JP4831769B2 - Image forming apparatus, information processing apparatus, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of separately adding/not adding specified information corresponding to a recipient to the same file. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 3 forms an image to a file obtained by receiving it from various kinds of I/F parts 42. For the file, attribute information is embedded in an optional specified area in the file. In the image forming apparatus 3, when printing or transmitting the attribute added file, an additional information instruction part 35 compares the attribute information with recipient information stored beforehand for each specified area of an embedding destination and judges whether or not to add the specified information, and an additional information generation part 36 and an image composition part 37 add the specified information to the file according to the judged result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and an image forming method, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus capable of adding specific information when forming a file image, and an information processing apparatus capable of editing the file. In addition, the present invention relates to an image forming method for forming an image by adding specific information with these apparatuses.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent unauthorized copying of a printed document, a method of giving a specific pattern (specific image information) such as a background pattern when printing the document has been used. The specific image information is also simply referred to as specific information, and is also referred to as copy (copy) prevention information, copy restriction information, or anti-copy information.

  The method of adding specific image information includes a method of inserting information in the frequency domain like a digital watermark, a method of adding a barcode or the like to a non-image area, a method of adding information such as a watermark to an image area, etc. There is. Using such a method, for example, when image data is sent from an application running on a personal computer (PC) or the like to the printer, and the image data is printed out by the printer, specific image information for preventing copying of the print image is obtained. By sending the image data together with the image data to the printer, the printer can embed the specific image information somewhere in the print image and print it out. In addition, specific image information is embedded in a dedicated printing machine to output a printed matter.

  The specific image information as described above is embedded in the print image in a shape that the user cannot identify, and in a shape that allows the user to identify that the image is specific image information in order to prevent copying. There is a case. Then, regardless of whether or not the user can be identified, when the user tries to copy the print image in which the specific image information is embedded using the copying machine, the copying machine detects the specific image information and performs copy printing. Do not output, or perform operations such as printing and outputting characters such as “copy prohibited”.

  As described above, in a conventional copying machine such as a color copying machine, there is a method of adding a specific pattern (which can be referred to as a copy-prohibited additional pattern) that is difficult to identify with the naked eye to specify a copy-prohibited document. It was identified by detecting the pattern. However, such specific patterns have pattern shapes and pattern colors that are difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. As a result, the copying machine can determine specific patterns based on the color of the original to which the specific patterns are added and input image information. Is difficult, and as a result, it cannot be regarded as a copy-prohibited manuscript.

Patent Document 1 discloses a digital image data processing method for the purpose of easily determining whether or not an illegal copy has been made by embedding security data in digital image data.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-187245

  As described above, the system that adds the copy restriction information and determines the copy restriction information is very useful in terms of security because it can restrict whether or not printing is possible according to security. However, when such a system is used in, for example, a conference system, a user with a low security level prints (copies) the entire minutes if the minutes contain confidential matters that are not necessary for that user. It will not be possible.

  In addition, the conventional system cannot deal with confidential matters such as secrets that should not be known in a specific department or secrets that are of interest only to specific occupations.

  As described above, in the conventional system including the technique described in Patent Document 1, since copy restrictions are made in units of files, even if it is desired to pass the common contents to a plurality of recipients, depending on the recipients. It is necessary to create separate files and add specific information such as copy restriction information to each file.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of separately adding / not adding specific information to the same file according to the recipient, and generating the file It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus that performs image formation and an image forming method that performs image formation using the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus.

To solve the problems described above, a first technical means of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of performing image formation on the file, and regarding the recipient of the files, payee is the sending Recipient information storage means for storing recipient information, which is information indicating a plurality of categories that are permitted or not permitted , and sending to the recipient corresponding to the plurality of categories in the recipient information. attribute information is a plurality of types of information indicating a category that does not allow for or authorized, the attribute attaching files that are padded to the optional area in the file, when printing or sending to the recipient, buried each write destination specified region, determining means for determining whether or not to add the specific information by comparing the attribute information and the recipient information, the attribute attaching files in accordance with the determination result in the determination means A adding means for performing addition of the serial identification information, the determination means, the recipient hand, by comparison with the attribute information and the recipient information of the designated area, the specific for at least one category When it is determined that information is added, priority is given to the determination that the specific information is added even if it is determined that the specific information is not added for other types of categories. It is a feature.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the specific information is copy restriction information for restricting copying.

  A third technical means is characterized in that, in the first or second technical means, the determination means executes determination of the type of specific information to be added together with determination of whether or not to add specific information. Is.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the third technical means, the type of specific information added by the adding means includes copy restriction information for restricting copying, pattern information for generating an image of a specific color, and a thinned image. Including at least one of the pattern information for generating.

According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, transmission source information indicating a transmission source is added to the attribute addition file, and the image forming apparatus includes the attribute addition file. Is sent to the sender included in the sender information when it is externally transmitted or printed.

A sixth technical means is connected to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, a and an information processing apparatus capable of editing a file, optional area in the processing target file in correspondence with the attribute information by embedding in said file, characterized in that the file with the attribute embedding means to the attribute addition files to be determined by the determination means in the image forming apparatus It is what.

A seventh technical means is an image forming method in which an image forming apparatus forms an image on a file generated by an information processing apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus sends a file to a recipient and the recipient sends the file. Is stored in advance, and the information processing apparatus stores a plurality of categories in the recipient information for the file. the corresponding attribute information is a plurality of types of information indicating a category which is not to or allow permit delivery to the recipient, the the attribution adding file crowded padded in any specified area of the file, the image forming apparatus, when printing or transmitting the attribute attaching files to the recipient, for each specified area of the buried target, adds the specific information by comparing the attribute information before and Ki受 Tohito information Performed whether the determination process, have rows the addition of the attribute attaching files to the specific information according to the result of the determination process, the determination process, the recipient to the said attribute information of the designated area receiving When it is determined by comparison with human information that the specific information is added for at least one type of category, it is determined that the specific information is not added for another type of category. Also, the determination that the specific information is added is prioritized .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to form an image on the same file by separately adding / not adding specific information according to the recipient, or to form an image with different specific information addition states depending on the recipient. Become.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and is a configuration diagram showing a conference system. Hereinafter, as an image forming system according to the present invention, a conference system including a large display 1 will be described as an example, but at least an image forming apparatus (illustrated by MFP 3) and an electronic file (hereinafter simply referred to as a file) can be edited. An information processing apparatus (illustrated as a PC) may be provided. In addition, PDF (Portable Document Format) files with minutes are described as an example of the document or image data file for image formation. However, any file format is also described. Any content can be applied as long as the attribute information described later can be embedded.

  The conference system illustrated in FIG. 1 is connected to the PC 2 for generating / recording minutes, meeting materials, etc. as a PDF file, and displays information including the PDF file so that attendees can visually recognize it. A large display 1 and an MFP 3 connected to a PC 2 for performing image formation such as printing on the file and distributing minutes to attendees as necessary.

  The PC 2 includes attribute embedding means described later. This implementation is possible by installing in the PC 2 an attribute embedding program 21 for causing the PC 2 to function as attribute embedding means. In the following description, it is assumed that a document generation program (file creation software) 20 for enabling creation / editing of a PDF file is also installed in the PC 2 and an attribute embedding program 21 is included in the file creation software 20.

  The PC 2 is a general-purpose computer, such as an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a work area, a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a rewritable ROM as a program storage area, and the like. Hardware such as an HDD (hard disk drive) as a storage area may be provided, and a predetermined control program may be stored in a ROM, HDD, or the like. Thereby, the CPU can read and execute a predetermined control program stored in the ROM or the like on the RAM. The control program includes file creation software 20 including the attribute embedding program 21.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the attribute information embedding process executed by the PC in FIG. Processing by the attribute embedding unit will be described with reference to FIG. The attribute embedding unit first reads the target PDF file (step S1), and causes the user to select a certain designated area (area) (step S2). Subsequently, the attribute information is added to the area by allowing the user to input the attribute information by selecting from a plurality of pieces of attribute information stored in advance (step S3). It is determined whether or not the area has been selected based on whether or not the user has performed a save operation (step S4). If the user has completed the selection, the PDF file is saved and used as an attribute-added PDF file (step S5). Here, the file in which the attribute information is embedded by the attribute embedding unit is referred to as an attribute-added PDF file. On the other hand, if not completed, the process returns to step S2.

  As described above, the attribute embedding means is means for embedding attribute information in the file in association with an arbitrarily designated area in the PDF file to be processed in which the minutes are described. The attribute embedding means stores the attribute information in the file in association with each designated area.

  The attribute information is information used by the MFP 3 to determine whether or not to add specific information for each designated area of the embedding destination in accordance with the recipient of the PDF file. The attribute-added PDF file to which this attribute information is attached Are to be processed by the MFP 3. In addition to this determination, the attribute information is preferably information for determining the type of specific information to be added to the embedding destination designated area.

  In addition, as attribute information, it is preferable to employ information indicating a category (section) that is permitted to be sent to a recipient. Thereby, the recipient corresponding to the category described in the attribute information can browse the original area without adding specific information to the designated area in which the attribute information is embedded. Conversely, information indicating a category that is not permitted to be sent to the recipient may be employed as the attribute information. In that case, the recipient corresponding to the category described in the attribute information will browse with the specific information added to the designated area in which the attribute information is embedded. In any case, the attribute information is information indicating a category for the recipient information in order to compare with recipient information described later.

  Specific examples of the above-mentioned categories include security level category, occupation category, department category, company name category, confidential information (held confidential information) category, and category when the recipient wants to obtain information. Of these, one or more types of categories may be embedded as attribute information. In the case of a plurality of types, it is preferable in terms of security to make a determination so as not to allow browsing as much as possible.

  Further, the arbitrarily designated area may be a certain area arbitrarily defined in the PDF file of the minutes. For example, when a user of PC 2 (or a user of another PC that is connected to PC 2 and can remotely control PC 2) prints or transmits an attribute-added PDF file to a certain recipient using MFP 3, a copy prohibition pattern or the like The specified area may be used for the purpose of classifying whether or not to apply the specific information depending on the recipient.

  As described above, the PC 2 embeds attribute information by setting an area for a PDF file such as minutes and meeting materials. The attribute-added PDF file is sent to the MFP 3 directly or via a recording medium. In order to exchange data including an attribute-added PDF file, a communication interface (I / F) such as a network adapter or a recording medium reading device may be provided on the PC 2 side.

  On the other hand, the MFP 3 can perform image formation for printing or transmission on the received attribute-added PDF file. Therefore, the MFP 3 includes specific information adding means 30 that adds specific information to the attribute-added PDF file. The specific information refers to information different from image data, such as copy restriction information for image formation of copy prohibition patterns and copy check patterns, pattern information for creating white images and thinned images, and the like. The image data is combined and output.

  Further, the MFP 3 holds recipient information (destination information) in order to determine whether or not to add specific information in comparison with the attribute information embedded for each designated area in the attribute-added PDF file. It is necessary to keep. Recipient information is information about a recipient (transmission destination) that receives the attribute-added PDF file (actually, a PDF file to which specific information is added or a printed product thereof). For this reason, the MFP 3 includes a recipient information storage unit that stores the recipient information. A storage device such as an HDD or various memories can be used as the recipient information storage means.

  The recipient information includes information indicating a category that the recipient is permitted to send (that is, a category that the information manager such as an administrator of the MFP 2 permits the recipient to send). It is preferable to adopt. As a result, the recipient belonging to the category corresponding to the permitted (/ non-permitted) category described in the attribute information can remain as it is without adding specific information to the designated area in which the attribute information is embedded (/ specific). Can be viewed (with information added). For example, the contents of a specified area in an attribute-added PDF file having a confidential level equal to or lower than that of a file that can be normally transmitted by the recipient using the MFP 2 or the like can be browsed without adding specific information. The contents of the designated area having a higher secret level can be browsed with specific information added. For example, a confidential document can be handled according to the sensitivity and content of the confidential part of the confidential document.

  Conversely, information indicating a category for which the recipient is not permitted to send may be adopted as the recipient information. In that case, the recipient belonging to the category corresponding to the non-permitted (/ permitted) category described in the attribute information adds the specific information to the designated area in which the attribute information is embedded (/ adds the specific information). Will be viewed as it is).

  Specific examples of categories in the recipient information include the recipient security level category, the recipient job category, the recipient category, the company name category to which the recipient belongs, and the recipient. Categories of confidential information (retained confidential information), categories in which the recipient wishes to obtain information, other categories in which the recipient can obtain information, etc. It may be embedded as human information. In the case of a plurality of types, it is preferable in terms of security to make a determination so as not to allow browsing as much as possible.

  Further, the MFP 3 includes a determination unit that performs the above-described determination. In the MFP 3, the determination unit determines to add specific information to the attribute-added PDF file based on the recipient information. By using the recipient information and the attribute information, it is possible to generate an optimum print or transmission file according to the recipient. For example, even for designated areas of the same attribute information, if the recipients are different, different printing or transmission file generation is possible. Note that the MFP 3 only needs to execute print processing and transmission processing as usual for a file in which attribute information is not embedded.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of the MFP in FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an attribute-added PDF file generated by the PC in FIG. 1 and transmitted to the MFP, and a result of copying the file by the MFP in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of copy prohibition pattern embedding (addition) processing executed by the MFP of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 shows an example of copy processing executed by the MFP of FIG. FIG.

  3 includes an image reading unit 31, a copy prohibition pattern determination unit 32, a copy prohibition area instruction unit 33, an image processing unit 34, an additional information instruction unit 35, an additional information generation unit 36, an image composition unit 37, and a print. Unit 38, a memory 40, an image generation unit 41, and various I / F units 42, and a main control unit 39 composed of a CPU or the like for controlling them. Among these, the specific information adding unit 30 is exemplified by the main control unit 39, the additional information generating unit 36, and the image composition unit 37. The determination means is exemplified by the main control section 39 and the additional information instruction section 35, and the recipient information storage means is exemplified by the main control section 39 and the memory 40, respectively.

  Assuming that the MFP 3 acquires the attribute-added PDF file 10 as exemplified in FIG. 4 from the PC 2, an embedding process of specific information such as a copy prohibition pattern will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. By providing the communication I / F such as a network adapter as the various I / F units 42, data can be directly received from the PC 2. Note that data can be received from a recording medium by providing an I / F that reads data from a recording medium such as a portable memory.

  First, the main control unit 39 reads the attribute-added PDF file 10 created by the PC 2 from the various I / F units 42 (step S11). In this file, a plurality of areas are designated, and attribute information is attached to each of the areas 1 to 4. The attribute-added PDF file transmitted via the network passes through various I / F units 42, the character or image data passes through the main control unit 39, and the attribute information is sent to the main control unit 39. And sent to the additional information instruction unit 35. Further, the image generation unit 41 generates image data for printing from character or image data, and passes it to the image composition unit 37.

  Subsequently, the user is requested to specify the destination, and the recipient information related to the destination (recipient) designated by the user of the MFP 3 is read from the recipient information stored in the memory 40 (step S12). For example, the recipient information corresponding to the sending mail address (or FAX number) designated by the user is read. When registering the transmission mail address and FAX number in the MFP 3, it is preferable to register the recipient information. The category for which information is desired can be registered from the recipient side. Also, when printing is performed by the printing unit 38, it is preferable to designate a recipient and read corresponding recipient information.

  Further, instead of steps S11 and S12, the following procedure may be adopted. An attribute-added PDF file that is a PDF with attribute information is sent from the PC 2 and stored in an HDD (not shown) or the like, and the user of the MFP 3 performs an operation of sending the file to one or a plurality of destinations (recipients). Thus, the main control unit 39 controls to read the target file (step S11). Before and after Step S11, the recipient information of the operated transmission destination is also read (Step S12).

  Subsequent to step S12, the main control unit 39 sets the area count n to an initial value 1 (step S13), executes the processes of steps S14 to S16 described later, and determines whether or not it is the last area. (Step S17). If it is not the last area, n is incremented (step S18), the process returns to step S14, and the processes of steps S14 to S16 are repeated until the last area is reached. In the example of the attribute-added PDF file 10, the process is repeated until n = 4.

  Processing in steps S14 to S16 executed when the attribute-added PDF file 10 is printed or transmitted to the recipient will be described. The main control unit 39 reads the attribute information for each designated area (area) of the embedding destination of the attribute-added PDF file 10 to be printed or transmitted (step S14), and compares it with the recipient information read in step S12. It is determined whether or not specific information (also referred to as additional information) such as a copy prohibition pattern is added, and the type (level) of the specific information to be added, and a portion to which the specific information is added is set in the additional information instruction unit 35 ( Step S15). The type (level) of the copy prohibition pattern to be added will be described later. Note that it is not necessary to determine the type in a system in which specific information to be added is determined in advance.

  Next, the additional information instructing unit 35 sends data and control signals necessary for generating additional information to the additional information generating unit 36, and the additional information generating unit 36 copies the part specified by the additional information instructing unit 35. Specific information such as a prohibited pattern is generated and sent to the image composition unit 37 (step S16). In step S <b> 16, the image synthesizing unit 37 further synthesizes the specific information with the image data for printing from the image generating unit 41, thereby ending the specific information adding process. The specific information adding unit 30 exemplified by the additional information generating unit 36 and the image composition unit 37 adds the specific information to the attribute-added PDF file according to the determination result in the additional information instruction unit 35 in this way.

  When printing, the image composition unit 37 sends the composite data to the printing unit 38 to execute printing. As a result, a printed matter in which specific information is added to different areas depending on the recipient, such as images 11 to 14 in FIG. The user of the MFP 3 may distribute each person's printed material to each recipient.

  On the other hand, when performing file transfer, Internet FAX (facsimile) transmission, FAX transmission using the Internet protocol (IP), FAX transmission over a telephone line, etc. via various networks, the image composition unit 37 outputs various types of composite data. The data is sent to the I / F unit 42. At this time, according to the I / F (transmission destination) in the various I / F units 42, in other words, according to the transmission method of the synthesized data to the outside, the necessary formatting is performed, and then the various I / F units 42. The composite data is transmitted via. As a result, a PDF file in which specific information is added to different areas depending on the recipient can be transmitted as desired by the user of the PC 2, for example, images 11 to 14 in FIG. 4. Note that when the composite data is transmitted as a file in the MFP 3, the attribute information itself that is originally embedded is lost from the file (here, the PDF file) because it is converted into image data once.

  In this way, the information sender (sender) sets the attribute information for an arbitrary area by operating the PC 2 in preparation of the minutes and other materials. Then, in the MFP 3, specific information is added to a part suitable for each recipient based on the recipient information and attribute information embedded in the created material at the time of distribution and distributed. The recipient side can receive the information to which the specific information is added only to the part suitable for each. For example, when printing a PDF file of minutes, select an area containing confidential information in advance as a designated area (embed attribute information), and add copy prohibition information according to the recipient information. You can also

  Here, the type of specific information to be added will be described. This type includes copy restriction information for restricting copying, pattern information for generating an image of a specific color, and pattern information for generating a thinned image (image data thinning information and color thinning information). It is preferable to include at least one of them. By determining up to the type of specific information to be added, optimum printing can be performed according to the type of confidential information set for each designated area and the level of confidentiality. The specific color is preferably white that can be erased by overwriting the original image, but may be another color because it is overwritten in the corresponding designated area of the original PDF file.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the specific information to be added has a plurality of levels. What is necessary is just to make the above-mentioned type correspond to this level, and it is only necessary to determine which level (which type) of specific information is added from the attribute information and the recipient information when determining the type. For example, for a recipient who does not want to browse any information in a specified area, a determination is made to overwrite the white data and the portion is erased, and a recipient who may be allowed to browse in a rough state has a predetermined value. It is determined that the pattern information is overwritten to make the data in that portion difficult to see. As described above, the level of the specific information includes a level that makes it difficult to see the printed matter of the PDF file or the transmission file itself, a level that is erased, and a regularly arranged size that hardly affects the image of the PDF file. A level that restricts copying of a printed material or a transmission file by a group or the like can be adopted.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to form an image with the addition / non-addition of specific information separately for the same file, or to form an image with different specific information addition states depending on the recipient. It becomes possible. The specific information addition state that varies depending on the recipient includes a state where the specific information itself is varied depending on the recipient, and a state where the area to which the specific information is added is varied depending on the recipient. For example, since the materials such as the minutes are subdivided instead of page units, and attribute information is attached to each arbitrary area, materials with copy restrictions applied only to the optimal part for each recipient receiving the materials Can be distributed. When the recipient copies the material distributed in this way, the copy restriction is applied only to the portion suitable for each recipient, and the portion that does not require the copy restriction can be copied while being clean. In this way, by adding a copy restriction pattern to image data for each designated area in accordance with recipient information registered in the MFP 3, useless image data illegal copy prevention processing can be eliminated.

  Further, particularly when only one type of specific information is used, it is preferable to employ the above-described copy restriction information, that is, information for restricting copying at the time of execution of printing. Examples of the copy restriction include copy prohibition or copy restraint using characters such as “copy prohibition” and “secret”. Further, the copy prohibition information is preferably information for printing small dots arranged in a specific arrangement (more preferably not visible).

  In fact, you can try to print out a transmission file with confidential information, or you can give the printout to someone you trust, but the person who received the printout can fax it. If you send, copy, or send scans, your secrets will spread. In addition, the printed material with confidential information may be copied by the person himself, but if it is handed over to another person and delivered by scanning transmission, FAX transmission, etc., the confidentiality will be expanded. The reason why the original is protected by adding a copy prohibition pattern as specific information is to prevent such secondary leakage.

  For example, it is assumed that the specific information is copy prohibition information, and the recipient receives a printed matter in which a copy prohibition pattern based on this is printed in one or a plurality of areas like the images 11 to 14 in FIG. Alternatively, it is assumed that a recipient prints a transmission file to which a copy prohibition pattern has been added to produce a printed material. The recipient uses the printed matter (print sample) in which the copy prohibition pattern is printed in the area including the confidential information as described above, and performs copy, FAX transmission, scanner transmission (Scan_to_mail), document filing, and the like again. There is also.

  The processing at this time will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the recipient becomes a user of the MFP 3, and the original reading operation is performed by the image reading unit 31 (step S21). Subsequently, the image reading unit 31 starts scanning the original (step S22), and the copy prohibition pattern determination unit 32 determines whether there is an area where the copy prohibition pattern is printed from the scan data (step S23). ). Since a large number of copy prohibition patterns may be added to the entire area, the copy prohibition pattern determination unit 32 determines the process defined by the added copy prohibition pattern. The processing includes, for example, displaying a warning such as “painting the image of that part to make it invisible, making it thinner, or making it monochrome”, “Stop processing and check the document”, and add attributes as described later For example, an e-mail notifying that a copy-prohibited document has been copied is sent to the source of the PDF file. Such processing can be executed by storing the association with the pattern in the MFP 3. Here, the description will be made assuming that the process of deleting the document image is determined for the copy prohibition pattern print area.

  Upon receiving the determination result, the copy-prohibited area instruction unit 33 performs processing for deleting the image of the prohibited area without printing it, and then passes the image data to the image composition unit 37 (step S31). S24). Such processing is repeated until scanning of the document image is completed (until YES in step S25). When a copy prohibition pattern of a different level is added for each area, the above processing is performed depending on the type of each copy prohibition pattern. On the other hand, the image data read by the image reading unit 31 is subjected to various image processing by the image processing unit 34 and is output to the image composition unit 37. The image combining unit 37 combines these image data, and sends the combined data to the various I / F units 42 or the printing unit 38 which is an output unit (step S26). When the various I / F units 42 are output units, actually, I / Fs corresponding to transmission methods such as a network scanner, a FAX, and a remote PC scanner are actually output units. Finally, printed matter or image data from which the prohibited area is deleted is output.

  As described above, it is possible to print and distribute the PDF file of the minutes, but it is prohibited to perform FAX transmission, copy, scan transmission, and document filing again using the distributed minutes as a manuscript. It is possible to prevent secondary leakage of confidential information. Further, it is possible to eliminate the wasteful execution of the illegal copy prevention processing of image data in order to prevent secondary outflow.

  In the PC 2, it is preferable that transmission source information indicating the transmission source is also added to the PDF file, for example, with properties. The MFP 3 is provided with notification means for notifying the transmission source included in the transmission source information when the transmission source information indicating the transmission source is added to the attribute addition file and the file is transmitted to the outside. Good. This notification may be transmitted to the destination indicated by the transmission source information by e-mail or Internet FAX transmission. When such a security function is enabled, the sender information can be registered at the same time when the sender's mail address or Internet FAX number is registered. As a transmission source, it may be specified to reach the PC 2 or the user or the MFP 3.

  The fact that external transmission or printing has been executed can be detected by storing a transmission file obtained by the recipient in the MFP 3 and transmitting using the MFP 3. In addition, for printed matter obtained by recipients, PDF files that require such notification are particularly sensitive and often have a copy prohibition pattern. Therefore, it is possible to detect that external transmission or printing has been executed by detecting the copy prohibition pattern when the printed material is scanned.

  Next, preferred specific examples of attribute information and recipient information will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 is a diagram showing an example of attribute information attached to the PDF file by the PC in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of recipient information stored in the MFP of FIG. Here, the description will be given by taking the attribute-added PDF file 10 of one page as an example, but even for a plurality of pages, the processing for each area can be executed similarly.

  Assume that the attribute information embedded in each of the areas 1 to 4 in the attribute-added PDF file 10 is as follows. That is, area 1 has a density level of 3 for high-speed color digital multifunction peripherals (referred to as high-speed color machines) (higher as the number increases), and a density level for medium-speed color digital multifunction peripherals (referred to as medium-speed color machines). 3 technical information. This attribute information can be sent up to level 3 when the target is a high-speed color machine, and can be sent up to level 3 when the target is a medium-speed color machine, as shown by attribute information 22 in FIG. Is embedded in area 1. Like the attribute information for area 1, two confidential levels (here, two types of confidential levels) may be specified in the same designated area. In addition, area 2 has a density level of 2 for medium-speed color machines, area 3 has a density level of 2 for medium-speed monochrome digital multi-function peripherals, and area 4 is technical information of density level 1 for digital multi-function peripherals in general. Assume that corresponding attribute information is embedded in each area.

  Assume that the recipient information 40a to 40c as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C is stored in the MFP 3 for such attribute information. Of these, only one or two recipient information may be stored. Recipient information 40a illustrated in FIG. 8A is a category of occupation, and is information indicating a category that the recipient is permitted to send or a category that is not permitted. As an example of the former, it is possible to send technical information rank 1 for a high-speed color machine when the recipient is “engineer”, and as an example of the latter, a high-speed color machine when the recipient is “general affairs”. Technical information rank 2 and above cannot be sent.

  Similarly, the recipient information 40b shown in FIG. 8B is information indicating a category of a department and a category that the recipient is permitted to send or a category that is not allowed. Recipient information 40c shown in FIG. 8C is a company name category, and is information indicating a category that the recipient is permitted to send or a category that is not permitted. The company names include other companies in the same industry, medium-speed color machine cooperating company A, and high-speed color machine cooperating company B, and it can be seen that the technical information of the cooperating multifunction machines can be sent.

  In this example, when the attribute information and the recipient information 40a to 40c are compared, the recipient information of the same recipient may have a plurality of categories. For example, when the recipient A has the job type “General Affairs” and the department is “First Technical Department”, the technical information rank 1 of the high-speed color machine cannot be sent and the technical information rank of the medium-speed color machine. 1 cannot be sent, and the technical rank 2 of the high-speed color machine can be sent, and the technical information of the medium-speed color machine cannot be sent. In such a case, “impossible” may be given priority between “impossible” and “possible”. As a result, if the recipient A is in charge of the first technical department and the sendable level is 3 as in the attribute information 22 of FIG. 7, the technical information of the high-speed color machine cannot be obtained. Further, when a plurality of sendable ranks are owned, the higher rank may be given priority. For example, if the recipient B is in the "R & D Department" and the job type is "Engineer", the latter is prioritized and all the technical information on the high-speed color machine can be sent. It can also be obtained in the area where the attribute information of the category corresponding to the machine developer is embedded.

  The determination and specific information addition processing when two types of confidentiality levels are designated in the same designated area as in the attribute information 22 of FIG. 7 will be described. Like the attribute information 22, confidential information that is the same confidential information but different targets may be handled as different types. In this case, the “high speed color machine” and the “medium speed color machine” are in different categories. If the category related to the same confidential information is not included in the recipient information at the time of comparison with the recipient information, the specific information may be added uniformly (or not added).

  Further, it is assumed that another first MFP and a second MFP equivalent to the MFP 3 are connected to the PC 2. The recipient information set / stored in the first MFP is the technical information rank for only the high-speed color machine, and the recipient information set / stored in the second MFP is the technical information rank for only the medium-speed color machine. Suppose that Also in this case, the attribute information 22 and the recipient information of each MFP can be compared by simply obtaining from the PC 2 the attribute-added PDF file 10 in which the same attribute information 22 is embedded in the MFP 3, the first MFP, and the second MFP. Determination and specific information addition processing are possible.

  By comparing information such as the attribute information 22 and the recipient information 40a to 40c described in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, whether or not to add specific information to each area and the type of addition can be determined. As a result, specific information can be added.

  For example, for recipient information indicating that technical information rank 1 can be sent, copying is prohibited for the entire attribute-added PDF file 10 (all areas), and a copy result such as image 11 is obtained. Thus, even when a copy prohibition pattern based on copy prohibition information is added to the entire surface, several patterns can be employed. For example, when sending to a peer company with a low technical information delivery rank (sensitivity rank or confidentiality allowance rank), the image of the attribute-added PDF file 10 is made difficult to understand and sent to a partner company with a higher confidentiality rank than the peer company. In this case, the attribute-added PDF file 10 itself can be printed, but the additional pattern can be changed, for example, by adding a copy prohibition pattern consisting of small dots of a specific arrangement that cannot re-copy the print sample.

  Also, for recipient information indicating recipients (or departments) who can obtain information with a sensitivity rank of 1 or lower, copying is prohibited in areas 1 to 3 of the attribute-added PDF file 10, as in image 12, Only the area 4 has a sensitivity level of 1 or less and is displayed as it is. That is, since only the area 4 has a low density level, the copy prohibition pattern is not added, and the other areas 1 to 3 are added because they are high.

  For monochrome digital multi-function peripherals, confidentiality rank 2 (however, an example of such recipient information is not shown), and for color digital multi-function peripherals, an attribute added PDF is assigned to the confidential rank 1 recipients and departments. When the file 10 is transmitted, copying is prohibited in the areas 1 and 2 of the attribute-added PDF file 10, resulting in an image 13. Actually, in order to protect confidential information, conference materials including confidential information are often not sent, but in this example, it is possible to obtain information on a relevant part of the monochrome digital multifunction peripheral. In this way, portions other than the confidential information can be copied, and the confidential information portion can be obtained by registering a category of interest, which is useful.

  Further, when this attribute-added PDF file 10 is sent to the recipient who is permitted the technical information of the medium-speed color machine, since only area 1 is the technical information of the high-speed color machine, the attribute-added PDF file 10 Of these, a copy prohibition pattern is added only to area 1, resulting in an image 14.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP in FIG. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 5 denotes an image forming apparatus such as the MFP 3. The image forming apparatus 5 includes a CPU 51 that performs information processing by calculation, and a system controller 52 that inputs and outputs data to the CPU 51 is connected to the CPU 51. The system controller 52 is connected to a RAM 53 and a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus 50 for temporarily storing data associated with processing performed by the CPU 51. An I / O (input / output) controller 54 and an image controller 58 for inputting / outputting data to / from the PCI bus 50 are connected to the PCI bus 50.

  The image controller 58 includes an image reading unit 61 that reads an image recorded on a document, a page memory 57 that stores image data in units of pages, an image processing LSI (Large Scale Integrated Circuit) 59 that processes image data, An image forming unit 60 that forms and outputs an image from image data is connected. The I / O controller 54 includes an external interface 56 such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or a LAN (Local Area Network) that inputs / outputs data to / from an external device, and HDDs 55a and 55b (one HDD) that store data. May be connected). The I / O controller 54 includes an HDD controller 54a that controls the HDDs 55a and 55b.

  In the image forming apparatus 5, the process for adding the specific information and the process for detecting the specific information at the time of copying may be executed by the image controller 58, for example. For example, a program for causing an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU in the image controller 58 to execute specific information addition processing and detection processing is stored in a ROM or the like in the image controller 58, and the arithmetic processing device is stored in the image controller 58. It is preferable to read and execute this program in the RAM or the like. If M + N or more copy-prohibited patterns are added to a document within one designated area, the copy-prohibited document can be identified by detecting N of the specific patterns when actually detecting. That's fine.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a digital multi-function peripheral which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 10, 100 is a digital multi-function peripheral. The digital multifunction peripheral 100 is an example of the MFP 3 in FIG. 1 and has functions of a copying machine, a printer device, a FAX device, and a scanner device.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 100 includes a device control unit 114 that includes a CPU that performs calculations and a RAM that stores temporary information associated with the calculations. The device control unit 114 includes a ROM that stores a control program for controlling the digital multifunction peripheral 100. The device control unit 114 is connected to a management unit 117 that is a memory for storing management information (various control information such as recipient information 117a) for managing processing performed by the digital multi-function peripheral 100. The device control unit 114 is connected to an image reading unit 111 that reads an image recorded on a recording sheet and generates image data. The image reading unit 111 is provided with a CCD 111a for capturing a document image as image data, and a document detection sensor 111b for detecting the presence or absence of the document.

  The device control unit 114 is connected to an image forming unit 113 that forms image data on a recording sheet. The image forming unit 113 includes a memory 113a that temporarily stores image data, a printing unit (LSU) 113b that forms an image from the image data stored in the memory 113a and records the image on recording paper, and a printing unit 113b. Paper feeding trays 113c and 113d for image formation are provided. The digital multi-function peripheral 100 can store the image data generated by the image reading unit 111 in the memory 113a and then form an image with the printing unit 113b. In this way, the digital multifunction peripheral 100 functions as a copying machine.

  10 is connected to a FAX modem 118 that performs FAX communication, and the FAX modem 118 is connected to the public network N3. The digital multi-function peripheral 100 can transmit the image data generated by the image reading unit 111 to another FAX apparatus 104 by FAX communication via the public line network N3 connected to the FAX modem 118. In addition, the digital multifunction peripheral 100 can receive image data transmitted from another FAX apparatus 104 via the public line network N3 by the FAX modem 118, and form an image by the image forming unit 113 from the received image data. it can. In this way, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 functions as a FAX apparatus.

  The device control unit 114 is connected to a communication unit (transmission / reception unit) 115 for the digital multifunction peripheral 100 to transmit / receive information to / from the outside. The communication unit 115 can be connected to a communication network N1 such as an in-house LAN, and one or a plurality of PCs 105 can be connected to the communication network N1. In a normal state in which the digital multifunction peripheral 100 is operating alone, the communication unit 115 is connected to the communication network N1, and exchanges information with the PC 105 via the communication network N1. Any one of the PCs 105 corresponds to the PC 2 in FIG. 1, and an attribute-added PDF file can be generated and transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 100.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 100 can transmit the image data generated by the image reading unit 111 from the communication unit 115 to the PC 105. In this way, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 functions as a scanner device. In addition, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 can receive the image data transmitted from the PC 105 by the communication unit 115 and form an image by the image forming unit 113 from the received image data. In this way, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 functions as a printer device.

  The communication network N1 is further connected to a wide area communication network N2 such as the Internet. The communication unit 115 transmits the communication network N1 and the wide area communication network N2 between the Internet FAX apparatus 102 and the external PC 103 connected to the wide area communication network N2 by a method such as transmitting image data attached to an e-mail. Image data can be received via the network. In this way, the digital multi-function peripheral 100 functions as an Internet FAX apparatus. Further, the external PC 103 can also be configured to correspond to the PC 2 in FIG. 1, and the attribute-added PDF file can be generated and transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 100 even through the wide area communication network N2.

  The device control unit 114 is connected to an operation unit 112 that receives an operation from the user. The operation unit 112 includes an input unit 112a such as a touch panel or a numeric keypad on which information such as a control command is input by a user operation, and a display unit 112b such as a liquid crystal panel that displays information necessary for the operation. . The operation unit 112 receives an authentication code for authenticating an administrator or a user (that is, an operator) of the digital multi-function peripheral 100. The authentication code may be input from an external device via the FAX modem 118 or the communication unit 115.

  An HDD 116 is connected to the device control unit 114. The HDD 116 stores image data related to image processing such as image data generated by the image reading unit 111. In addition, an erasing unit 119 is connected to the device control unit 114. The erasing unit 119 erases data recorded and held in the HDD 116 in accordance with control by the device control unit 114.

  Further, the device control unit 114 is connected to an image processing unit 120 that implements determination processing, processing for adding specific information, and processing for detecting specific information according to the present invention. The image processing unit 120 includes a determination unit 120c corresponding to the determination unit described above, a specific information addition unit 120b corresponding to the specific information addition unit 30 described above, and a specific information detection unit 120a related to detection of specific information.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 100 may authenticate the user with the above-described authentication code, read the attribute-added PDF file in which the attribute information is embedded, and execute image formation according to the user. Thus, even if the administrator etc. does not execute the process of sending all recipients all at once using the digital multifunction peripheral 100, the recipient who feels necessary acquires the transmission file or printed matter from the attribute-added PDF file. can do. Further, such simultaneous transmission may be executed with reference to the recipient information 117a triggered by the reception of the attribute-added PDF file, and further, for example, only to a specific department in the recipient information. You may do it.

  The specific information adding unit 120b adds specific information (specific image information) meaning a specific image to the image data. Note that the specific information is information that means a recorded matter in which a specific image is recorded in the image recording process.

  The specific information adding unit 120b and the specific information detecting unit 120a will be supplementarily described. The specific information adding unit 120b holds the specific information to be added to the image data in advance (or holds it in another accessible memory), and specifies the specific information according to the control related to the addition of the specific information by the device control unit 114. Is added to the image data and stored in the memory 113a. The image data processed by the image processing unit 120 becomes print data in a form finally output by the printing unit 113b. The specific information is used to prohibit copying as described above (or to make the user recognize that copying is prohibited and to check). For example, in the case of a color multifunction peripheral, yellow specific information is used. Add it so that it cannot be seen. In addition, if it is a monochrome multifunction peripheral (or even if it is a color multifunction peripheral in the case of monochrome output), black (gray) whose density is adjusted is added so that it cannot be visually recognized.

  The image processing unit 120 preferably includes specific information setting means for setting the color and / or number of specific information (which corresponds to the density because the area to be added is actually determined). The specific information setting unit sets the color and number of the specific information according to the setting control by the device control unit 114, and the specific information adding unit 120b sets the specific information for the preliminarily held specific information to be added to the image data. Specific information is added to the image data based on the color and number set by the means.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 100 having the above-described configuration receives specific information when the printing unit 113b forms an image for image data read by the image reading unit 111, a transmission file obtained from an attribute-added PDF file, or the like. Append.

  On the other hand, the specific information detection unit 120a detects whether or not the specific information is included in the image data read by the image reading unit 111 and stored in the memory 113a. If the specific information is included in the image data as a result of detection by the specific information detection unit 120a, the device control unit 114 prohibits copying the image data (invalidates image formation in the image forming unit 113). I do.

  As described above, the image processing unit 120 preferably includes an output prohibiting unit (image invalidating unit). In other words, this output prohibiting means is a means for prohibiting output of an input image when a specific pattern is detected by the specific pattern detecting means (specific information detecting means 120a), or when a predetermined number or more is detected. In other words, this means makes it possible to invalidate the image information read by the image reading unit 111 when the specific information detecting means 120a determines that the specific information exists.

  As described above, the embodiments of the system of the present invention have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. As described in the flow of the processing, the present invention includes such an image forming apparatus and information processing apparatus. The form as the used image forming method can also be taken. Specifically, in this image forming method, a file generated by the information processing apparatus is received by the image forming apparatus directly from the information processing apparatus or via a recording medium, and image formation is performed on the file.

  First, the information processing apparatus embeds attribute information in an arbitrarily designated area in the file and creates an attribute added file. Next, when the image forming apparatus prints or transmits the attribute-added file to the recipient, the attribute information is compared with the recipient information stored in advance regarding the recipient for each designated area of the embedding destination. Thus, it is determined whether or not to add specific information. Subsequently, the image forming apparatus adds specific information to the attribute addition file according to the determination result. Other application examples are as described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  Further, the present invention is a program incorporated in a control unit including the main control unit 39 and the additional information instruction unit 35 (or the CPU 51 in FIG. 9 or the device control unit 114 in FIG. 10) in the image forming apparatus exemplified by the MFP 3. A form or a form as a program incorporated in the information processing apparatus exemplified by the PC 2 can also be adopted. The former program indicates a control program (firmware) of the control unit in the image forming apparatus, and the latter program indicates an application program (application software) of the control unit in the information processing apparatus. Such a program can be distributed as a computer-readable recording medium in which the program is recorded or distributed via a network, and can be incorporated into a corresponding device in an executable manner.

  As described above, the image forming system of the present invention only needs to include at least the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus. However, even if the information processing apparatus is incorporated in the image forming apparatus, the recipient information storage of the image forming apparatus is conversely performed. The means, the determining means, and the adding means may be incorporated in the information processing apparatus. In the latter case, printing cannot be performed, but processing such as sending image data for printing to the printer is possible.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and is a configuration diagram illustrating a conference system. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the attribute information embedding process performed with PC in FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an MFP in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an attribute-added PDF file generated by the PC in FIG. 1 and transmitted to the MFP, and a result of copying the file by the MFP in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a copy prohibition pattern embedding process executed by the MFP of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a copy process executed by the MFP of FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the example of the attribute information attached | subjected to a PDF file with PC in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of recipient information stored in the MFP of FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the MFP in FIG. 1. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of a digital multi-function peripheral that is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Large display, 2 ... PC, 3 ... Image forming apparatus (MFP), 20 ... File creation software, 21 ... Attribute embedding program, 30 ... Specific information addition means, 31 ... Image reading part, 32 ... Copy prohibition pattern Determining unit 33 ... Copy prohibition location instruction unit 34 34 Image processing unit 35 35 Additional information instruction unit 36 Additional information generation unit 37 Image compositing unit 38 Printing unit 39 Main control unit 40 Memory 41... Image generation unit 42. Various I / F units.

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a file,
And about the recipient of the file, and recipient information storage means for storing the recipient information is information indicating a plurality of types of categories that payee has not been or permission are allowed to send,
Attribute information wherein a response to a plurality of types of categories in recipient information information indicating a plurality of types of categories that do not make or allow permit delivery to the recipient becomes been padded in the optional area in the file the attribute addition file, determining when printing or sending, for each specified area of the buried destination, whether to add specific information by comparing said attribute information and said recipient information to the recipient Determination means to perform,
Adding means for adding the specific information to the attribute addition file according to the determination result of the determination means ;
When the determination means determines that the specific information is to be added to at least one category by comparing the attribute information for the designated area with the recipient information for the recipient, An image forming apparatus characterized in that priority is given to the determination that the specific information is added even if it is determined that the specific information is not added for another type of category .   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific information is copy restriction information for restricting copying.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs determination of the type of specific information to be added together with determination of whether or not to add specific information. 4.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the type of specific information added by the adding unit is copy restriction information for restricting copying, pattern information for generating an image of a specific color, and a thinned image. At least one of pattern information for the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the said attribute attaching files, source information indicating a source has been added, the image forming apparatus, the attribute attaching files external An image forming apparatus, comprising: a notification unit configured to notify a transmission source included in the transmission source information when transmitted or printed. An information processing apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and capable of editing a file ,
In correspondence with the optional area in the processing target file, the attribute information by embedding in the file, attributes the file, and the attribute addition files to be determined by the determination means in the image forming apparatus the information processing apparatus comprising the embedding means. An image forming method for forming an image on an image forming apparatus on a file generated by an information processing apparatus,
The image forming apparatus stores in advance recipient information, which is information indicating a plurality of types of categories that the recipient is permitted or not permitted to send with respect to the recipient of the file,
The information processing apparatus corresponds to a plurality of types of categories in the recipient information for the file , and attribute information that is information indicating a plurality of types of categories that are permitted or not permitted to be sent to the recipient. an attribute added file crowded padded in any specified area in,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the attribute attaching files when printing or sending to the recipient, for each specified area of the buried destination, specific information by comparing the attribute information before and Ki受 Tohito information performs determination process whether to add, have lines the addition of the specific information in the attribute attaching files according to the result of the determination process,
In the determination process, when it is determined that the specific information is added to at least one category by comparing the attribute information and the recipient information for the designated area with the recipient, An image forming method , wherein priority is given to the determination that the specific information is added even if it is determined that the specific information is not added for another type of category .

Images