JP4857083B2 - Image forming system and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an efficient image formation system such that a ground tint discriminating function and an image output function can be shared on the whole system. <P>SOLUTION: A digital multifunction machine 500 which has a ground tint recognizing unit and a digital multifunction machine 501 which does not have it are connected through a network to constitute the image formation system. When image data are read by the digital multifunction machine 501, the read image data are transferred to the digital multifunction machine 500 to perform ground tint detection processing. The detection result is sent from the digital multifunction machine 500 to the digital multifunction machine 501, which performs image processing so that an original image can be read based upon the ground tint detection result and transfers data having been processed to another image forming apparatus in the image formation system, thereby taking partial charge of printing-out processing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming system and an image output function that are suitably applied to an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network such as the Internet. It relates to technology that shares functions.

  Various apparatuses and methods have been proposed in order to prevent copying of special manuscripts, confidential documents, and the like by a copying machine. As a method for discriminating bills / securities, for example, in Patent Document 1, input image data is compared with a specific mark (pattern data) registered in advance by a pattern matching method, and a specific mark exists. In this case, a method for discriminating that the manuscript is a copy-prohibited manuscript such as a bill or a securities has been proposed.

  By the way, in a corporate office or the like, even in the case of general documents other than special manuscripts such as banknotes and securities, there are many documents that are prohibited from being copied from the viewpoint of importance of document contents and confidentiality. In general, such a copy-prohibited document is stamped with a so-called “secret” stamp, a copy-prohibited stamp, or the like so as to be distinguished from a copy-capable document. In addition, a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern (the “background pattern” refers to the pattern that decorates the background (background)) is embedded in the background of the document, and characters such as “copy prohibited” appear during copy output to suppress copying. ing.

  However, in the method using the “secret” stamp, copying becomes possible when the mark portion is concealed, and the deterrence of copying is weak. In the method using embedding a tint block pattern, “ There is a problem that only the message of “copying prohibition” emerges, which is not only a psychological suppression effect but also copying itself.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a document image is read, a background pattern is extracted from the read image, and the read image is printed or other based on the result of comparing the background pattern with a reference background pattern. An image forming apparatus that determines whether an image is prohibited from being transferred to the apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus is configured so that the user can adjust the setting of the discrimination standard for the copy-prohibited document in order to meet the user's demands regarding either “missing detection” or “excessive detection”.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-125259 JP 2004-200957 A

  With recent developments in communication technology, the situation surrounding image forming apparatuses such as digital multifunction peripherals has changed greatly. By connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses over the Internet or the like, these image forming apparatuses can be connected. Large-scale image forming systems that enable transmission and reception of data between them have become widespread. In such a large-scale image forming system, image data read by an image forming apparatus is transmitted to another apparatus, and image processing is performed by the other apparatus that has received the image data. Can be printed.

  The above-described image forming apparatus having the function of identifying a tint block pattern is a story of the apparatus itself and is not an invention of the system. In order to utilize this function as a printing system, an image forming apparatus having the identification function may be connected to a network. However, this requires a cost for adding the tint block identification function to all apparatuses. However, it can be said that it is more efficient that the image forming apparatus having no background pattern identification function can use the background pattern identification function of other devices in the network.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient image forming system that can share a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern identification function and an image output function as the entire system.

In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image reading means for reading an image of a document, and the image data read by the image reading means is processed into image data whose original contents cannot be read. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image processing processing unit that performs communication; a communication unit that communicates various types of data with another image forming apparatus; and a control unit that controls an image forming operation from document image reading to image output. Is an image forming system configured by connecting a plurality of printers via a network, and at least one image forming apparatus is configured such that an image of a document on which a predetermined pattern is printed by the image reading unit. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition means for recognizing the presence or absence of the specific copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern in the image data per unit area in the read image data; It was, the image forming the image forming apparatus constituting the system, by the control unit, sharing the embedded pattern recognition function and an image output function within the system, until the detection result of the background pattern is obtained which prohibits image output It is characterized by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the first aspect, the control unit causes the image forming apparatus that does not include the ground pattern recognition unit to use the ground pattern recognition unit, and The image forming apparatus is configured to transfer image data to be output to another image forming apparatus in the system.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the second aspect, in the image forming apparatus that does not include the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition unit, the control unit reads an image of a document by the image reading unit. In some cases, the image forming apparatus including the tint block recognition unit is configured to detect the specific tint block pattern.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the third aspect, the control unit is configured such that the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus has an image forming apparatus that does not include the tint block recognition unit. The read image data of the document is transferred by the communication unit to the image forming apparatus including the tint block recognition unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fourth aspect, the control unit causes the image forming apparatus to perform the image forming apparatus including the tint block recognition unit. A detection result of a specific tint block pattern is transferred by the communication unit to an image forming apparatus that is a transfer source of image data of the read original and does not include the tint block recognition unit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to the fifth aspect, the control unit includes the image forming apparatus that includes the ground pattern recognition unit with respect to an image forming apparatus that does not include the ground pattern recognition unit. Based on the detection result of the specific tint block pattern acquired from the apparatus, the image processing unit processes the document image data read by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus. .

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the control means sends the image data processed by the image processing means to the communication means. Thus, the image data is transferred to another image forming apparatus in the image forming system.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the control unit until the specific ground pattern pattern is detected by the ground pattern recognition unit. The image output is not performed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming system according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, when the control means recognizes the presence of the specific background pattern by the background pattern recognition means. Image output, transfer to another image forming apparatus in the image forming system, or image output at the transfer destination apparatus is prohibited.
The invention according to claim 10 is the image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control means outputs an image or other signal when a detection result with a background pattern is obtained. The post-processing data transfer to the image forming apparatus is disabled, and a message prohibiting image output is sent to another image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 11 is an image reading means for reading an image of a document, and an image processing means for processing the image data read by the image reading means into image data whose original contents cannot be read. A plurality of image forming apparatuses including a communication unit that communicates various data with other image forming apparatuses and a control unit that controls an image forming operation from document image reading to image output via a network. An image forming apparatus in an image forming system connected to a base, wherein a unit in the read image data when an image of a document on which a predetermined specific tint block pattern is printed is read by the image reading unit The system further comprises a ground pattern recognition means for recognizing the presence or absence of the specific ground pattern in the image data per area, and the control means is included in the system. The causes utilized the embedded pattern recognition unit to another image forming apparatus having no embedded pattern recognition means to the detection result of the background pattern is obtained and inhibits an image output that.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the control unit is configured to detect an image of a document read by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus that does not include the tint block recognition unit. The background pattern recognition means detects the specific background pattern, and the communication means transfers the detection result to the image forming apparatus that does not include the detection result.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided image reading means for reading an image of a document, and image processing processing means for processing image data read by the image reading means into image data whose original contents cannot be read. A plurality of image forming apparatuses including a communication unit that communicates various data with other image forming apparatuses and a control unit that controls an image forming operation from document image reading to image output via a network. When an image of a document on which a predetermined specific tint block pattern is printed is read by the image reading means, at least one of them is connected to the table, and the image per unit area in the read image data Image forming apparatus in image forming system, which is an image forming apparatus further comprising a ground pattern recognition means for recognizing the presence or absence of the specific ground pattern in data There, the said control means, the data of the image of the document by the image reading unit has read, by the communication means, the background pattern together to transfer to another image forming apparatus including the embedded pattern recognition unit within the system The image output is prohibited until a detection result is obtained .

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect , the control means is based on another image forming apparatus provided with the tint block recognition means in the image forming system by the communication means. The detection result of the specific copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is received, and the image processing unit processes the image data of the document read by the image reading unit based on the detection result.
Further, the invention according to claim 15 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the control means outputs an image or other signal when a detection result with a background pattern is obtained. The post-processing data transfer to the image forming apparatus is disabled, and a message prohibiting image output is sent to another image forming apparatus .

  According to the present invention, an efficient image forming system that can share the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern identification function and the image output function as the entire system is realized.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An image forming apparatus constituting an image forming system will be described as a first embodiment, and an image forming system configured by connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses to a network will be described as a second embodiment.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the block diagram of FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus including a background pattern recognition unit is shown. However, some image forming apparatuses constituting the image forming system do not have a background pattern recognition unit.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral having a copy apparatus, a FAX apparatus, a scanner apparatus, a copy, a FAX, a scanner, and a function of reading a document image by a plurality of other applications. In the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, a system controller 130, an operation panel control device 131, and an image input / output control device 132 exchange data with each other via an image data bus / control command bus 120. Connected as possible.

  First, the system controller 130 will be described. The system controller 130 can have a plurality of functions of a single application such as a scanner application, a copy application, a FAX application, and a printer application, and controls the entire system.

  The operation panel control device 131 is a device that displays the system setting input of the image forming apparatus and the contents of the state. The image control device 132 reads a document image and writes an image on a transfer sheet by a known electrophotographic technique. The image data bus / control command bus 120 is a bus through which image data and control commands are transferred in a time division manner.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 105 controls the entire system controller 130. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 104 stores a control program for the system controller 130. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 is a working memory used by the CPU 105. An NVRAM (Non-Volatile RAM) 102 is a nonvolatile memory and stores information of the entire system. A network I / F (Interface) controller 106 performs connection control with a network.

  Further, the system I / F 107 performs transfer control of FAX data and printer data processed in the system according to a command from the CPU 105. The work memory 100 is a working memory for image development used in the printer. The frame memory 101 is a working memory that stores image data of a read image and a write image, and the image data is encoded or dot image.

  A FIFO (First In First Out) buffer 109 performs data transfer rate conversion when writing an input image to the frame memory 101. Similarly, the FIFO buffer 108 performs speed conversion when transferring the image data of the frame memory 101 as an output image.

  Further, the memory controller 110 controls image input / output between the frame memory 101 and the HDDC (Hard Drive Data Copier) 150 and the bus without the control of the CPU 105. The HDDC 150 has a well-known HDD (Hard Disk Drive) inside, and performs input / output control of image data to the HDD. The HDD stores an image read by the image reading unit 124 and an image acquired via a network.

  Next, the operation panel control device 131 will be described. The CPU 117 controls the operation panel control device 131. The ROM 116 stores a control program for the operation panel control device 131. A RAM 118 is a working memory used by the CPU 117. The input device 114 is a device by which a user inputs system settings. The display device 115 is a device for displaying them so that the user can confirm the setting contents and status of the system.

  Next, the image input / output control device 132 will be described. The CPU 125 controls the image input / output control device 132. The ROM 129 stores a control program for the image input / output device 132. The RAM 128 is a working memory used by the CPU 125.

  The image writing unit 123 is a control unit of a known optical writing device that turns on laser light at a pixel frequency and scans it with a polygon scanner. The image reading unit 124 is a unit that controls a known optical scanner that reflects lamp light from a document and reads it by a CCD. The image reading unit 124 also performs image processing and separates visible and invisible identifiers from the image data. The separated identifier is encoded by the CPU 125 and sent to the system controller 130 to identify an image processing apparatus and a computer existing on the network.

  The document transport control unit 134 transports the documents read by the image reading unit 124 one by one from the stacked documents. The document conveyance control unit 134 also performs document size detection. The electrophotographic process unit 126 is a unit that controls a well-known electrophotographic technique in which a latent image written on a photosensitive member with a laser beam is converted into a real image with toner and transferred and fixed on a sheet.

  The transfer paper conveyance control 127 performs conveyance control of the paper on which the image is transferred by the electrophotographic process unit 126. The charging device I / F 133 converts the command of the CPU 125 to the charging device I / F unit 133 to connect the image input / output control device 132 and the charging device, and transmits / receives printing conditions, charging, and a print permission signal to / from the charging device. Do.

  The background pattern recognition unit 135 as an additional unit recognizes the background pattern as follows. That is, the memory controller 110 sends the image data in the frame memory 101 to the background pattern recognition unit 135, performs pattern recognition in the background pattern recognition unit 135, and sends the background pattern detection result to the memory controller 110. The memory controller 110 fixes the image data in the frame memory 101 to a predetermined gradation and phase based on the background pattern detection result sent from the background pattern recognition unit 135 and the instruction of the CPU 105 so that the original image cannot be read. Apply image processing.

  Next, processing for recognizing a tint block pattern from image data will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a background pattern recognition block inside the background pattern recognition unit in the present embodiment.

  The background pattern recognition block is in the background pattern recognition unit 135, and the binary image is sent to the isolated dot detection unit 200. The isolated dot detection unit 200 detects an isolated pixel 204 in the main scanning d pixel × sub-scanning l line. The detection information of the isolated pixel 204 detected by the isolated dot detection unit 200 is sent to the phase information storage unit 201 together with the image data.

  In the phase information storage unit 201, from the detection information of the isolated pixel 204 in the main scanning d pixel × sub-scanning l line, Bd for the main scanning d pixel × B number and Ll for the sub-scanning l line × L number. The positional relationship information 205 of the isolated pixel is stored in the Bd × Ll block.

  The pattern matching unit 202 matches the positional relationship information 205 of isolated pixels in the Bd × L1 block stored in the phase information storage unit 201 with predetermined n (n is a positive integer) predetermined tint block patterns 206. The pattern matching result by the pattern matching unit 202 is sent to the tint block detection unit 203.

  When receiving a result of matching with any one of n predetermined background patterns 206 in the sub-scanning line, the background pattern detection unit 203 recognizes that the background pattern has a background pattern. On the other hand, when a result that does not match any of the n predetermined background patterns 206 in the sub-scanning line is received, it is determined that there is no background pattern in the binary image. And the detection signal of each recognition result is output.

  The isolated dot detection unit 200 and the pattern matching unit 202 are required to have a predetermined resolution or higher when reading a document. If the resolution of the document image data is lower than a predetermined value, the tint block pattern cannot be detected due to pixel interference.

  Next, a description will be given of a difference in processing for a document read from a document on which a background pattern is printed and a document on which a background pattern is not printed. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of processing for an image read from an image printed with a tint block pattern in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of processing for an image read from an original on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is not printed in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an image 301 on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern has been printed is read to perform a pattern-pattern recognition process. And Note that if the original pattern image 300 on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is printed is not read and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern recognition processing is not performed, the content of the original image becomes the image 302 as it is.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, even when a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern recognition process is performed by reading an image 400 of a document on which a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is printed, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern is not recognized. . Further, if the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern recognition processing is not performed by reading the image 400 of the document on which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is not printed, the content of the document image becomes the image 402 as it is.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, an image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of the image forming system of the present embodiment, in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected via a network.

  The image forming apparatuses constituting the image forming system of the present embodiment are digital multifunction peripherals 500 and 501, scanner apparatuses 502 and 504, and printer apparatuses 503 and 505. The digital multi-function peripherals 500 and 501 can read a document and store and print an image. The scanner devices 502 and 504 can store the read image. The printer devices 503 and 505 can store an image to be printed and can perform printing.

  The digital multi-function peripherals 500 and 501 and the scanner devices 502 and 504 can directly transmit the read image as FAX data to public line networks 509, 510, 511, and 512 as telephone lines. The digital multifunction peripherals 500 and 501, the scanner devices 502 and 504, and the printer devices 503 and 505 can be connected to the network 513 and can transmit and receive images.

  The computers 506, 507, and 508 can operate the digital multifunction peripherals 500 and 501 connected to the network 513, the scanner devices 502 and 504, and the printer devices 503 and 505, and can transmit and receive images. Images can be saved.

  In FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus having the ground pattern recognition unit 135 of FIG. 1 is assumed to be the digital multifunction peripheral 500, and the image forming apparatus not including the ground pattern recognition unit 135 is assumed to be the digital multifunction peripheral 501.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 500 includes a background pattern recognition unit 135. When the image data is read by the scanning operation and stored in the frame memory 101 in FIG. 1, the background pattern recognition unit 135 is received via the memory controller 110 in FIG. The tint block detection process is performed.

  In the digital multi-function peripheral 500, when detecting the background pattern, the background pattern recognition unit 135 notifies the memory controller 110 that the background pattern has been detected. That is, the memory controller 110 fixes the image data held in the frame memory 101 to a predetermined gradation and phase based on the background pattern detection result sent from the background pattern recognition unit 135 and the instruction of the CPU 105, and the original image The image is processed so that it cannot be read.

  In addition, the digital multifunction peripheral 501 that does not include the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition unit 135 converts image data that has been subjected to unreadable image processing through the network I / F controller 106 by the action of the system I / F 107 having a communication function. To print out and share the printout. The series of operations are controlled by the CPU 105, and thus share the image output function as the entire system.

  The operation when an image is read in the digital multi-function peripheral 501 that does not include the tint block recognition unit 135 is as follows.

  When image data is read by the scanning operation of the digital multi-function device 501, the image data is transferred to the digital multi-function device 500 by the system I / F 107, and in the received digital multi-function device 500, the image data is temporarily stored in the frame memory 101. And the presence or absence of a specific background pattern is detected by the background pattern recognition unit 135.

  After the tint block pattern is detected, the detection result is transferred from the digital multifunction peripheral 500 to the digital multifunction peripheral 501 by the system I / F 107. The digital multi-function device 501 performs image processing on the read image data so that it cannot be read by the memory controller 110 based on the transferred copy-forgery-inhibited pattern detection result and the instruction of the CPU 105. A series of operations at the time of image reading in the digital multi-function device 501 is controlled by the CPU 105, and in this way, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition function is shared by the entire system.

  Then, the image data subjected to the image processing is transferred to other multifunction peripherals including the digital multifunction peripheral 500, and the printout is shared. At this time, the digital multi-function peripheral 500 overwrites the image data after the image processing on the image data used before the tint block detection processing (the one before the processing processing), and does not output an image of the data used for the detection processing.

  Note that when the image forming apparatus in the image forming system of the present embodiment reads image data, image output may be prohibited until a background pattern detection result by the background pattern recognition unit 135 is obtained. In this case, the digital multifunction peripheral 500 having the background pattern recognition unit 135 cannot output the image data unless the background pattern detection processing is performed, and the digital multifunction peripheral 501 that does not include the background pattern recognition unit 135 Image output cannot be performed until the tint block detection result is received from the machine 500.

  In addition, when a detection result indicating that a specific background pattern exists is obtained, image output is prohibited, image data transfer to another digital multifunction peripheral is prohibited, and image output in the transfer destination digital multifunction peripheral is performed. Or may be configured to be prohibited. In this case, when the image data is read by the digital multi-function peripheral 500 and a detection result with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is obtained, the image output from the digital multi-function peripheral 500 or the transfer of processed data to another digital multi-function peripheral is performed. A message prohibiting image output is sent to other digital multi-function peripherals. Even when image data is read by the digital multi-function device 501 and a detection result with a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is received from the digital multi-function device 500, image output and data transfer to other digital multi-function devices are prohibited as described above. An image output message is sent to the digital MFP.

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and various modifications are made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Implementation is possible.

  That is, the image forming apparatus of the above-described embodiment operates by processing, means, and functions executed by a computer according to program instructions. The program sends a command to each component of the computer, and controls the predetermined processing and functions as described above, for example, sharing of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern detection function and the image output function by the CPU 105. As described above, each process and means in the image forming apparatus of the above-described embodiment is realized by specific means in which the program and the computer cooperate.

  Then, a computer-readable recording medium that records the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above embodiment, that is, a storage medium is supplied to the image forming apparatus, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the image forming apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. The object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code. Further, the program can be loaded and executed directly on a computer through a communication line without going through a recording medium, and the object of the present invention can be achieved similarly.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium or loaded and executed through the communication line realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment. And the storage medium which memorize | stored the program code comprises this invention.

  Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, and a magnetic tape. Can be used.

  According to the above embodiment, in a digital multi-function peripheral that can read a document with a plurality of applications such as copy, fax, scanner, and the like, image data per unit area when a print sheet having a specific background pattern is read as a document. On the other hand, by adding a unit for recognizing a background pattern, when the background pattern is recognized, the image data is transferred to another digital device for a device having a function of image processing for invalidating the read image. By having means capable of mutual transmission / reception with the copying machine, it is possible to print out and share with other digital copying machines via the means, and further, the image data transmitted / received mutually can be stored as image data. In a device capable of outputting an image with each device, a device having a unit for recognizing a tint block pattern From, it is possible to transmit image data to another device.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the background pattern is detected as a result of the background pattern detection process, it is prohibited to send the image data to another digital copying machine through a means capable of transmitting and receiving the image data. Copy output is also prohibited at the same time, and output from other digital copying machines can be prevented.

  In addition, according to the above embodiment, when a unit for detecting a tint block pattern is not attached to another digital copying machine connected by means capable of transmitting and receiving image data, the digital copying machine to which the unit is attached is It is possible to receive image data from a digital copier that is not mounted, and to detect a tint block pattern instead.

  According to the above embodiment, when a digital copying machine having a unit for detecting a tint block pattern detects a pattern instead of a digital copying machine having no other unit, the other digital copying machine having no unit It is possible to transmit the detected information and receive the information and perform image processing to invalidate the image data.

  In addition, according to the above-described embodiment, image data is output from all devices connected to the transmission unit until the pattern detection is completed in the digital copying machine in which the unit for detecting the tint block pattern is mounted. Can be prohibited.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, when a digital copying machine having a unit for detecting a tint block pattern executes pattern detection instead of a digital copying machine having no other unit and detects the tint block, image data is stored. It is possible to prohibit image data from being sent from another digital copying machine via a means capable of transmitting and receiving, and to prohibit copy output at the same time, so as not to output from other digital copying machines.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the tint block pattern recognition block inside the tint block recognition unit in the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the process with respect to the image read from the image in which the tint block pattern was printed in the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of processing for an image read from an original on which a tint block pattern is not printed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Work memory 101 Frame memory 102 NVRAM
103, 118, 128 RAM
104,116,129 ROM
105, 117, 125 CPU
106 Network I / F controller 107 System I / F
108,109 FIFO
110 Memory Controller 111, 112, 113, 119, 121, 122 Bus Control 114 Input Device 115 Display Device 120 Image Data Bus / Control Command Bus 123 Image Writing Unit 124 Image Reading Unit 126 Electrophotographic Process Unit 127 Transfer Paper Transport Control Unit 130 System controller 131 Operation panel control device 132 Image input / output control device 133 Charge device I / F unit 134 Document transport control unit 135 Background pattern recognition unit 200 Isolated dot detection unit 201 Phase information storage unit 202 Pattern matching unit 203 Background pattern detection unit 204 Isolated pixel 205 Positional relation information 206 Predetermined tint block pattern 500, 501 Digital multifunction device 502, 504 Scanner device 503, 505 Printer device 506, 50 , 508 Computer 509,510,511,512 public network 513 network

Claims (15)

An image reading unit that reads an image of an original, an image processing unit that processes the image data read by the image reading unit into image data whose original contents cannot be read, and another image forming apparatus An image forming system comprising a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected via a network, each having a communication means for communicating various data and a control means for controlling an image forming operation from document image reading to image output Because
When at least one image forming apparatus reads an image of a document on which a predetermined specific tint block pattern is printed by the image reading unit, the image data per unit area in the read image data A ground pattern recognition means for recognizing the presence or absence of a specific ground pattern,
The image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system shares the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition function and the image output function with the control means in the system, and prohibits image output until the detection result of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is obtained. An image forming system.   The control unit causes an image forming apparatus that does not include the tint block recognition unit to use the tint block recognition unit, and causes the image forming apparatus constituting the image forming system to output an image to another image forming apparatus in the system. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image data to be transferred is transferred.   In the image forming apparatus that does not include the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition unit, when the image reading unit reads an image of a document, the control unit performs the specific processing for the image forming apparatus that includes the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition unit. The image forming system according to claim 2, wherein a tint block pattern is detected.   The control unit includes the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition unit for the image forming apparatus that does not include the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern recognition unit, by using the communication unit for the image data of the document read by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus transfers the image to the image forming apparatus.   The control means sends the detection result of the specific background pattern made to the image forming apparatus provided with the background pattern recognition means to the image data of the read original by the communication means. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming system is transferred to an image forming apparatus that is a transfer source and does not include the tint block recognition unit.   The control unit is configured to detect an image forming apparatus that does not include the ground pattern recognition unit based on a detection result of the specific background pattern acquired from the image forming apparatus that includes the ground pattern recognition unit. 6. The image forming system according to claim 5, wherein image data of the original read by the image reading unit is processed by the image processing unit.   The control unit causes the image data processed by the image processing unit to be transferred to another image forming apparatus in the image forming system by the communication unit. The image forming system according to claim 1.   8. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not output an image until a detection result of the specific background pattern is obtained by the background pattern recognition unit. 9.   When the presence of the specific background pattern is recognized by the background pattern recognition means, the control means outputs an image, transfers it to another image forming apparatus in the image forming system, or outputs an image at the transfer destination apparatus. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming system is prohibited. The control means prohibits image output and transfer of post-processing data to another image forming apparatus and prohibits image output to another image forming apparatus when a detection result with a background pattern is obtained. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a message to be transmitted is transmitted. An image reading unit that reads an image of an original, an image processing unit that processes the image data read by the image reading unit into image data whose original contents cannot be read, and another image forming apparatus An image in an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses including a communication unit that performs communication of various data and a control unit that controls an image forming operation from document image reading to image output are connected via a network. A forming device,
When an image of a document on which a predetermined specific tint block pattern is printed is read by the image reading unit, the presence / absence of the specific tint block pattern in the image data per unit area in the read image data is recognized. It further has a background pattern recognition means,
The control unit causes another image forming apparatus that does not include the tint block recognition unit in the system to use the tint block recognition unit and prohibits image output until a tint block pattern detection result is obtained. Image forming apparatus. The control unit causes the background pattern recognition unit to detect the specific background pattern for an image of a document read by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus that does not include the background pattern recognition unit, and the communication unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the detection result is transferred to an image forming apparatus that does not include the detection result. An image reading unit that reads an image of an original, an image processing unit that processes the image data read by the image reading unit into image data whose original contents cannot be read, and another image forming apparatus A plurality of image forming apparatuses including communication means for communicating various data and control means for controlling an image forming operation from document image reading to image output are connected via a network, and at least one of them is connected. However, when an image of a document on which a predetermined specific background pattern is printed is read by the image reading unit, the presence / absence of the specific background pattern in the image data per unit area in the read image data is determined. An image forming apparatus in an image forming system, which is an image forming apparatus further having a ground pattern recognition means for recognizing,
The control means transfers the image data of the original read by the image reading means to another image forming apparatus having the ground pattern recognition means in the system by the communication means, and the detection result of the ground pattern is obtained. An image forming apparatus that prohibits image output until it is obtained . The control unit receives the detection result of the specific background pattern by another image forming apparatus including the background pattern recognition unit in the image forming system by the communication unit, and the image processing processing unit receives the detection result. 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the image data of the document read by the image reading unit is processed based on the image data. The control means prohibits image output and transfer of post-processing data to another image forming apparatus and prohibits image output to another image forming apparatus when a detection result with a background pattern is obtained. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a message is sent.

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