JP4847565B2 - Apparatus for creating copies, control method for apparatus for creating copies, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for creating a copy, a method for controlling the apparatus for creating a copy , and a program capable of handling a code image.

  Conventionally, a code image is created by encoding original data, and the created code image (for example, a barcode, a two-dimensional code, and a digital watermark) is printed on an output sheet.

  Furthermore, original data is acquired by reading a code image with a scanner, and the original data is used for management of documents and products.

JP 2001-344588 A JP 2000-013584 A

  It is easy to obtain a copy from the output paper on which the code image is printed. Simply, the output paper may be applied to the image forming apparatus. However, if the code image portion on the output paper is dirty, a copy in which the original data cannot be extracted (extracted) from the code image is obtained.

  The person receiving the copy will then be dissatisfied with the inability to retrieve information from the copy.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned dissatisfaction of the user (the person who received the copy).

An apparatus for creating a copy according to the present invention includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not a code image is included in a document image; and the determination unit that determines that a code image is included in the document image. Decoding means for decoding the code image; generation means for generating a code image by performing decoding using a decoding result when the decoding means succeeds in decoding the code image; and the decoding of if it fails to decode the code image by means comprises display means for displaying a screen indicating the failure of the decoding of the code image, and creation means for creating a pre-Symbol copy of the said When the decoding unit succeeds in decoding the encoded image, the generating unit generates the copy by synthesizing and printing the encoded image generated by the generating unit on the original image, Decoding means lost in decoding the coded image When, the creating the copies by printing the document image to delete the code image that was included from said original image, it is characterized.

  According to the present invention, when the original image data cannot be taken out from the code image because the code image portion of the copy as a document is creased or the code image becomes dirty due to some factor, The code image can be deleted from the data. Further, in the above case, it is not necessary to distribute a copy whose original data cannot be extracted to the distribution destination user. Furthermore, since the distributor can select the deletion pattern of the code image, the convenience of the image forming apparatus capable of handling the code image can be further improved.

1 is a diagram showing an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is an external view of an input / output device of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the tile data based on this invention notionally. It is a block diagram of a scanner image processing unit according to the present invention. 2 is a block diagram of a printer image processing unit according to the present invention. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the operation part which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the operation part which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart figure which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the job execution selection screen which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart figure which concerns on this invention. It is a figure of the code image area concerning the present invention. It is a figure of the printed image after the post-processing which concerns on this invention. It is a figure of the printed image after the post-processing which concerns on this invention. It is a figure of the printed image after the post-processing which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
<Printing system (Fig. 1)>
Next, Embodiment 1 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system, the host computer (PC) 40 and the three image forming apparatuses 10, 20, and 30 are connected to the LAN 50. However, in the printing system according to the present invention, the number of connections is not limited. In this embodiment, a LAN is applied as a connection method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an arbitrary network such as a WAN (public line), a serial transmission method such as USB, and a parallel transmission method such as Centronics and SCSI can be applied.

  A host computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 40 has a function of a personal computer. The PC 40 can send and receive files and send and receive e-mails using the FTP and SMB protocols via the LAN 50 and WAN. Further, it is possible to issue a print command from the PC 40 to the image forming apparatuses 10, 20, and 30 via a printer driver.

  The image forming apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are apparatuses having the same configuration. The image forming apparatus 30 is an image forming apparatus having only a print function, and does not have the scanner unit included in the image forming apparatus 10 or the image forming apparatus 20. In the following, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the configuration will be described in detail focusing on the image forming apparatus 10 of the image forming apparatuses 10 and 20.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a scanner 13 as an image input device, a printer 14 as an image output device, an operation unit 12 as a user interface (UI), and a controller unit 11. The controller unit 11 is connected to the scanner 13 and the printer 14 to control operation of the entire image forming apparatus 10.

  The image forming apparatus 20 includes a scanner 23 that is an image input device, a printer 24 that is an image output device, an operation unit 22 that is a user interface (UI), and a controller unit 21. The controller unit 21 is connected to the scanner 23 and the printer 24 to control the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 30 includes a printer 33 that is an image output device, an operation unit 32 that is a user interface (UI), and a controller unit 31 that is connected to all of these and controls operation of the entire image forming apparatus 30. Is done.

<Image Forming Apparatus 10 (FIG. 2)>
An appearance of the image forming apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. The scanner 13 converts the image information into an electrical signal by inputting the reflected light obtained by exposing and scanning the image on the document to the CCD. The scanner unit further converts the electrical signal into a luminance signal composed of R, G, and B colors, and outputs the luminance signal to the controller unit 11 as image data.

  The document is set on the tray 202 of the document feeder 201. When the user instructs to start reading from the operation unit 12, a document reading instruction is given from the controller unit 11 to the scanner 13. Upon receiving this instruction, the scanner 13 feeds the documents one by one from the tray 202 of the document feeder 201 and performs a document reading operation. Note that the document reading method is not an automatic feeding method by the document feeder 201, but a method of scanning the document by placing the document on a glass surface (not shown) and moving the exposure unit.

  The printer 14 is an image forming device that forms image data received from the controller unit 11 on a sheet. In this embodiment, the image forming method is an electrophotographic method using a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an ink jet system that prints on paper by ejecting ink from a micro nozzle array. The printer 14 is provided with a plurality of paper cassettes 203, 204, and 205 that allow selection of different paper sizes or different paper orientations. The paper after printing without post-processing is discharged to the paper discharge tray 206. The post-processing unit 207 discharges the printed paper for post-processing. As post-processing, the discharged paper is stapled, punched, and cut.

<Detailed description of controller unit 11 (FIG. 3)>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the controller unit 11 of the image forming apparatus 10 in more detail.

  The controller unit 11 is electrically connected to the scanner 13 and the printer 14. On the other hand, the controller unit 11 is connected to the PC 40 or an external device via the LAN 50 or the WAN 331. As a result, image data and device information can be input and output.

  The CPU 301 comprehensively controls access to various connected devices based on a control program stored in the ROM 303, and also performs overall control of various processes performed in the controller. A RAM 302 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 301 and also a memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 302 includes an SRAM that retains stored content even after the power is turned off, and a DRAM that erases the stored content after the power is turned off. The ROM 303 stores a boot program for the apparatus. An HDD 304 is a hard disk drive and can store system software and image data.

  The operation unit I / F 305 is an interface unit for connecting the system bus 310 and the operation unit 12. The operation unit I / F 305 receives image data to be displayed on the operation unit 12 from the system bus 310 to the operation unit 12 and outputs information input from the operation unit 12 to the system bus 310.

  A network I / F 306 is connected to the LAN 50 and the system bus 310 to input / output information. The modem 307 is connected to the WAN 331 and the system bus 310 and inputs / outputs information. A binary image rotation unit 308 converts the direction of image data before transmission. The binary image compression / decompression unit 309 converts the resolution of the image data before transmission into a resolution that matches a predetermined resolution or the partner's ability. For compression and expansion, methods such as JBIG, MMR, MR, and MH are used. The image bus 330 is a transmission path for exchanging image data, and is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394.

  The scanner image processing unit 312 corrects, processes, and edits image data received from the scanner 13 via the scanner I / F 311. The scanner image processing unit 312 determines whether the received image data is a color document or a monochrome document, a character document, or a photo document. Then, the determination result is attached to the image data. Such accompanying information is referred to as attribute data. Details of processing performed by the scanner image processing unit 312 will be described later.

  The compression unit 313 receives the image data and divides the image data into blocks of 32 pixels × 32 pixels. The image data of 32 pixels × 32 pixels is referred to as tile data. FIG. 4 conceptually shows this tile data. In a document (paper medium before reading), an area corresponding to the tile data is referred to as a tile image. Note that the tile data is added with the average luminance information in the block of 32 pixels × 32 pixels and the coordinate position of the tile image on the document as header information. Further, the compression unit 313 compresses image data including a plurality of tile data. The decompression unit 316 decompresses image data composed of a plurality of tile data, raster-expands it, and sends it to the printer image processing unit 315.

  The printer image processing unit 315 receives the image data sent from the decompression unit 316 and performs image processing on the image data while referring to attribute data attached to the image data. The image data after image processing is output to the printer 14 via the printer I / F 314. Details of processing performed by the printer image processing unit 315 will be described later.

  The image conversion unit 317 performs a predetermined conversion process on the image data. This processing unit is composed of the following processing units.

  A decompression unit 318 decompresses received image data. A compression unit 319 compresses the received image data. A rotation unit 320 rotates received image data. The scaling unit 321 performs resolution conversion processing (for example, 600 dpi to 200 dpi) on the received image data. The color space conversion unit 322 converts the color space of the received image data. The color space conversion unit 322 performs a known background removal process using a matrix or a table, performs a known LOG conversion process (RGB → CMY), or performs a known output color correction process (CMY → CMYK). Can be. The binary multi-value conversion unit 323 converts the received two-gradation image data into 256-gradation image data. Conversely, the multi-level binary conversion unit 324 converts the received 256-gradation image data into 2-gradation image data using a technique such as error diffusion processing.

  The synthesizer 327 synthesizes the received two pieces of image data to generate one piece of image data. When combining two pieces of image data, a method of using an average value of luminance values of pixels to be combined as a combined luminance value, or a luminance value of a pixel having a brighter luminance level, A method for obtaining a luminance value is applied. In addition, it is possible to use a method in which the darker pixel is used as a synthesized pixel. Furthermore, a method of determining a luminance value after synthesis by a logical sum operation, a logical product operation, an exclusive logical sum operation, or the like between pixels to be synthesized is also applicable. These synthesis methods are all well-known methods. The thinning unit 326 performs resolution conversion by thinning out the pixels of the received image data, and generates image data such as 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8. The moving unit 325 adds a margin part to the received image data or deletes the margin part.

  The RIP 328 connected to the compression unit 329 receives intermediate data generated based on PDL code data transmitted from the PC 40 or the like, and generates bitmap data (multi-value).

<Detailed Description of Scanner Image Processing Unit 312 (FIG. 5)>
FIG. 5 shows an internal configuration of the scanner image processing unit 312.

  The scanner image processing unit 312 receives image data composed of RGB 8-bit luminance signals. This luminance signal is converted by the masking processing unit 501 into a standard luminance signal that does not depend on the filter color of the CCD.

  The filter processing unit 502 arbitrarily corrects the spatial frequency of the received image data. This processing unit performs arithmetic processing using, for example, a 7 × 7 matrix on the received image data. By the way, in the copying machine or the decoding machine, the character mode, the photo mode, or the character / photo mode can be selected as the copy mode by depressing the document selection tab 704 in FIG. When the character mode is selected by the user, the filter processing unit 502 applies a character filter to the entire image data. When the photo mode is selected, a photo filter is applied to the entire image data. When the character / photo mode is selected, the filter is adaptively switched for each pixel in accordance with a character photo determination signal (part of attribute data) described later. In other words, it is determined for each pixel whether to apply a photo filter or a character filter. Note that coefficients for smoothing only high-frequency components are set in the photographic filter. This is because the roughness of the image is not noticeable. In addition, a coefficient for performing strong edge enhancement is set in the character filter. This is to increase the sharpness of the characters.

  The histogram generation unit 503 samples the luminance data of each pixel constituting the received image data. More specifically, luminance data in a rectangular area surrounded by a start point and an end point specified in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction are sampled at a constant pitch in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. Then, histogram data is generated based on the sampling result. The generated histogram data is used to estimate the background level when performing background removal processing. The input-side gamma correction unit 504 converts luminance data having nonlinear characteristics using a table or the like.

  A color / monochrome determination unit 505 determines whether each pixel constituting the received image data is a chromatic color or an achromatic color, and the determination result is converted into image data as a color / monochrome determination signal (part of attribute data). Accompany it.

  The character photograph determination unit 506 determines whether each pixel constituting the image data is a pixel constituting a character, a pixel constituting a halftone dot, a pixel constituting a character in a halftone dot, or a pixel constituting a solid image Is determined based on the pixel value of each pixel and the pixel values of peripheral pixels of each pixel. Note that pixels that do not correspond to any of these are pixels that form a white region. Then, the determination result is attached to the image data as a character / photo determination signal (part of attribute data).

  When there is code image data in the image data output from the masking processing unit 501, the decoding unit 507 detects the presence. Then, the detected code image data is decoded to extract information.

<Detailed Description of Printer Image Processing Unit 315 (FIG. 6)>
FIG. 6 shows the flow of processing performed in the printer image processing 315.

  The background removal processing unit 601 uses the histogram generated by the scanner image processing unit 312 to remove (remove) the background color of the image data. The monochrome generation unit 602 converts color data into monochrome data. The Log conversion unit 603 performs luminance density conversion. For example, the Log conversion unit 603 converts RGB input image data into CMY image data. The output color correction unit 604 performs output color correction. For example, image data input as CMY is converted into CMYK image data using a table or matrix. The output-side gamma correction unit 605 performs correction so that the signal value input to the output-side gamma correction unit 605 is proportional to the reflection density value after copying output. The code image synthesis unit 607 synthesizes code image data generated by <encoding processing> described later and (original) image data. A halftone correction unit 606 performs halftone processing in accordance with the number of gradations of the printer unit to be output. For example, the received high gradation image data is binarized or binarized.

  Each processing unit in the scanner image processing unit 312 or the printer image processing unit 315 can output the received image data without performing each processing. Such passing of data without performing processing in a certain processing unit will be expressed as “through the processing unit” below.

<Encoding process>
The CPU 301 performs control to generate encoded image data by performing encoding processing of predetermined information (the predetermined information includes, for example, a device number, printing time information, user ID information, a document, and the like). Is possible.

  In this specification, a code image indicates an image such as a two-dimensional code image or a barcode image, or a digital watermark image generated by a digital watermark technique.

  Further, the CPU 301 can control to transmit the generated code image data to the code image synthesis unit 607 in the printer image processing unit 315 using a data bus (not shown).

The above control (code image generation control and transmission control) is performed by executing a program stored in the RAM 302.
The description of the controller unit 11 is as described above.

<Explanation of operation screen>
FIG. 7 shows an initial screen 700 in the image forming apparatus 10. An area 701 indicates whether or not the image forming apparatus 10 is ready for copying, and indicates the set number of copies. A document selection tab 704 is a tab for selecting a document type. When this tab is depressed, three types of selection menus of text, photo, and text / photo mode are displayed in a pop-up. An application mode tab 705 is a tab for setting various image editing processes. A post-processing tab 706 is a tab for performing settings related to various finishings. A duplex setting tab 707 is a tab for performing settings relating to duplex reading and duplex printing. A reading mode tab 702 is a tab for selecting an original reading mode. When this tab is depressed, three types of selection menus of color / black / automatic (ACS) are popped up. Note that color copy is performed when color is selected, and monochrome copy is performed when black is selected. When ACS is selected, the copy mode is determined by the monochrome color determination signal described above.

  FIG. 8 shows an application mode setting screen 800 displayed when the application mode tab 705 shown in FIG. 7 is pressed. For example, the application mode setting screen 800 includes a binding margin setting tab 801, a frame erase setting tab 802, a bookbinding setting tab 803, a negative / positive setting tab 804, and a mirror image setting tab 805. A binding margin setting tab 801 moves an original image up, down, left, or right during printing and prints it on output paper. A frame erase setting tab 802 designates a frame for a document image and sets pixels in an area outside the frame to white pixels. A bookbinding setting tab 803 outputs a document image as a booklet. A negative / positive setting tab 804 reverses black and white with respect to the original image, and a mirror image setting tab 805 reverses the original image and prints a mirror image.

  When a negative / positive setting tab 804 is pressed, a negative / positive ON / OFF screen (not shown) is displayed, and it is possible to select whether or not to perform negative / positive output. The initial value is set not to be negative / positive. When the mirror image setting tab 805 is pressed, a mirror image ON / OFF screen (not shown) is displayed, and it is possible to select whether to output a mirror image. The initial value is set not to mirror. Here, the code image printing tab 806 is used to make settings related to a mode in which a code image is newly synthesized with a document image. Information newly converted into a code image may be anything such as a document file stored in the PC 40 or the HDD 304 in the image forming apparatus or a character string input from a virtual keyboard (not shown). It is an example for creating a document on which a code image is printed in the present invention.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart relating to processing for inputting a document on which a code image is printed and outputting a copy in the present invention.

  In step S10001, the CPU 301 controls the document read by the scanner 13 to be sent as image data to the scanner image processing unit 312 via the scanner I / F 311. The scanner image processing unit 312 performs the processing shown in FIG. 5 on this image data, and generates attribute data together with new image data. Further, this attribute data is attached to the image data. Further, in step S10002, the decoding unit 507 in the scanner image processing unit 312 detects the presence of the code image data if it exists.

  Here, FIG. 12 shows a document image stored in the RAM 302. The upper left corner of the document image 1201 is the origin, the main operation direction is the x-axis, and the sub-scanning direction is the y-axis. As shown in FIG. 12, the code image data area 1202 is a rectangular area (area surrounded by X0, X1, Y0, and Y1), and the decoding unit 507 detects the code image detection marks 1203 to 1207. It is determined by doing. The top, bottom, left, and right of the code image data are determined by detecting a code image detection mark that continuously exists like 1205 and 1206 (determined to be the upper left). The code image data area 1202 includes a metadata area 1208 and a non-metadata area 1209. The non-metadata area 1209 is in the dotted line area surrounded by the code image detection marks 1203 to 1205 and 1207 at the four corners in the code image data, and the metadata area 1208 is the other area.

  If the decoding unit 507 detects code image data in S10002 shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 301 proceeds to S10003 to determine the area in the original image of the detected code image data, and stores it in the RAM. deep.

  In step S10004, the decoding unit 507 decodes the metadata area in the encoded image data. If the decryption of the metadata area is successful in S10004, the CPU 301 sends the decrypted metadata to the RAM 302 using a data bus (not shown), and proceeds to S10005. If the decoding of the metadata area fails in S10004, the process proceeds to S10006.

  In S10005, the decoding unit 507 decodes the non-metadata area in the encoded image data. If the decryption of the non-metadata area is successful, the CPU 301 sends the decrypted non-metadata (document data, character code, and the like) to the RAM 302 using a data bus (not shown), and the process proceeds to S10011. If the decryption of the non-metadata area fails, the process proceeds to S10006. In step S10011, the CPU 301 re-encodes the decoded metadata and non-metadata to generate a code image, and transmits the generated re-coded image data to the code image synthesis unit 607 in the printer image processing unit 315. Control to proceed to step S10012.

  In step S10006, the CPU 301 warns the user that the decoding of the encoded image data has failed on the job execution selection screen shown in FIG. 10 and prompts the user to select a post-processing method.

  In S10007 shown in FIG. 9, if a job continuation instruction is issued from the user on the job execution selection screen, the process proceeds to S10008. If a job cancellation instruction is issued, the process proceeds to S10014, and the job is canceled.

  In S10008, if the user is instructed to delete the code image area, the process proceeds to S10009. If the user is not instructed to delete, the process proceeds to S10012.

  In S10009, the CPU 301 generates a white image having a size equal to the code image data area size composed of white pixels. In order to delete the code image from the raster developed image (original image after the image processing is performed), the white image is generated in this way. In step S10010, the white image is post-processed as necessary, and the post-processed image data is transmitted as post-processed image data to the code image synthesis unit 607 in the printer image processing unit 315. Control proceeds to S10012. The post-processing for the white image will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S10012 shown in FIG. 9, the compression unit 313 divides the image data generated by the scanner image processing unit 312 into blocks of 32 pixels × 32 pixels to generate tile data. Further, the compression unit 313 compresses the image data after the above-described scanner image processing including the plurality of tile data. The CPU 301 controls the compression unit 313 to send the image data after compression to the RAM 302 for storage. The image data after the scanner image processing is sent to the image conversion unit 317 as necessary, subjected to image processing, and then sent again to the RAM 302 for storage. In step S <b> 10013, the CPU 301 controls to send the compressed image data stored in the RAM 302 to the decompression unit 316. Further, in this step, the decompression unit 316 decompresses the compressed image data. Further, the decompression unit 316 raster-expands image data composed of a plurality of tile data after decompression. The rasterized image data is sent to the printer image processing unit 315. The printer image processing unit 315 performs image data editing according to attribute data attached to the image data after raster development. This process is the process shown in FIG.

  Here, the code image data generated in S10011 shown in FIG. 9 or the post-processed image data generated in S10010 and the image data after raster development are combined. More specifically, the code image combining unit 607 combines the image data output from the output-side gamma correction unit 605 and the code image data generated in S10011 or the post-processed image data generated in S10010. The code image synthesis unit 607 overwrites and synthesizes the code image data generated in S10011 or the post-processed image data generated in S10010 on the original image data. That is, in the area of the code image data generated in S10011 or the post-processed image data generated in S10010, the original image data is synthesized so as to disappear.

  Then, the halftone correction unit 606 performs halftone processing on the composite image data obtained by the synthesis in accordance with the number of gradations of the printer unit to output. The composite image data after halftone processing is sent to the printer 14 via the printer I / F 314, and the printer 14 prints the composite image data on output paper.

  FIG. 10 shows a job execution selection screen 1000 displayed by the CPU 301 in S10006. When the job continuation button 1001 is pressed, the CPU 301 controls to continue printing without performing post-processing on the area of the code image data (that is, directly shifts from S10008 to S10012).

  When the job continuation button 1002 is pressed after the code image is deleted, one of the white button 1003, the metadata encoding button 1004, and the metadata text button 1005 can be selected. However, the metadata encoding button 1004 or the metadata text conversion button 1005 is grayed out and displayed so that it cannot be selected unless the decoding of the metadata area is successful in S10004 of FIG. This control is performed by the CPU.

  When the user selects one of the white button 1003, the metadata encoding button 1004, or the metadata text button 1005, the selection is accepted, and the CPU 301 performs post-processing in S10010 of FIG. When the job cancel button 1006 is pressed by the user, the CPU 301 receives the press and controls to stop the printing process. In the example of FIG. 10, it is assumed that the non-metadata is a document file and the metadata means a URL of the document file. For this reason, although the user can easily understand the words of the metadata encoding button 1004 and the metadata text button 1005, this is merely an example and does not limit the present embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of post-processing in S10010 of FIG. 9 assuming FIG.

  In S10101 shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the white button 1003 shown in FIG. 10 is pressed. If the white button 1003 is pressed, the flow is performed without performing post-processing. Exit. However, the white image data generated in S10009 is output to step S10012 as post-processed image data.

  If the white button 1003 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to S10102. In step S10102, the CPU 301 determines whether the metadata encoding button 1004 illustrated in FIG. 10 has been pressed. If the metadata encoding button 1004 has been pressed, the process proceeds to S10103, and if the metadata encoding button 1004 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to S10104.

  In S10103, the CPU 301 generates code image data obtained by decoding only the metadata by executing the program stored in the RAM 302 for the decoded metadata stored in the RAM 302 in S10004. The encoded image data is output as post-processed image data.

  In S10104, the CPU 301 generates the text image data of the metadata by executing the program stored in the RAM 302 for the decrypted metadata stored in the RAM 302 in S10004. Then, this text image data is output as post-processed image data to S10012.

  13 to 15 show images immediately before printing. FIG. 13 shows the result when the white button 1003 shown in FIG. 10 is pressed. 14 shows the result when the metadata encoding button 1004 shown in FIG. 10 is pressed, and FIG. 15 shows the result when the metadata text conversion button 1005 shown in FIG. 10 is pressed. It is a result.

  As described above, when document image data including a code image obtained by encoding original data is input to the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is determined that a code image is included in the document image data. The original data can be extracted by decoding the code image. Here, the original data is data including non-metadata and metadata. Further, here, decoding a code image is referred to as code image decoding.

  The metadata is printed in the metadata area of the original image, and the non-metadata is printed in the non-metadata area of the original image. Here, in the metadata area, each dot included in the two-dimensional code of the metadata is large, and is printed with a high resistance against the smear of the document image. On the other hand, in the non-metadata area, each dot included in the two-dimensional code of non-metadata is small and is printed with a very low resistance to the smear of the original image.

  That is, in the metadata area, the image on the metadata area can be decoded even if the original image is slightly dirty. However, if the non-metadata area is slightly dirty, the image on the non-metadata area Cannot be decrypted.

  In this embodiment, the non-metadata is content data that the user wants to include in the two-dimensional code. For example, music data or Excel data. This metadata has a very large amount of data.

  On the other hand, metadata is data related to non-metadata and is important data, but is data with a small amount of data. In this way, the metadata is a small amount of data and important data, so the metadata is printed with high durability.

  In this embodiment, two-dimensional code = two-dimensional code.

(Other embodiments)
Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), or can be applied to an apparatus (an image forming apparatus, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, etc.) composed of a single device. It is also possible to do.

  Another object of the present invention is that a computer (or CPU or MPU) of a system or apparatus reads and executes the program code from a storage medium that stores the program code that realizes the procedure of the flowchart shown in the above-described embodiment. Is also achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the program code and a storage medium storing the program code also constitute one of the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like is used. be able to.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition to this, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Cases are also included.

  Further, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Controller unit 12 Operation part 13 Scanner 14 Printer 20 Image forming apparatus 21 Controller unit 22 Operation part 23 Scanner 24 Printer 30 Image forming apparatus 31 Controller unit 32 Operation part 33 Printer 40 PC
50 LAN
201 Document feeder 202 Tray 203 Paper cassette 204 Paper cassette 205 Paper cassette 206 Paper discharge tray 207 Post-processing section 301 CPU
302 RAM
303 ROM
304 HDD
305 Operation unit I / F
306 Network I / F 306
307 Modem 308 Binary image rotation unit 309 Binary image compression / decompression unit 310 System bus 311 Scanner I / F
312 Scanner Image Processing Unit 313 Compression Unit 314 Printer I / F
315 Printer image processing unit 316 Expansion unit 317 Image conversion unit 318 Expansion unit 319 Compression unit 320 Rotation unit 321 Scaling unit 322 Color space conversion unit 323 Binary multi-value conversion unit 324 Multi-value binary conversion unit 325 Moving unit 326 Thinning-out unit 327 Combining Unit 328 RIP
329 Compression unit 501 Masking processing unit 502 Filter processing unit 503 Histogram generation unit 504 Input side gamma correction unit 505 Color / monochrome determination unit 506 Character / photo determination unit 507 Decoding unit 601 Background removal processing unit 602 Monochrome generation unit 603 Log conversion unit 604 Output color Correction unit 605 Output side gamma correction unit 606 Halftone correction unit 607 Code image composition unit 700 Initial screen 701 Area 702 Reading mode tab 704 Tab 705 Tab 706 Tab 707 Tab 800 Application mode setting screen 801 Tab 802 Tab 803 Tab 804 Tab 805 Tab 806 Tab 1000 Job execution selection screen 1001 Job continuation button 1002 Job continuation button 1003 Outline button 1004 Metadata encoding button 1005 Metadata text conversion button 1006 Cancel button 1201 document image 1202 encoded image data area 1203 code image detection mark 1204 encoded image sensing mark 1205 encoded image sensing mark 1206 encoded image sensing mark 1207 code image detection mark 1208 metadata area 1209 non metadata area

Claims (3)

A device for making a copy,
Determining means for determining whether or not a code image is included in the document image;
Decoding means for decoding the code image when the determination means determines that the code image is included in the document image;
When the decoding unit succeeds in decoding the code image, a generation unit that generates a code image by performing encoding using the decoding result;
Display means for displaying a screen indicating that decoding of the code image has failed when decoding of the code image fails in the decoding means;
And creating means for creating a pre-Symbol copies,
Have
The creation means creates the copy by synthesizing and printing the code image generated by the generation means on the original image when the decoding means succeeds in decoding the code image, When the decoding means fails to decode the code image, the copy is created by printing a document image obtained by deleting the code image included in the document image. A device that creates things. A method for controlling a device for creating a copy,
A determination step of determining whether a code image is included in the document image by a determination unit;
A decoding step of decoding the code image by decoding means when it is determined that the code image is included in the document image in the determination step;
Upon successful decoding of the code image in the decoding step, the generating unit, a generation step of generating a code image by performing the encoding using the decoding result,
A display step of displaying a screen indicating that the decoding of the code image has failed by the display means when decoding of the code image has failed in the decoding step;
A creation step of creating the copy by a creation means;
Including
The creation step creates the copy by synthesizing and printing the code image generated in the generation step on the original image when the decoding of the code image is successful in the decoding step; When the decoding of the code image fails in the decoding step, the copy is created by printing a document image obtained by deleting the code image included from the document image. A method for controlling an apparatus for creating an object.   A program for causing a computer to execute the method for controlling a device for creating a copy according to claim 2.

Images