JP5081122B2 - Image processing apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that determines processing to be performed on image data based on additional information added to the image data, a control method thereof, and a program.

  In recent years, security of information (characters, graphics, images, etc.) handled on paper or electronic has been regarded as important, and it has become important to be able to reliably limit unauthorized browsing, modification, and copying. .

  In the case of electronic data, it is easy to add additional information in addition to the content data, and to perform access control for browsing / processing in the system or application that handles the data based on that information. It is difficult to handle like electronic data.

Conventionally, a method has been proposed in which additional information indicating that image data is confidential data is extracted from image data printed on paper, and copying of a paper document is prohibited. The additional information is added to the image data by adding a digital watermark or a background pattern to the image data.

As an application of this method, a method has been proposed in which image data is processed according to the extracted additional information.

  Various methods have been implemented for information added to an image of a paper document, such as preventing information from being lost by copying or processing.

  As for the content of information, not only is it possible to embed a single piece of information and prohibit copying when the information is extracted, but fine control is now possible.

  For example, a method has been proposed in which a copy prohibition release condition is added to image data together with information for restricting copying, and the copy prohibition is canceled only when the release condition is met (see Patent Document 1).

  This method provides unauthorized duplication of the output printed matter using the function of canceling copy prohibition only when specific conditions (date and time, password, authentication) are satisfied, without requiring advanced detection determination processing. It is a method aimed at that.

  In addition to copying on paper, a method has been proposed for controlling devices using additional information embedded in an image for two or more applications (e-mail transmission, FAX transmission, etc.) (see Non-Patent Document 1). .

  In this method, fine control is possible such as prohibiting copying on paper but permitting transmission of mail, or permitting mail only to a destination described in the address book.

  In addition, in order to restrict copying or duplication with these additional information, it is necessary to reliably read the additional information embedded in the image and control the output.

For example, in Patent Document 2, when it is detected that the document cover of the copying machine has been closed to a predetermined angle, the document is pre-read and the control is performed by first determining whether output control information is embedded in the document. Techniques have been disclosed that prevent the detection of codes from taking a long time and preventing the output from being suppressed.
Patent No. 4039093 JP 2007-166228 A Official technical number 2007-500377 (Invention Association public technical report)

  However, with the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1, fine copy / copy control is possible, but if the user does not know the conditions for copying / copying in advance, an output that should be possible is obtained. There is a problem that there is not, or the operation has to be performed again to satisfy the condition.

  Also, even with the technique of Patent Document 2, the user can know that the document cannot be copied before the operation, but the document information is read when the document cover is lowered. Regardless of what type of output you want to send, such as fax transmission, you can determine whether it is prohibited or allowed to be performed uniformly and suppress the output reliably, but you cannot perform precise output control. There is a point.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus capable of performing fine output control in accordance with a user's intention, a control method thereof, and a program.

The present invention is an image processing apparatus that determines processing to be performed on the image data based on additional information added to the image data, based on output mode selection means for selecting an output mode, and input image data, Prohibition information extraction means for extracting output prohibition information, which is additional information representing output prohibition of image data, and prohibition of output of image data for each output mode selectable by the output mode selection means based on the input image data. Refer to cancellation condition extraction means for extracting cancellation condition information that is additional information indicating a cancellation condition that is a cancellation condition , the output prohibition information, the cancellation condition information, and the output mode selected by the output mode selection means . , when the condition exists for the output as the release condition at the output mode the output mode selecting means has selected, the release condition is satisfied An operation instruction means for prompting the input of the output condition to the user, and operation acceptance means for accepting an instruction input for the output condition of the image data that the user inputs in accordance with the display of the operation instructing means, the output inhibition information and the release condition information Output control means for determining permission or prohibition of output of image data according to contents received by the operation accepting means, and output for prohibiting output of the image data when the output control means determines prohibition of output It has a prohibition means.

An image processing apparatus control method for determining processing to be performed on the image data based on additional information added to the image data, the output mode selecting step for selecting an output mode, and on the basis of the input image data A prohibition information extraction step for extracting output prohibition information, which is additional information indicating output prohibition of image data, and output prohibition of image data for each output mode selectable by the output mode selection means based on the input image data A release condition extraction step for extracting release condition information that is additional information indicating a release condition that is a condition for releasing the output, the output prohibition information, the release condition information, and the output mode selected in the output mode selection step , If the condition exists for the output as the release condition at the output mode the output mode selecting means has selected, the solutions An operation instruction step prompting the input of the output conditions as to satisfy the conditions to the user, an operation accepting step of accepting an instruction input for the output condition of the image data that the user inputs in accordance with the display of the operation instruction step, the output inhibition information And the release condition information and an output control step for determining whether to permit or prohibit the output of the image data according to the contents received by the operation accepting step, and if the output control step determines to prohibit the output, An output prohibiting step for prohibiting output is provided.

Further, the computer is a program for causing execution of the steps of the method of controlling the image processing apparatus.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the output prohibition information and the prohibition release condition information added to the image data are extracted at a stage before the user's output execution instruction, and an instruction that matches the output condition of the image data is obtained. Since the user can be prompted to perform the operation, the convenience of the user can be improved without lowering the security of copying / copying the original image data.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a file server device FS, a mail server device MS, and a network compatible MFP FX are connected to the local area network LAN.

  Here, the file server device FS provides a well-known file server function (file storage) to the user using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and the network network compatible MFP FX. And reference etc.).

  Further, the mail server device MS provides a well-known mail server function (collection of e-mails) to users who use the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and to the network network compatible MFP FX. And distribution functions).

  The workstation devices WS1 to WSn have various programs such as a function for processing data locally and various software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN. Used by other users. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users. For example, an electronic mail function for exchanging electronic mail, a network print host device function for instructing a printing operation to the network compatible MFP FX via the local area network LAN, and the like are provided.

  The network-compatible MFP FX has a copy function for forming a copy of a read document by local operation, a network printer function for receiving a print request from a locally connected workstation device WS and recording and outputting the print, and a local area network. Network printer function for accepting network print request function from workstation devices WS1 to WSn via LAN and recording and outputting printed matter, electronic mail processing function for exchanging image information and various reports as electronic mail, file server device A network file transfer function for storing image data in a storage area (for example, a folder) created in the FS, and an analog public line network PSTN, and this public network is used as a transmission path to make a group 3 fact And a transmission function for transmitting image information according to the millimeter transmission procedure.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network compatible MFP FX.

  In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of the network compatible MFP FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The control processing program to be executed and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is a network-compatible MFP FX. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.

  The color scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution in full color. The color plotter 6 is for recording and outputting a full color image at a predetermined resolution. It is for operating the corresponding multifunction machine FX, and includes various operation keys and various displays.

  The encoding / decoding unit 8 is for applying an encoding / decoding process according to a facsimile encoding method to image data, and the magnetic disk device 9 stores image information in an encoded and compressed state ( Facsimile image data), various program files, or a large number of file groups used in various programs (applications).

  The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.

  The network control device 11 is for connecting the network compatible MFP FX to the analog public line network PSTN, and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.

  The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network compatible MFP FX to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 is connected to another data terminal device via the local area network LAN. For executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with each other.

  The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, magnetic disk unit 9, group 3 facsimile modem 10, network The control device 11 and the local area network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14.

  Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.

  Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and more. This is performed by applying a combination with a higher layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite). For example, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol in the exchange of e-mail data, and, for example, LPR (Line PRinter daemon protocol) is applied in the exchange of data related to the network print function. Is done. Further, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or the like is applied as a file transfer protocol with the file server apparatus FS.

  Further, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, LPR, and FTP, and the data format and data structure of electronic mail are defined by RFC documents issued by IETF. For example, RFC is defined as RFC793, IP as RFC793, SMTP as RFC821, and e-mail format as defined by RFC822, RFC1521, RFC1522 (MIME (Multipurpose Mail Extension) format), respectively. LPR is defined in RFC1179 and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image processing function for determining processing to be performed on the image data based on the additional information added to the image data for the network compatible MFP FX.

  This image processing function includes document reading means 21, additional information extraction means 22, prohibited information extraction means 23 and release condition extraction means 24 as additional information extraction means 22, processing means 25, output means 26, output condition determination means 27, The output control unit 28, the operation instruction unit 29, the output mode selection unit 30 as the operation instruction unit 29, the operation reception unit 31, the document detection unit 32, and the reading instruction unit 35.

  In addition, a display unit (liquid crystal panel or the like) 33 and an input device (touch panel, keyboard, button, authentication card reading unit) 34 are provided as an interface (operation display unit 7) with the user.

  Here, the document reading means 21 corresponds to the color scanner 5 of FIG. Further, the additional information extracting means 22 reads out embedded information (additional information) separately from characters and figures that are recognized by humans and written on the manuscript.

  The prohibition information extraction unit 23 reads information related to output prohibition in the additional information embedded in the original image, and the release condition extraction unit 24 sets the output prohibition release condition in the additional information embedded in the original image. Read related release condition information.

  The processing means 25 processes the original image read by the original reading means 21 into a shape corresponding to the output. The content of processing is equivalent to processing of a general copying machine such as rotation, reduction, and enlargement.

  The output means 26 is a means for outputting the read original, and includes image writing on paper (function of the color plotter 6), mail transmission function, network data transmission function (function of the local area network transmission control unit 13), and the like. Have.

  The output condition determination unit 27 determines whether or not to permit output and a condition for output from the output prohibition information, prohibition release information and the output destination from the output mode selection unit 30 extracted by the additional information extraction unit 22, and performs output control. The operation command to the means 28 and the operation instruction means 29 is performed.

  The output control unit 28 receives an instruction from the output condition determination unit 27 and issues an operation command to the output unit 26.

  The operation instruction unit 29 displays instructions to the user on the liquid crystal panel of the operation display unit 7 attached to the image processing apparatus. The operation accepting unit 31 accepts an output instruction from the user through an input device (touch panel, keyboard, button) of the operation display unit 7 attached to the image processing apparatus.

  The output mode selection means 30 is a part of the operation instruction means 29, and accepts an output instruction from the user regarding the output mode (copy, FAX, mail transmission, HDD storage, etc.).

  The document detection unit 32 is arranged in a form associated with the document reading unit 21 (color scanner 5), and detects that the document is set in the document reading unit 21 so that the document can be read.

  Here, the information embedded in the document may be a figure such as a barcode, but a background dot pattern is used as information that is difficult to modify. The background dot pattern is a feature such as dot arrangement and is a so-called tint block pattern. For example, it is a diagram in which dots are continuous, and is formed uniformly in the background of a document by repeating a group of dot patterns such as a dotted pattern or a grid pattern. The background dot pattern is composed of dots of a size that can be recognized by the document reading means 21 (line width in the case of lines) and remains when copied.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a release condition table that defines output prohibition release conditions.

  In the figure, the release condition code is set as a value of the additional information. In this case, the release condition code takes seven values from -1 (output is not prohibited) to 6. Further, “x” in the figure indicates that the corresponding operation is prohibited, and “◯” indicates that the corresponding operation is not prohibited. The other values indicate that the corresponding operation is permitted (cancelled) when the user specifies the input value.

  For example, “encrypted PDF” indicates that only an encrypted PDF (Portable Document Format) file can be processed.

  “Encrypted / unprintable” indicates that only a PDF file that is encrypted and set to unprintable can be processed.

  Further, “only address book registered destination” indicates that processing is possible only when a destination registered in an address book function (not shown) is designated as a transmission destination.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts for explaining an example of the operation according to the present embodiment.

  First, the user places a document to be output on the color scanner 5. The document detection means 32 detects that the document is placed on the document reading means 21 (step 101). The user selects an output mode (copying to paper, mail transmission, FAX transmission, saving to HDD, etc.) from the input device 34 (step 102).

  As a result, the output mode selection means 30 receives an output mode instruction from the user (step 103). The reading instructing unit 35 receives the output destination instruction from the output mode selecting unit 30 after the original is detected from the original detecting unit 32, and instructs the original reading unit 21 to read. At this time, if an output mode that does not have an output condition that determines whether output is possible or not is specified, the reading instruction need not be performed (steps 104 and 105).

  For example, if the output condition is to "encrypt" the data, and if the output mode is "copy (copy to paper)", the output data cannot be encrypted, so whether output is possible The user cannot set conditions that affect the user. In this case, the reading instructing unit 35 does not give a reading instruction in advance, and reads the original after the user gives an output instruction.

  Next, the document reading means 21 reads the image data of the document (step 106). The prohibition information extraction unit 23 extracts output prohibition information from the read image (step 107). The release condition extraction unit 24 extracts release condition information from the read image (step 108).

  The output condition determination unit 27 determines whether or not output is possible from the output mode input from the output mode selection unit 30 and the extracted output prohibition information and output prohibition release information. Depending on the determination, the output control unit 28 or the operation instruction An instruction is given to the means 29 (steps 109 to 110).

  If the output prohibition information has not been extracted, the output control means 28 is informed that there is no document output restriction (step 110). Thereby, the output control means 28 gives a standby instruction to the output means 26 (step 111).

  When the output prohibition information is extracted (the result of step 109 is YES) and the output prohibition release information is not extracted (the result of step 112 is NO), or the output prohibition information and the output prohibition release information are extracted, and the output mode As a result of comparing the output mode received by the selection means 30 with the output prohibition release information, if the output is not possible (the result of step 113 is NO), the output control means 28 is notified of the output prohibition (step 117). The output control means 28 instructs the output means 26 to prohibit output (step 118).

  On the other hand, when the output prohibition information and the output prohibition release information are extracted and the output mode received by the output mode selection unit 30 is compared with the output prohibition release information, if the output condition exists (the result of step 113 is YES), the operation instruction means 29 is instructed to give an output instruction that matches the output condition (steps 114 and 115).

  Thereby, the operation instruction unit 29 presents the output condition obtained from the output condition determination unit 27 to the user through the display unit 33. As an example, if the code “6” is extracted as the release condition and the output mode selected by the user is “FAX transmission”, an instruction is given to select a FAX transmission destination from the address book registered in the device. .

  As a result, the user issues an output instruction in accordance with the presented conditions, so that the operation accepting means 31 receives the output instruction and passes it to the output condition determining means 27 (step 116). Therefore, the process proceeds to 110, where the output condition determination unit 27 confirms that the output instruction satisfies the condition, and notifies the output control unit 28 that the output condition is satisfied. The output control means 28 gives a standby instruction to the output means 26.

  In any case, when the output prohibition is transmitted to the output means 26, the document is not output regardless of the subsequent user operation. Further, when the output unit 26 is notified of the standby for output, the output is performed in accordance with an output start instruction from the user.

  In this way, in this embodiment, since the original is read before the user's output execution instruction, the user can be prompted to give an instruction that matches the output condition of the read original. User convenience can be improved without lowering the security of copying and copying.

  7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining another example of the operation according to the present embodiment.

  First, the user selects an output mode (copying to paper, e-mail transmission, FAX transmission, saving to HDD, etc.) from the input device 34 (step 201). As a result, the output mode selection means 30 receives an output mode instruction from the user (step 202).

  Next, the user puts on the color scanner 5. The document detection means 32 detects that the document is placed on the document reading means 21 (step 203). After receiving the output destination instruction from the output mode selection means 30 and when the original detection from the original detection means 32 is detected, the reading instructing means 35 issues a reading instruction to the original reading means 21 after a predetermined time (step). 204). Note that if the document detection unit cannot detect the document before the fixed time has elapsed (for example, when the document is removed), the process returns to step 203.

  Next, the reading instruction unit 35 gives a reading instruction to the document reading unit 21. At this time, if an output mode that does not have an output condition that determines whether output is possible or not is specified, a reading instruction may not be issued (steps 205 and 206).

  Then, the document reading unit 21 reads the image data of the document (step 207). The prohibition information extraction unit 23 extracts output prohibition information from the read image (step 208). The release condition extraction unit 24 extracts release condition information from the read image (step 209).

  The output condition determination unit 27 determines whether or not output is possible from the output mode input from the output mode selection unit 30 and the extracted output prohibition information and output prohibition release information. Depending on the determination, the output control unit 28 or the operation instruction An instruction is given to the means 29 (steps 210 to 211).

  If the output prohibition information is not extracted, the output control means 28 is informed that there is no document output restriction (step 211). Thereby, the output control means 28 gives a standby instruction to the output means 26 (step 212).

  When output prohibition information is extracted (the result of step 210 is YES) and output prohibition release information is not extracted (the result of step 213 is NO), or output prohibition information and output prohibition release information are extracted, and the output mode As a result of comparing the output mode received by the selection means 30 with the output prohibition release information, if the output is not possible (the result of step 214 is NO), the output control means 28 is notified of the output prohibition (step 218). The output control means 28 instructs the output means 26 to prohibit output (step 219).

  On the other hand, when the output prohibition information and the output prohibition release information are extracted and the output mode received by the output mode selection means 30 is compared with the output prohibition release information, if the output condition exists (the result of step 214 is YES), the operation instruction means 29 is instructed to give an output instruction that matches the output condition (steps 215 and 216).

  Thereby, the operation instruction unit 29 presents the output condition obtained from the output condition determination unit 27 to the user through the display unit 33. As an example, if the code “6” is extracted as the release condition and the output mode selected by the user is “FAX transmission”, an instruction is given to select a FAX transmission destination from the address book registered in the device. .

  As a result, the user gives an output instruction in accordance with the presented conditions, so the operation accepting means 31 receives the output instruction and passes it to the output condition determining means 27 (step 217). Accordingly, the process proceeds to 211, where the output condition determination unit 27 confirms that the output instruction satisfies the condition and notifies the output control unit 28 that the output condition is satisfied. The output control means 28 gives a standby instruction to the output means 26.

  In any case, when the output prohibition is transmitted to the output means 26, the document is not output regardless of the subsequent user operation. Further, when the output unit 26 is notified of the standby for output, the output is performed in accordance with an output start instruction from the user.

  In this way, in this embodiment, the document is read regardless of the operation procedure of the user's image processing apparatus, and the subsequent operation procedure is instructed to the user. The convenience of the user can be improved without lowering.

1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network compatible MFP FX. The block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the image processing function which determines the process performed to the said image data based on the additional information added to image data about the network corresponding | compatible multifunction peripheral FX. Schematic which showed an example of the cancellation | release condition table which defined the output prohibition cancellation | release conditions. The flowchart for demonstrating an example of the operation | movement concerning a present Example (following FIG. 6). Flowchart for explaining an example of the operation according to the present embodiment (continuation of FIG. 5). 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation according to the present embodiment (following FIG. 8). Flowchart for explaining an example of the operation according to the present embodiment (continuation of FIG. 7).

Explanation of symbols

FX network compatible MFP 1 system control unit 2 system memory 3 parameter memory 21 document reading unit 22 additional information extracting unit 23 prohibition information extracting unit 24 release condition extracting unit 25 processing unit 26 output unit 27 output condition determining unit 28 output control unit 29 Operation instruction means 30 Output mode selection means 31 Operation acceptance means 32 Document detection means 33 Display unit 34 Input device 35 Reading instruction means

Claims (3)

An image processing apparatus that determines processing to be performed on the image data based on additional information added to the image data,
An output mode selection means for selecting an output mode;
A prohibition information extracting means for extracting output prohibition information, which is additional information indicating prohibition of output of the image data, based on the input image data;
Release condition extraction means for extracting release condition information, which is additional information indicating a release condition, which is a condition for releasing output prohibition of image data for each output mode selectable by the output mode selection means , based on the input image data When,
When the output prohibition information, the release condition information, and the output mode selected by the output mode selection means are referred to, and the output mode selected by the output mode selection means has a condition regarding output as the release condition to the operation instruction means for prompting the input of the output conditions satisfying the releasing condition to the user,
Operation accepting means for accepting an instruction input relating to an output condition of image data input by a user according to the display of the operation instruction means;
Output control means for determining permission or prohibition of output of image data according to the output prohibition information and release condition information, and the contents received by the operation accepting means;
An image processing apparatus comprising output prohibiting means for prohibiting output of the image data when the output control means determines output prohibition. A control method of an image processing apparatus for determining processing to be performed on the image data based on additional information added to the image data,
An output mode selection step for selecting an output mode; and
A prohibition information extraction step of extracting output prohibition information, which is additional information indicating output prohibition of the image data, based on the input image data;
A cancellation condition extracting step of extracting cancellation condition information that is additional information indicating a cancellation condition that is a condition for canceling output prohibition of image data for each output mode that can be selected by the output mode selection unit , based on the input image data. When,
With reference to the output prohibition information, the release condition information, and the output mode selected in the output mode selection step, when there is a condition related to output as the release condition in the output mode selected by the output mode selection means, An operation instruction step for prompting the user to input an output condition that satisfies the release condition;
An operation receiving step for receiving an instruction input relating to an output condition of image data input by a user according to the display of the operation instruction step;
An output control step for determining permission or prohibition of output of image data in accordance with the output prohibition information and release condition information, and the content received by the operation reception step;
An image processing apparatus control method, comprising: an output prohibiting step for prohibiting output of the image data when the output control step determines that output is prohibited. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method of the image processing apparatus according to claim 2.