending of a certificate is displayed and the determination device displays the embedded information. It if is determined that there is no detectable information, the sending of the certificate and a display device for displaying a display which is not permitted.
According to the present invention, a certificate in which the control code embedded in the composite image can be detected correctly and a certificate in which the control code cannot be detected correctly can be discharged to different paper discharge trays. Therefore, it is easy to distinguish between a certificate whose control code is correctly detected and a certificate whose control code cannot be detected, and only a certificate whose control code can be detected can be provided.

A program according to the present invention is a program for operating an image processing apparatus, and includes a process for causing a computer to input a document image to an image input unit and a control code for restricting copying of the document image input by the image input unit. A process of embedding in the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be combined with the document image, a process of generating the composite image by combining the document image and the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, and a process of causing the image recording means to record the composite image on a sheet A process for causing the reading unit to read the composite image recorded on the paper, a process for determining whether the control code can be detected from the composite image read by the reading unit, and the embedding process. If it is determined that the information can be detected, the paper output from the image recording means is discharged to the first tray and the embedded information is discharged. If the was determined not possible detection is characterized in that to execute a process of discharging the sheet on which the composite image is recorded on the second tray.

  According to the present invention, information can be reliably detected from a document in which information is embedded.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction device 1 as an image processing means has a plurality of functions such as a print function, a copy function, and a scan function. The multi-function device 1 is connected to a client PC (personal computer) connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes an image expansion unit 2, an image storage unit 3, a reading unit 4, a scanned image processing unit 5, a prohibited code detection unit 6, a digital code decoding unit 7, a user interface unit 8, and a control. Means 9, background tint block image generation means 10, image composition means 11, code detection availability determination means 12 as determination means, and printing means 13.

  The image expansion means 2 generates document image data by performing drawing processing of print data (hereinafter referred to as “PDL data”) described in a print description language (PDL) input via the LAN, and draws it. Document image data is stored in the image storage means 3. The image storage unit 3 stores the document image and the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in association with the page number. The reading unit 4 reads a document placed on the platen and outputs the read image data to the scanned image processing unit 5. A document image is input from the image development means 2 or the reading means 4. The scanned image processing unit 5 performs image processing such as image correction, color conversion, and enlargement / reduction on the read image, and stores the image in the image storage unit 3. The prohibition code detection means 6 detects the prohibition code from the image read by the reading means 4. The digital code decoding means 7 decodes the digital code from the image read by the reading means 4. The user interface means 8 has an input / output device such as a touch panel display, and is a part that accepts various operations and input of embedded information from the user.

The background tint block image generation means 10 generates a background tint block image in which information is embedded. The image synthesizing unit 11 synthesizes the document image and the background pattern image. Code detectability determination means 12, based on the combined composite image by the image combining unit 11 determines whether it is possible to detect the elaborate filling information. The control unit 9 controls the output of the composite image according to the determination result by the code detection possibility determination unit 12. The printing unit 13 prints and records the synthesized image data synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 11 on a sheet and outputs it.

  Next, background tint block image generation processing will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the code. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the pattern number arrangement. The operation of the background tint block image generation means 10 will be described. Additional information (copy prohibition information, condition information, latent image information) is input from the control unit 9 to the background tint block image generation unit 10. The background tint block image generation means 10 generates a latent image based on the input latent image information. The latent image information is information indicating what kind of latent image character is embedded in the pattern image. Specifically, the latent image character string, font type, font size, and latent image character string direction ( Angle) and other information. The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation means 10 draws a latent image character string in the specified direction with the specified font type and font size, and generates a latent image image as a binary latent image image.

  Here, the resolution of the latent image is a resolution obtained by dividing the resolution of the printer by the size of a pattern to be described later. For example, when the printer resolution is 600 dpi and the pattern size is 12 pixels × 12 pixels, the resolution of the latent image is 50 dpi. The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation means 10 encodes the input copy prohibition information and condition information.

  First, when the copy prohibition information indicates that the document that has been printed out is not to be copied by the copying machine, two types of copy prohibition codes shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are generated. Here, the copy prohibition code in FIG. 2 (A) has a bit 0 in the entire code, and the copy prohibition code in FIG. is there. When the copy prohibition information is not input or does not indicate that the document that has been printed out is not copied by the copying machine, the two types of codes shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are generated. Not done.

  Next, when condition information is input, an error correction code is applied to the condition information to generate a digital code as shown in FIG. The code in FIG. 2C represents a bit string of encoded condition information by the arrangement of bit 0 and bit 1. The outer periphery of the cord has a special bit pattern for facilitating the positioning of the cord. Next, a plurality of the generated codes are repeatedly arranged as shown in FIG. 3A to generate a pattern number array having the same size as the size of the latent image. Here, the hatched rectangle in FIG. 2 is the copy prohibition code in FIG. 2A, the vertical hatched rectangle is the copy prohibition code in FIG. 2B, and the dot hatched rectangle is in FIG. 2C. It has become a digital code.

  If a copy prohibition code is not generated, a digital code is placed in the copy prohibition code portion in the figure. If a digital code is not generated, a copy prohibition code is placed in the digital code portion in the figure. At this time, the value of each element of the pattern number array is 0 or 1. Next, referring to the latent image, the pattern number of the element of the pattern number array corresponding to the coordinates of the black pixels in the latent image is changed to 2. If this is performed for all the black pixels in the latent image, the pattern number arrangement is such that the latent image characters are drawn with the pattern number 2 on the background where the copy prohibition code and the digital code are arranged side by side. This state is shown in FIG. A black “COPY” portion in the figure indicates a portion in which the pattern array number is changed to “2”. This pattern number array is output to the background tint block image generation means 10.

  The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 10 refers to each element of the input pattern number array, reads a pattern corresponding to the pattern number from the pattern storage unit, and converts it into a pattern image, thereby generating a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image. The generated background tint block image is stored in the image storage means 3.

  4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing examples of patterns stored in the pattern storage unit. FIG. 4A is a pattern corresponding to pattern number 0, FIG. 4B is a pattern corresponding to pattern number 1, and FIG. 4C is a pattern number. 2 is a pattern corresponding to 2. Here, the pattern number array corresponds to the resolution of the image obtained by dividing the printer resolution by the pattern size, and the pattern image generated based on this is generated by replacing one element of the pattern number array with one pattern. Therefore, the generated pattern image matches the resolution of the printer. Also, the pattern image is an image in which the latent image character is converted into an isolated dot pattern by converting it into a hatched pattern corresponding to the bit value of the copy prohibition code and digital code.

The pattern image generated in this way is stored in the image storage means 3 as a background tint block image, synthesized with the document image data, and printed on paper. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of print output and copy output. An example of a printed image is shown in FIG. 5A (for convenience of explanation, the document image shows an example of a pure white image having no image elements). FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the rectangle in FIG. FIG. 5B shows a copy output image when FIG. 5A is copied by a copying machine.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In step S101, document image data (PDL data) to be printed out via the LAN is received. In step S102, the received PDL data is developed (decomposed) by the image development means 2, and is output to the image storage means 3 and stored. In step S <b> 103, the background pattern image generation unit 10 generates a background pattern image based on the information input from the control unit 9 and stores it in the image storage unit 3. In step S <b> 104, the image synthesizing unit 11 reads the document image and the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image from the image accumulating unit 3, composes them, and stores them in the image accumulating unit 3.

  In step S <b> 105, the code detection availability determination unit 12 reads the composite image from the image storage unit 3, executes a determination process, and notifies the control unit 9 of the determination result. Specifically, the code detection availability determination unit 12 reads the combined image, performs the same processing as the contents of the digital code decoding process by the digital code decoding unit 7 and the prohibited code detection process by the prohibited code detection unit 6, and decodes the decoded image. / The detection determination result is output to the control means 9. When both the results of the digital code decoding process and the prohibited code detection process are successful (“OK” in step S106), the control unit 9 activates the printing unit 13 and outputs the synthesized image output from the image storage unit 3. An image is printed out (step S107). When either one of the digital code decoding process and the prohibition code detection process fails (“NG” in step S106), the control unit 9 stops the print output operation (step S108).

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, a composite image obtained by combining a document image and a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is created, information detection is performed on the composite image, and only when the information can be detected correctly, the composite image is printed. Since the output is permitted, the embedded information can be reliably detected from the printed document.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the multifunction device 100 is different from the multifunction device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the image processing means 14 is provided at the subsequent stage of the image storage means 3. The control unit 9 determines whether it is possible to detect the embedded information based on the document image input by the image development unit 2.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In step S201, document image data to be printed out via the LAN is received. In step S202, the received PDL data is developed by the image development unit 2, and is output to the image storage unit 3 for storage. In step S203, the code detection availability determination unit 12 reads a document image from the image storage unit 3, executes a determination process, and notifies the control unit 9 of the determination result. Specifically, the code detection availability determination unit 12 examines the area of the non-white pixel of the document image, for example, and determines that the embedded information cannot be correctly detected when the area ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold (NG). If it is less than that, it is determined that the embedded information can be correctly detected (OK). Further, for example, the code detection availability determination unit 12 blocks the document image, checks the number of blocks having a white area equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, and determines that the embedded information can be correctly detected when the number of blocks is equal to or greater than the threshold. On the contrary, if it is less than the threshold value, it is determined that the embedded information cannot be correctly detected (NG).

If the determination result is OK in step S204, the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 10 generates a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the information input from the control unit 9 and stores it in the image storage unit 3 in step S205. In step S <b> 206, the control unit 9 activates the printing unit 13 and prints out the composite image output from the image storage unit 3.
If the determination result is NG in step S204, the control unit 9 stops the printing operation in step S207. According to the present embodiment, a document image that has been developed is examined, it is determined whether or not it is suitable for code embedding, and if the determination result is OK, image output is permitted, and if it is NG, image output is stopped, and print output is thereby performed. The embedded information can be reliably detected from the document original.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a multifunction machine 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the multifunction device 200 differs from the multifunction device 100 according to the second embodiment in that the image reading unit 15, the code detection availability determination unit 16, the sheet discharge control unit 17, the normal sheet discharge tray 18, and the NG unit. A paper discharge tray 19 is provided.

The image reading means 15 is constituted by a CCD (Charge-Coupled Devices) camera, for example, and reads an image on a sheet printed by a printing means 13 as an image recording means. Code detectability determination means 16 based on the image read by the image reading unit 15 determines whether it is possible to detect the elaborate filling information. The paper discharge control means 17 controls the paper discharge operation on which the composite image is recorded according to the determination result by the code detection availability determination means 16.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the MFP 200 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In step S301, document image data to be printed out via the LAN is received. In step S302, the received PDL data is expanded by the image expansion unit 2, and is output to the image storage unit 3 for storage. In step S303, the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generation unit 10 generates a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image based on the information input from the control unit 9, and stores it in an internal buffer.

  In step S304, the control means 9 activates the image composition means 14 and the printing means 13. In step S <b> 305, in synchronization with the printing unit 13, the image synthesizing unit 14 reads and synthesizes the document image and the background pattern image from the image storage unit 3, and outputs them to the printing unit 13. In step S306, the printing unit 13 prints the composite image on paper. In step S307, the image reading unit 15 reads an image on a sheet conveyed on the paper path. In step S308, the code detection availability determination unit 16 inputs and reads the read image, executes determination processing, and notifies the control unit 9 of the determination result. Specifically, the code detection availability determination unit 16 performs the same processing as the digital code decoding process by the digital code decoding unit 7 and the prohibited code detection process by the prohibited code detection unit 6 based on the image read by the image reading unit 15. The determination result is notified to the control means 9.

  The code detection enable / disable determining unit 16 determines that the determination result is OK when both the decoding by the digital code decoding process and the detection by the prohibited code detecting process are correctly performed. In step S309, if the determination result is OK, the control means 9 controls the paper discharge control means 17 to discharge the paper to the normal paper discharge tray 18 (step S310). On the other hand, the code detection availability determination means 16 determines that the determination result is NG when at least one of the decoding by the digital code decoding process and the detection by the prohibited code detection process fails. In step S309, when the determination result is NG, the control unit 9 controls the sheet discharge control unit 17 to discharge the sheet to the NG discharge tray 19 (step S311).

  According to the present embodiment, the actually combined image is printed on the paper, and the CCD camera is provided in the paper path until the printed paper is discharged to the tray, and the image is read. Performs digital code decoding processing and prohibited code detection processing from the scanned image. If both decoding / detection is correct, the paper is ejected to the normal paper tray. If it is NG, it is provided specifically for NG. The paper is discharged into the paper tray. As a result, the embedded information can be reliably detected from the printed document.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The present embodiment is an embodiment in which the MFP 200 of the above-described third embodiment is applied to a public document issuing system that is issued as a certificate by a public institution. FIG. 11 shows a system configuration up to printing of an official document, and FIG. 12 shows a system configuration for detecting a digital code embedded in a printed official document. The processing procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, an applicant for obtaining an official document accesses an application reception terminal 22 arranged at a public institution from a terminal 21 arranged at home or a company, and makes an application for obtaining an official document. When receiving the access from the terminal 21 (step S401), the application receiving terminal 22 requests the acquisition applicant to input information necessary for acquiring the official document. When information is input from the terminal 21, the application receiving terminal 22 notifies the terminal 21 of the acceptance number. The application reception terminal 22 notifies the delivery terminal 23 of the necessary information received.

The delivery terminal 23 receives notification of necessary information from the application reception terminal 22. When the acceptance number notified to the acquisition applicant is input to the delivery terminal 23, the original server 24 is accessed using the information acquired from the application reception terminal 22, and the data of the public document requested for acquisition is acquired. (Step S402). In the original server 24, public documents are stored in electronic form.
The delivery terminal 23 that has acquired the electronic data of the official document generates a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be embedded in the official document and embeds it in the electronic data of the official document (step S403). The background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image includes identification information of the MFP 200 that prints the official document, a copy prohibition code, and the like. The official document in which the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is embedded is printed by the multifunction device 200 (step S404).

Next, the official document printed by the multifunction device 200 is read by the reading unit 4 of the multifunction device 200 (step S405). Hereinafter, an example in which the read image is transferred to the analysis device 25 (step S406) and the read image is analyzed will be described. However, as in the above-described third embodiment, the MFP 200 performs image analysis. The analysis result may be displayed on the panel.
The analysis device 25 is provided with a code detection availability determination unit 16, that is, a prohibited code detection unit 6 and a digital code decoding unit 7, as in the multifunction machine 200 of the third embodiment. The code detection enable / disable determining unit 16 determines OK when both of the decoding by the digital code decoding process and the detection by the prohibited code detection process are correctly performed by these units (step S407).
Further, the analysis device 25 compares the data read by the reading means 4 of the multifunction device 200 with the data of the official document acquired from the original server 24, and determines whether or not they match. If the two match, an OK determination is made (step S407).

  The determination result of the analysis device 25 is displayed on the display terminal 26. The official of the public institution prints the public document printed by the multifunction device 200 when the background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image detection determination is OK and the match determination of the official document data is displayed on the display terminal 26. To the applicant.

The program of the present invention is realized by the multifunction machine of the first to fourth embodiments described above. As shown in FIG. 14, the MFPs 1, 100, and 200 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, an NVRAM (Non Volatile RAM) 44, and an input / output. A control unit 40 including the unit 45 is mounted. The functions of the multifunction peripherals 1, 100, and 200 described above are realized by reading a program stored in the ROM 42 into the CPU 41 in the control unit 40 and performing processing according to the program. Specifically, in the MFP 1 of the first embodiment, the prohibited code detection unit 6, the digital code decoding unit 7, the user interface unit 8, the control unit 9, the background tint block image generation unit 10, the image composition unit 11, and the code detection availability The determination unit 12 and the like are realized by program control. In the copying machine 100 according to the second embodiment, in addition to the above-described units, the image composition unit 14 is realized by program control. In the copying machine 200 of the third embodiment, in addition to the above-described units, the code detection availability determination unit 16 and the paper discharge control unit 17 are realized by program control.
The program stored in the ROM 42 can be provided by being stored and distributed in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or other recording medium, or distributed via a network.
Furthermore, the determination method of the code detection availability determination unit described in the second embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to the first and third embodiments of the present invention.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications, within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims, It can be changed.

1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining a code | cord | chord. It is a schematic diagram explaining a pattern number arrangement | sequence. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a pattern. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a print output and a copy output. 3 is an operation flowchart of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the multifunctional device which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention. 6 is an operation flowchart of the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the multifunctional device which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention. 10 is an operation flowchart of the multifunction peripheral according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of 4th Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration | structure of 4th Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a system. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 MFP 10 Background tint block image generation means 2 Image expansion means 11, 14 Image composition means 3 Image storage means 12 Code detection permission determination means 4 Reading means 13 Printing means 5 Scan image processing means 15 Image reading means 6 Prohibited code detection means 16 Code detection permission judging means 7 Digital code decoding means 17 Paper discharge control means 8 User interface means 18 Normal paper discharge tray 9 Control means 19 NG paper discharge tray

Claims (5)

An image input means for inputting a document image;
A background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image generating means for embedding a control code for restricting copying of the document image input by the image input means in a background copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image to be combined with the document image ;
An image synthesizing means for generating a composite image by combining said background pattern image with the document image,
Image recording means for recording the synthesized image synthesized by the image synthesizing means on paper;
Image reading means for reading the composite image recorded on the paper ;
From the composite image that has been read me by the said image reading means, determination means for determining whether or not it is possible to detect the control code,
Wherein when the detection of the I Ri said embedded information to the determining means is determined to be possible, a paper output from the image recording means is discharged to the first tray, allows detection of the embedded information A discharge control means for discharging the sheet on which the composite image is recorded to a second tray when it is determined that
An image processing apparatus comprising: The determination means checks the area of the non-white pixel of the document image, claim 1, characterized in that to determine whether it is possible to detect the information embedded on the basis of the area ratio of the non-white pixel of the document image The image processing apparatus described. Said determining means, said document image into blocks, and the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white area and judging whether capable of detecting the embedded information based on the number of blocks in a predetermined ratio or more . A server device that has registered the original certificate data;
Control that obtains certificate data for which an application has been applied from the server device , and restricts copying of the certificate recorded on the sheet when the certificate data is recorded on the sheet A synthesizing device that generates a synthesized image by synthesizing a background tint block image with embedded code ;
A printing apparatus that prints a composite image synthesized by the synthesis apparatus on paper;
A reading device for reading a composite image of paper output from the printing device ;
A determination device that determines whether or not the control code can be detected based on an image read by the reading device;
When the determination device determines that the embedded information can be detected, a display that permits sending of a certificate is displayed, and the determination device determines that the embedded information cannot be detected. If so, a display device that displays a display not permitting the sending of the certificate ,
A certificate issuing system characterized by comprising: A program for operating an image processing apparatus,
Computer
Processing to input a document image to the image input means;
A process of embedding a control code for restricting copying of a document image input by the image input means in a background pattern image to be combined with the document image;
Processing to generate a composite image by combining the document image and the background tint block image;
Processing for causing the image recording means to record the composite image on paper;
A process for causing the reading unit to read the composite image recorded on the paper;
A process of determining whether or not the control code can be detected from the composite image read by the reading unit;
When it is determined that the embedded information can be detected, the paper output from the image recording unit is discharged to the first tray, and it is determined that the embedded information cannot be detected. In this case, a program for executing a process of discharging a sheet on which the composite image is recorded to a second tray .

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