JP5546323B2 - Apparatus, method and program for code image - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program related to a code image.

  The information for defining the operation mode of the image forming apparatus is encoded (for example, two-dimensional code, digital watermark, barcode or mark) and added to the paper medium, and the operation of the image forming apparatus that detects this is operated. A technique for controlling based on the mode content is known. For example, based on this operation mode, control can be performed so as to prohibit copying of a paper medium (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-227930 A

  However, if the code added to the paper medium is damaged or dirty, even if the code added to the paper medium can be detected, the code may not be correctly decoded.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example thereof. FIG. 7A is an example of a two-dimensional code among the above codes. The image forming apparatus detects that the two-dimensional code is added to the paper medium by detecting marks 701, 702, and 703 constituting the two-dimensional code 700. In this case, since the two-dimensional code is not missing or dirty, the two-dimensional code can be correctly decoded. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, when a part of the two-dimensional code 710 is damaged, or when the two-dimensional code 720 is dirty as shown in FIG. Since 702 and 703 are not damaged, the two-dimensional code can be detected. However, even if the two-dimensional code is detected, there are cases where the two-dimensional code cannot be correctly decoded due to lack or dirt.

  In this way, even if the two-dimensional code can be detected, if the two-dimensional code is missing or dirty, the two-dimensional code cannot be correctly decoded, and the desired operation mode is set when the operation mode setting is included in the two-dimensional code. It may not be possible to control with. Specifically, for example, when a two-dimensional code added to a paper medium includes an operation mode of “copy prohibited” that specifies an operation for prohibiting copying by the image forming apparatus, but cannot be decoded correctly. Had the problem of running a copy.

  In order to solve the above problems, an apparatus according to the present invention includes a generation unit that generates image information by reading information printed on a paper medium, a detection unit that detects a code image from the image information, When a detection unit detects a code image from the image information, the decoding unit obtains information included in the code image by decoding the detected code image; and A means for determining whether information indicating copy prohibition is included, and a printing means, and the printing means detects the code information when the detection means does not detect a code image from the image information. When the information is included in the detected code image and the image information is not printed, the image information is not printed and copied to the obtained information. Ban If it is not determined that the information to be included is included, the image information is printed. If it is determined that the obtained information includes information indicating that copying is prohibited, the image information It is characterized by not printing.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, copying can be forcibly stopped when a code added to a paper medium cannot be correctly decoded due to damage or contamination. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the spread of information leakage due to copying.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a medium is read by the scanner according to the first exemplary embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the decoding information which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the decoding information which concerns on Example 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a medium is read by a scanner according to a second exemplary embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a medium is read by a scanner according to a third exemplary embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection of a two-dimensional code.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In each of the following embodiments, a code image that stores and codes a predetermined amount of information will be described. The code image is, for example, a two-dimensional code shown in FIG. 7, but is not limited to this.

Example 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus in each embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller unit 10, a scanner 20, a printer 30, and a bus 40.

  The controller unit 10 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12, and an HDD 13. The CPU 11 is a central control device that controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 100.

  The RAM 12 is a storage device capable of temporarily storing information such as a random access memory (random access memory).

  The HDD 13 is a storage device that includes a magnetic disk such as a Hard Disc Drive (hard disk drive) and stores various types of information.

  When there is a copy instruction from the CPU 11, the scanner 20 optically reads a medium including printed information such as paper set by the user, and generates image information based on the read information. The image information is transmitted to the printer 30. The scanner 20 is an example of an image generation unit described in the claims.

  The printer 30 receives the image information transmitted from the scanner 20 and prints the image information on a medium such as paper. The operation in which the printer 30 outputs the image information generated by the scanner 20 as described above is referred to as “copying” in this embodiment. In copying, further image processing may be performed on the image information by the CPU 11 or others so that printing by the printer 30 is optimized. Alternatively, image processing suitable for the scan characteristics in the scanner 20 may be performed by the CPU 11 or others. The printer 30 is an example of a printing unit described in the claims.

  The controller unit 10, the scanner 20, and the printer 30 are each connected to the bus 40, and can exchange information with each other via the bus.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may have a login function. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an input unit (not shown) and receives user information regarding a user who uses the image forming apparatus 100. The data server 110 connected via the bus 120 holds a plurality of user information in advance, and the CPU 11 determines whether the data server 110 holds user information that matches the input user information. Inquire. If the data server 110 holds the user information that matches the input user information, the CPU 11 stores the matching user information in the storage device (RAM 12 or HDD 13), thereby completing the login process.

  It is also possible to perform logout processing by deleting user information of the logged-in user from the storage device (RAM 12 or HDD 13).

  Next, a flow when the image forming apparatus 100 having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 performs processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 100 when the scanner 20 reads information printed on a paper medium as a target medium and generates image information.

  First, in step S201, the CPU 11 acquires copy setting information of the image forming apparatus from a storage device such as the RAM 12 or the HDD 13.

  Here, the copy setting information is information stored in advance in a storage unit (for example, the RAM 12 or the HDD 13) in the image forming apparatus 100 according to an instruction from the administrator. Specifically, the copy setting information indicates either copy lock setting or non-copy lock setting. The copy lock setting is a setting for prohibiting copying when the CPU 11 detects a code image including operation mode information indicating that copying is prohibited. On the other hand, the non-copying lock setting is a setting that always permits copying.

  Next, in step S202, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the acquired copy setting information is a copy lock setting. If the copy setting information is copy lock setting (step S202; YES), the process proceeds to step S203. If the copy setting information is not copy lock setting (step S202; NO), the process proceeds to step S211.

  In step S203, the CPU 11 performs processing for detecting a code image in the image information. The detection of the code image is, for example, identifying each of the marks 701 to 703 included in the two-dimensional code, taking the two-dimensional code shown in FIG. 7 as an example. That is, if all the marks 701 to 703 can be identified, the code image can be detected.

  Next, in step S204, the CPU 11 determines whether a code image is detected in the image information. If it is determined in step S204 that a code image has been detected (step S204; YES), the process proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that no code image has been detected (step S204; NO), the process proceeds to step S211. Note that the process of determining whether or not the code image in the image information has been detected in step S204 is an example of the process performed by the code image determination unit described in the claims.

  In step S205, the CPU 11 decodes the code image detected in step S203 into decoding information. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the decryption information 301 includes identification information 311, operation mode information 312, and user information 313. The identification information includes, for example, information such as the code image standard and version, check data for error correction, and the like, and information indicating that the operation mode information is included in the decoding information. Therefore, if the identification information is included in the decoding information, the operation mode information is always included. The operation mode information 312 includes a predetermined mode setting. For example, when the operation mode information 312 is set to the copy inhibition mode, the copy process in the image forming apparatus 100 is not executed. The user information 313 is information for identifying the user. For example, the user information can be a user name, a user e-mail address, a user contact information, device information used by the user, a date when the user performed copying, the number of times of copying, or other appropriate information depending on the application. .

  In the decoding, for example, in the two-dimensional code 700, black or white in the image area 704 including the image area outside the marks 701 to 703 is identified, and black is “1” and white is “0”. Is converted into an information string.

  Next, in step S206, the CPU 11 determines whether the code image has been successfully decoded in step S205. If it is determined in step S104 that decoding of the code image has failed (step S206; NO), the process proceeds to step S207. If it is determined in step S206 that the decoding has succeeded (step S206; YES), the process proceeds to step S208.

  Here, whether or not the code image has been successfully decoded is determined by, for example, performing a well-known error correction process after decoding and checking whether the error-corrected information has been correctly decoded. can do. Specifically, the inspection data is stored in advance in the RAM 12 or the like of the image forming apparatus 100, and the CPU 11 determines that the order of the inspection information sequence (0, 1 bit sequence) included in the identification information 311 is the same as the inspection data. It is determined whether or not the order is correct. At this time, if the order of the information sequence for inspection is correct, it is determined that the decoding has succeeded. If the order of the information sequence for inspection is not correct, it is determined that the decoding has failed. Note that the process of determining whether or not the decoding is successful in step S206 is an example of a process performed by the error determination unit described in the claims.

  Next, in step S207, the CPU 11 performs a copy prohibition process. Specifically, the CPU 11 performs control so that image information generated by the scanner 20 is not output from the printer 30. As a result, the paper medium that is the target medium read by the scanner 20 is not output from the printer 30 to a paper medium different from the target medium, that is, copying is not executed. Note that the copy prohibition process in step 207 is an example of a process performed by the control means described in the claims.

  In step S208, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the identification information is included in the decrypted information decrypted in step S205. If it is determined in step S208 that there is identification information (step S208; YES), the process proceeds to step S209. If it is not determined in step S208 that there is identification information (step S208; NO), the process proceeds to step S211.

  In step S209, the CPU 11 refers to the operation mode information included in the decryption information.

  In step S210, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the operation mode information referred to in step S209 is copy prohibition mode setting. If it is determined in step S210 that the operation mode information is the copy prohibition operation mode setting (step S210; YES), the process proceeds to step S207. On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S210 that the operation mode is copy prohibition mode setting (step S210; NO), the process proceeds to step S211.

  In step S211, the CPU 11 permits copying. That is, image information is transmitted from the scanner 20 to the printer 30, and the printer 30 prints the image information on a paper medium and outputs it.

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, a processing example when the decoding information is divided into a plurality of data blocks will be described.

  First, the configuration of the decryption information will be described with reference to FIG. Decryption information 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes a data block 401 and a data block 402. The data block 401 includes identification information 411 and user information 412. The data block 402 includes operation mode information 421 and user information 422. Note that the user information 412 and the user information 422 may be the same or different information. Further, the operation mode information may be included in the same block as the data block including the identification information. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the number of data blocks is two. However, the number of data blocks is not limited to this and may be three or more.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the flowchart according to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the same processes as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Therefore, in the second embodiment, description of the same processing as that described in the first embodiment is omitted, and processing different from the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  If the CPU 11 determines in step S206 that decoding of the code image has failed (step S206; NO), the process proceeds to step S501.

  In step S306, the CPU 11 determines whether or not only a part of the data blocks constituting the decoding information has been successfully decoded. When the CPU 11 determines that the decoding of some data blocks is successful (step S501; YES), the process proceeds to step S502. If the CPU 11 determines that decoding of some data blocks has failed (step S501; NO), the process proceeds to step S207. Here, whether or not the data block has been successfully decoded is determined by checking the information string for inspection included in the identification information in the first embodiment, or by including information for inspection in the operation mode information. This can be determined by checking the order of the columns. In this way, information for inspection is included for each data block, and whether or not the decoding is successful is determined for each data block.

  In step S502, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the data block that has been successfully decrypted includes identification information. When the CPU 11 determines that the data block that has been successfully decoded includes identification information (step S502; YES), the process proceeds to step S503. When the CPU 11 determines that the data block that has been successfully decoded does not include identification information (step S502; NO), the process proceeds to step S207. In step S207, copy prohibition processing is performed.

  In step S503, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the data block that has been successfully decoded includes the operation mode information. When the CPU 11 determines that the data block that has been successfully decoded includes the operation mode information (step S503; YES), the process proceeds to step S209. When the CPU 11 determines that the data block that has been successfully decoded does not include the operation mode information (step S503; NO), the process proceeds to step S207.

  In step S504, the CPU 11 performs a process of updating information included in the decryption information and generating a new code image. Specifically, the user information 2 (422) in the decryption information shown in FIG. 4 is rewritten with the user information of the user who has logged into the image forming apparatus 100.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, when decoding fails as a whole, it is determined whether the data block can be successfully decoded.

  If the data block including the identification information is successfully decoded, but the operation mode information is not included in the data block, the operation mode information is included in another data block. Therefore, in step S503, only when another data block is successfully decoded and the other data block includes operation mode information, the process proceeds to step S209, and the operation mode information is referred to.

  The user information 412 includes user information acquired from the data server 110 when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 100, such as a user name, user mail address, and user contact information, and stored in the storage device. It can also be updated. Furthermore, device information used by the user, date when the user performed copying, the number of times of copying may be included. On the other hand, the user information 422 may include in advance information such as the name of the creator who first created the medium containing the code image, the e-mail address, the contact information, and the date on which the creator created the document.

(Example 3)
In the third embodiment, a processing example in which copying is permitted only once even when decoding of a code image fails will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As in the case of the second embodiment, in the third embodiment, the description of the same processes as those described in the first embodiment will be omitted, and the processes different from the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  In step S <b> 601, the CPU 11 acquires a decryption failure history from the storage device (such as the RAM 12 or the HDD 13) or the data server 110. The decryption failure history is information in which user information is recorded. Note that when the user logs in to the image forming apparatus 100, no user information is recorded in the decryption failure history.

  In step S602, the CPU 11 acquires user information of the currently logged-in user, and determines whether the user information is recorded in the decryption failure history acquired in step S601. If the decryption failure history includes user information of the currently logged-in user (step S602; YES), the process proceeds to step S207. If the decryption failure history does not include the user information of the currently logged-in user (step S602; NO), the process proceeds to step S603.

  In step S603, the CPU 11 records the user information of the currently logged-in user in the decryption failure history. Note that the process of recording and holding user information in step 603 is an example of a process by the user information holding means described in the claims.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when it is determined in step S206 that decoding of the code image has failed (step S206; NO), in step S602, the user who is currently logged in to the decoding failure history is displayed. It is determined whether user information is recorded. When it is determined for the first time after login that the code image read by the scanner 20 contains an error, the user information of the user is not recorded in the decoding failure history, and the process proceeds to step S602. Then, after the user information of the user is recorded in the decoding failure history in step S602, copying is permitted in step S211, and the printer 30 outputs the image information generated by the scanner 20.

  When the user again causes the scanner 20 to read a medium such as paper, processing is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. At this time, if it is determined in step 206 that the code image has been successfully decoded (step S206; NO), the process proceeds to step 601. In step S602, it is determined whether the user information of the currently logged-in user is recorded in the decryption failure history. If the user information of the user is recorded in the decryption failure history as described above (step S602; YES), the process proceeds to step S207. In this case, the image information generated by the scanner 20 is transmitted to the printer 30. In other words, it is not output from the printer 30.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, even if the decoding of the code image fails, the information read by the scanner 20 is output from the printer 30 if the decoding failure is the first time. Is not output from the printer 30.

  In the third embodiment, when the user logs out from the image forming apparatus 100, the user information regarding the logged-in user stored in the RAM 12 or the HDD 13 may be deleted. As a result, when a new user logs in and the decoding failure is the first time as in the above operation example, the information read by the scanner 20 is output from the printer 30, but from the second time onward. The output from the printer 30 can be prevented.

(Modification)
In each embodiment, when copying is permitted in step S211, the user information included in the code image is rewritten into the user information of the logged-in user and encoded into the code image, and the image information including the code image is encoded. You may make it output to the printer 30. FIG. Thereby, since the code image output from the printer 30 includes user information of the logged-in user, the user who printed the code image can be specified.

  In each embodiment, paper is described as an example of a medium read by the scanner 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an OHP sheet may be used as an example of the medium, and any medium that can read information printed on the medium may be used. Note that the term “storage medium” refers to a medium that is different from the medium and can digitally store information such as a memory, HDD, CD, or DVD.

  Further, although cases have been described where the operation mode information is a command indicating copy prohibition in each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a command that includes password information in the decryption information and requests the user to input a password. In this case, copying can be permitted only when the password entered by the user matches the password included in the decryption information.

  In each embodiment, the operation of outputting image information generated by the scanner 20 from the printer 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, it may be output from another printer connected to the bus 120, a FAX apparatus (not shown), or the like.

  Regarding the decryption failure history in the third embodiment, the user information recorded every time the user logs out may not be deleted and the user information may be left. Further, an upper limit may be set for the number of times of copying. That is, the number of times of copying when the user is logged in is recorded, and copying is prohibited when copying exceeds a predetermined number of times and when decoding fails. In this way, a user who is likely to cause information leakage can be identified.

  In addition, although the process of each step in each embodiment has been described as being performed by one image forming apparatus, the process of each step may be performed by another apparatus.

  Further, the present invention may be implemented by a computer reading and executing a program code from a storage medium storing a program code for realizing the procedure of the flowchart shown in each embodiment. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment. Therefore, this program code and a storage medium storing the program code can also constitute the present invention. Of course, the program code must be readable by a computer from the storage medium. Examples of the storage medium include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM.

Claims (7)

Generation means for generating image information by reading information printed on a paper medium;
Detecting means for detecting a code image from the image information;
A decoding unit that obtains information included in the code image by decoding the detected code image when a code image is detected from the image information by the detection unit;
Means for determining whether the obtained information includes information indicating copy prohibition;
Printing means;
Have
The printing means includes
When a code image is not detected from the image information by the detection means, the image information is printed,
When decoding by the decoding means fails and information included in the detected code image is not obtained, the image information is not printed,
If it is not determined that the obtained information includes information indicating copy prohibition, the image information is printed,
The apparatus does not print the image information when it is determined that the obtained information includes information indicating copy prohibition. Generation means for generating image information by reading information printed on a paper medium;
Detecting means for detecting a code image from the image information;
A decoding unit that obtains information included in the detected code image by decoding the detected code image when a code image is detected from the image information by the detection unit;
Means for discriminating whether the obtained information includes information indicating that the obtained information includes information indicating whether or not copying is possible;
When it is determined that the information indicating that the obtained information includes information indicating whether or not copying is included, the information indicating whether or not copying is permitted. Means for determining whether or not
Printing means,
The printing means includes
When the code image is not detected from the image information by the detecting means, the image information is printed, and the decoding by the decoding means fails, and the information included in the detected code image is obtained. If not, the image information is not printed,
When it is not determined that the obtained information includes information indicating whether or not copying is included in the obtained information, the image information is printed.
When it is determined that the information indicating whether copying is possible or not, the image information is not printed,
The apparatus which prints the image information when it is not determined that the information indicating whether or not copying is possible. The code image is detected from the image information by the detection means indicates that three marks included in the four corners of the code image are detected,
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fact that a code image is not detected from the image information by the detection means indicates that three marks included in four corners of the code image are not detected. A generating step for generating image information by reading information printed on a paper medium; and
A detecting step for detecting a code image from the image information;
A decoding unit that obtains information included in the code image by decoding the detected code image when a code image is detected from the image information in the detection step;
Determining means for determining whether the obtained information includes information indicating copy prohibition; and
The printing means is
When a code image is not detected from the image information in the detection step, the image information is printed,
When the decoding in the decoding step fails and the information included in the detected code image is not obtained, the image information is not printed,
If it is not determined that the obtained information includes information indicating copy prohibition, the image information is printed,
When it is determined that the obtained information includes information indicating copy prohibition, printing the image information is not performed; and
A method comprising the steps of: A generating step for generating image information by reading information printed on a paper medium; and
A detecting step for detecting a code image from the image information;
Decoding means for obtaining information included in the detected code image by decoding the detected code image when a code image is detected from the image information in the detection step Steps,
A step of determining whether or not information indicating that the obtained information includes information indicating whether or not copying is included in the obtained information;
When the determining means determines that the obtained information includes information indicating whether or not copying is included in the obtained information, it indicates whether or not copying is possible. Determining whether the information indicates copying or not;
The printing means is
When a code image is not detected from the image information in the detection step, the image information is printed, decoding in the decoding step fails, and information included in the detected code image is obtained. If not, the image information is not printed,
When it is not determined that the obtained information includes information indicating whether or not copying is included in the obtained information, the image information is printed.
When it is determined that the information indicating whether copying is possible or not, the image information is not printed,
A printing step for printing the image information when it is not determined that the information indicating whether copying is possible or not;
A method comprising the steps of: The code image is detected from the image information in the detection step indicates that three marks included in the four corners of the code image are detected,
The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the fact that the code image is not detected from the image information in the detection step indicates that three marks included in the four corners of the code image are not detected.   The program for making a computer perform the method of any one of Claims 4 thru | or 6.

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