JP6067538B2 - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming method, and more particularly to an image forming system and an image forming method capable of preventing the user from insufficient recognition of confidential information and managing the confidential information in an integrated manner.

  Conventionally, there are many techniques related to confidential information. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-174172 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique in which confidential information of a printed matter that has been printed in advance is filled with black and a black portion is added and output.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-174102 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique for switching a warning level according to a confidential level of a document.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-253507 (Patent Document 3) discloses a technique for maintaining confidentiality in which the text on a confidential document cannot be restored, instead of being discarded by a shredder, in order to maintain confidentiality.

  Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-980 (Patent Document 4) discloses a technique for changing the disclosure range of secret information according to a user when storing a document.

  Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-69453 (Patent Document 5) discloses a technique for blackening only the printing surface of a recording sheet that has passed a predetermined time since printing.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-62819 (Patent Document 6) discloses a technique for easily reducing legibility at low cost by using a filled pattern as a random pattern.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-234441 (Patent Document 7) discloses a technique for efficiently leaking confidential information included in a print job name.

JP 2006-174172 A JP 2007-174102 A JP 2007-253507 A JP 2009-980 A JP 2009-69453 A JP 2011-62819 A JP 2008-234441 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for maintaining confidentiality for a document printed in advance. The technique described in Patent Document 2 is a technique for preventing unauthorized copying. Further, the technique described in Patent Document 3 is a technique in which a confidential document is painted black before it is discarded. Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 4, since the disclosure range of the secret information is entrusted to the user, it is impossible to prevent the leakage of the confidential information. The technique described in Patent Document 5 is a technique for reading and processing time data on a printing surface. The technique described in Patent Document 6 is a technique for devising a pattern. The technique described in Patent Document 7 is a technique in which a predetermined permission keyword is registered in advance, and all parts that do not match based on the keyword are made to be indented.

  By the way, it is common that the secret information is not commonly recognized for each user. For example, although the predetermined information is recognized as confidential information for one user A, the same information for the other user B is used. May be recognized as non-confidential information. In that case, there is a problem that a printed matter in which confidential information is not unified is generated by the user. In particular, in a single company (organization), unification of confidential information is a particularly serious problem from the viewpoint of security for printed materials disclosed outside the company. The technology described in Patent Documents 1-7 cannot solve the problem.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and provides an image forming system and an image forming method capable of preventing the user from insufficient recognition of confidential information and managing the confidential information in an integrated manner. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming system according to the present invention is an image forming system including a server and an image forming apparatus that are communicably connected via a network. Adopt the configuration.

The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that performs image formation based on image data, and a secret mode is set for the image formation when the image forming unit forms an image based on the image data. And when the result of the determination is that the confidential mode is set, the server includes a confidential mode determination means for transmitting the image data to the server, and the server receives the image data. , Secret information determination means for determining whether or not the character information in the image data includes secret information registered in advance in a predetermined memory of the server, and as a result of the determination, the secret information is included in the character information. A secret information processing means for performing secret processing on the existing character information and transmitting the confidential image data to the image forming apparatus. That.

In addition, the image forming apparatus displays the confidential image data to the user, and accepts addition / deletion of new confidential information from the user to the image data. The image data is processed, and the image forming unit executes image formation based on the processed image data. When the image formation is completed, the server and the secret information added / deleted to the server. Display receiving means for notifying is further provided.

Also, pre-Symbol server receives the notification, if the addition or deletion of a new confidential information is performed, the confidential information which the addition or deletion is performed, pre-registered administrator terminal device When the registration of the added / deleted secret information is received from the manager terminal device, the added / deleted secret information is sent to the predetermined server And a secret information management means for registering and setting in the memory.

  In addition, the present invention can be provided as an image forming method of an image forming system including a server and an image forming apparatus that are communicably connected via a network.

That is, the image forming apparatus has an image forming step for performing image formation based on image data, and in the image forming step, when an image is formed based on image data, a secret mode is set for the image formation. determines whether or not the set, the result of the determination, when the confidential mode is set, and a confidential mode determination step of transmitting the image data to the server, the server, the image data When received, the character information in the image data includes a secret information determination step for determining whether or not secret information pre-registered in a predetermined memory of the server is present. When confidential information exists, the existing character information is subjected to concealment processing, and the concealed image data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus. And an anonymous information processing step, the image forming apparatus, the concealment processing image data and displays it to the user, the user receives an addition or deletion of a new confidential information for the image data, of the secret information The image data is processed corresponding to addition / deletion, and image formation is executed based on the processed image data in the image forming step. When the image formation is completed, the fact and the addition / deletion are performed. A display acceptance step of notifying the server of confidential information, and when the server receives the notification, the addition / deletion of the new confidential information is performed when the confidential information is added / deleted. Confidential information is notified via a network to the administrator terminal device registered in advance, and the addition / deletion is performed from the administrator terminal device. When accepting the registration of confidential information, confidential information which the addition or deletion is performed, further comprising a secret information management step of registering set to a predetermined memory of the server. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as described above can be obtained.

  Further, the present invention can be provided as a program for causing a computer to circulate individually via a telecommunication line or the like. In this case, the central processing unit (CPU) realizes the control operation in cooperation with each circuit other than the CPU according to the program of the present invention. Each means realized by using the program and the CPU can also be configured by using dedicated hardware. The program can also be distributed in a state where it is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  According to the image forming system and the image forming method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from being insufficiently aware of the confidential information and to centrally manage the confidential information.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an operation unit of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system hardware of the image forming system which concerns on this invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen displayed on the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 6A), and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example of confidential information matching processing and a table according to the embodiment of the present invention. B)). The figure (FIG. 7 (A)) which shows an example of the confidential information processing screen displayed on the touch panel of embodiment of this invention, and the additional deletion registration screen displayed on the terminal device for administrators of embodiment of this invention FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example (FIG. 7B).

  Hereinafter, an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not. Moreover, the alphabet S added before the number in a flowchart means a step.

<Image forming system>
The image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  The image forming system 1 of the present invention includes a server 301 a and an image forming apparatus 100 that are communicably connected via a network 300. The network 300 is also communicably connected to another terminal device 301b.

  Here, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention corresponds to, for example, a printer, a single scanner, or a multifunction machine including a printer, a copy, a scanner, a fax, and the like, and includes a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, a printer function, and the like. It functions as an image forming apparatus provided with.

  The operation of the MFP 100 (MFP: Multi Function Peripheral) when using the copy function will be briefly described below.

  First, when the user uses the multifunction machine 100, the document is placed on the document table 101 provided on the upper surface of the casing. Subsequently, the user operates the operation unit 102 (operation panel) provided in the vicinity of the document table 101 to input setting conditions related to image formation from the operation screen of the operation unit 102. When the user presses a start key provided on the operation unit 102, the multifunction peripheral 100 starts image formation (print processing).

  Next, in the image reading unit 103, the light emitted from the light source 104 is reflected by the document placed on the document table 101. The reflected light is guided to the image sensor 108 by the mirrors 105, 106, and 107. The guided light is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 108, and image data corresponding to the original is generated.

  Here, the generated image data is transmitted by the communication unit 200 to the server 301a connected via the network 300, and a predetermined process is performed by the server 301a, which is returned.

  An image forming unit 109 forms a toner image based on the image data. The image forming unit 109 is provided with a photosensitive drum 110. The photosensitive drum 110 rotates in a predetermined direction at a constant speed, and around the charger drum, the exposure unit 112, the developing unit 113, the transfer unit 114, the cleaning unit 115, and the like in that order from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Is arranged.

  The charger 111 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 110. The exposure unit 112 irradiates the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 110 with a laser based on the image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The developer 114 forms a toner image by attaching toner to the formed electrostatic latent image. The formed toner image is transferred to a recording medium (for example, paper, sheet) by the transfer device 114. The cleaning unit 115 removes excess toner left on the surface of the photosensitive drum 110. A series of these processes is executed by rotating the photosensitive drum 110.

  The sheets are conveyed from a plurality of paper feed cassettes 116 provided in the multi function peripheral 100. When the sheet is conveyed, the sheet is pulled out from any one of the sheet feeding cassettes 116 to the conveyance path by the pickup roller 117. Each sheet cassette 116 stores sheets of different paper types, and the sheets are fed based on setting conditions relating to image formation.

  The sheet pulled out to the conveyance path is fed between the photosensitive drum 110 and the transfer device 114 by the conveyance roller 118 and the registration roller 119. When the sheet is fed, the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer unit 114 and conveyed to the fixing device 120.

  When the sheet on which the toner image is transferred passes between a heating roller and a pressure roller provided in the fixing device 120, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image, and the visible image is fixed on the sheet. The The amount of heat of the heating roller is optimally set according to the paper type, and the fixing is performed appropriately. The visible image is fixed on the sheet and the image formation is completed, and the sheet is guided to the path switching unit 121 by the conveyance roller 118.

  In the path switching unit 121, the sheet is guided to the sheet discharge tray 122 provided on the side surface of the casing unit or the casing through the sheet discharge port 123 according to a switching instruction from the multifunction peripheral 100. To the in-body tray 124 provided in the body cylinder. The sheets are stacked and stored on the paper discharge tray 122 or the in-body tray 124. Through the above procedure, the housing unit of the multifunction peripheral 100 provides a copy function to the user.

  By the way, for example, when image data is transmitted as an image forming job from a terminal device communicably connected to the network 300, the multi-function device 100 causes the communication unit 200 to execute the image data according to a predetermined setting. Is transmitted to the server 301a.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the operation unit of the multifunction machine according to the present invention. The user uses the operation unit 102 to input setting conditions for image formation as described above, and to confirm the input setting conditions. When the setting conditions are input, a touch panel 201 (operation panel), a touch pen 202, and operation keys 203 provided in the operation unit 102 are used.

  The touch panel 201 has both a function for inputting setting conditions and a function for displaying the setting conditions. That is, by pressing a key in the screen displayed on the touch panel 201, a setting condition corresponding to the pressed key is input.

  A display unit (not shown) such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is provided on the back surface of the touch panel 201, and the display unit displays an operation screen such as the initial screen, for example. A touch pen 202 is provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 201. When the user touches the touch pen 201 with the tip of the touch pen 202, a sensor provided under the touch panel 201 detects the touch destination.

  Further, a predetermined number of operation keys 203 are provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 201, and for example, a ten key 204, a start key 205, a clear key 206, a stop key 207, a reset key 208, and a power key 209 are provided.

  Next, the configuration of the control system hardware of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control system hardware of the image forming system according to the present invention. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  The control circuit of the MFP 100 of the image forming system 1 corresponds to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 301, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 302, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 303, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 304, and each driving unit. The driver 305, the operation unit 102, and the communication unit 200 are connected by an internal bus 308.

  The CPU 301 uses, for example, the RAM 303 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 302, the HDD 304, and the like, and based on the execution result, outputs from the driver 305, the operation unit 102, and the communication unit 200. Data, instructions, signals corresponding to keys, commands, etc. are exchanged to control the operation of each drive unit shown in FIG. The communication unit 200 is connected to a server 301a and a predetermined terminal device 301b via a network 300, and the CPU 301 transmits data to the server 301a and the terminal device 301b via the communication unit 200. .

  Also, each means (shown in FIG. 4) described later other than the drive unit is realized by the CPU 301 executing a program. The ROM 302, the HDD 304, and the like store programs and data for realizing each means described below.

  Similarly to the control circuit of the multi-function device 100, the server 301a and the terminal device 301b are equipped with a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an operation unit (interface such as a keyboard and a mouse), etc. , Has the same function as described above.

<Embodiment of the present invention>
Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction machine of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the present invention.

  First, when a user places a document on the document table 101 and turns on the power of the multifunction device 100, the multifunction device 100 is activated, and the display receiving unit 401 displays an operation screen (initial screen) on the touch panel 201. (FIG. 5: S101).

  On the initial screen 600, as shown in FIG. 6A, a predetermined message “Can copy” 601 is displayed, and a function item key 602 for inputting setting conditions such as a copy function, When the image is formed (printed), a secret mode key 603 for performing secret processing on the secret information is displayed so as to be pressed. Here, the concealment process is a process for making the concealment information invisible. Examples of the concealment process include blacking, whitening, and invisible pattern addition.

  For example, when the user wants to obtain a printed material by performing confidential processing on confidential information in the content of the document, for example, when the user presses the confidential mode key 603 in order to distribute the printed material of the document to an outside user. The display accepting unit 401 accepts pressing of the secret mode key 603, sets the secret mode, and changes the background color of the secret mode key 603 to another color (for example, gray color).

  When the user presses the function item key 602 to input a desired setting condition and presses the start key 205, the display receiving unit 401 receives the pressing of the start key 205 and displays the image. The reading unit 402 is notified. Upon receiving the notification, the image reading unit 402 reads image data from the document on the document table 101 based on the image reading condition among the setting conditions (FIG. 5: S102).

  When the image reading unit 402 completes reading of the image data of the document, the confidential mode determining unit 403 is notified to that effect, and the confidential mode determining unit 403 that has received the notification forms an image based on the image data. Then, it is determined whether or not the concealment mode is set for the image formation (FIG. 5: S103).

  As a result of the determination, when the concealment mode is set (FIG. 5: S103 YES), the concealment mode determination unit 403 determines that it is necessary to perform concealment processing on the image data, and via the network 300, The image data is transmitted to the confidential information determination unit 404 of the server 301a.

  If the multifunction device 100 has a function of performing optical character recognition (OCR) processing, the confidential mode determination unit 403 performs optical character recognition processing on the image data and then determines confidential information of the server 301a. The image data is transmitted to the means 404. When the optical character recognition process cannot be performed, the secret mode determination unit 403 transmits the image data as it is.

  The confidential information determination unit 404 that has received the image data determines whether the character information in the image data includes confidential information registered in advance in a predetermined memory of the server 301a (FIG. 5: S104).

  Here, the method for determining whether or not the confidential information exists in the character information in the image data by the confidential information determination unit 404 may be any method. For example, the method is as follows. .

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6B, the confidential information determination unit 404 refers to one confidential information 604a (for example, “peach”) from the table 604 registered in advance in a predetermined memory of the server 301a. The referred confidential information 604a and the character information 605a of the image data 605 are collated to determine whether there is character information 605a that matches the confidential information 604a.

  Here, the secret information 604a is information that is commonly used in an organization such as a company, and is preferably information that is not desired to be disclosed outside the company.

  Further, when the confidential information determination unit 404 starts collation of the character information 605a of the image data 605, for example, when the image data 605 is merely image data and optical character recognition processing has not been performed, The verification process itself cannot be performed. Therefore, for example, the secret information determination unit 404 preferably performs an optical character recognition process on the image data 605 to make the character information 605a recognizable before the collation process.

  If there is character information 605a that matches the confidential information 604a as a result of the determination (FIG. 5: S104 YES), the confidential information determination means 404 notifies the confidential information processing means 405 to that effect and receives the notification. The concealment information processing means 405 performs concealment processing by applying a predetermined black pattern 605b to the existing character information 605a (FIG. 5: S105).

  Here, the concealment processing performed by the concealment information processing unit 405 is not limited to the black pattern 605b, and for example, white processing for deleting character information, pattern addition processing for invisible viewing, and the like may be used.

  As described above, since confidential processing is performed based on the confidential information 604a registered in the server 301a, the confidential information 604a can be centrally managed. Further, for example, when a plurality of users perform concealment processing for each user, there is a problem that the concealment processing forgets to conceal the concealment information to be concealed due to insufficient user recognition of the concealment information. In the present invention, the image data is purposely transmitted to the server 301a and the server 301a performs the confidential processing, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the user from forgetting to perform the confidential processing due to insufficient recognition of the user.

  In addition, since the confidential processing for the confidential information 604a is executed by the server 301a, it is more efficient and more accurate than that performed by the user.

  Now, when the confidential information processing unit 405 completes the confidential processing of the character information 605a with respect to one confidential information 604a, the confidential information determination unit 404 notifies the confidential information determination unit 404 to that effect, and the confidential information determination unit 404 receives the notification. Referring to table 604, it is determined whether or not determination processing has been performed for all confidential information (FIG. 5: S106).

  If there is no character information 605a that matches the confidential information 604a as a result of the determination in S104 (FIG. 5: S104 NO), the confidential information determination unit 404 determines whether or not all the confidential information has been determined. Is determined (FIG. 5: S106).

  Since other confidential information 604b (for example, “Grandfather”) exists in the table 604, when all the confidential information is not determined as a result of the determination (FIG. 5: S106 NO), the confidential information. The determination unit 404 returns to S104, refers to the new confidential information 604b different from the previous one, and determines whether or not the referred confidential information 604b exists in the character information 605a in the image data 605 (FIG. 5). : S104). By repeating such determination processing, all confidential information registered in the table 604 is determined.

  On the other hand, in S106, when all the confidential information is determined as a result of the determination (FIG. 5: S106 YES), the confidential information determining means 404 notifies the confidential information processing means 405 to that effect, and The confidential information processing unit 405 that has received the notification transmits the image data subjected to the confidential processing to the display reception unit 401 of the multifunction peripheral 100 via the network 300. The display receiving unit 401 that has received the image data displays the image data that has been subjected to concealment processing via the concealment information processing screen 700.

  In the secret information processing screen 700, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), a predetermined message “secret mode” 701 and a predetermined instruction “if you want to add / delete secret information, select text information. 702, the concealed image data 703 (preview image data), the concealed concealment information 704 (“peach”, “grandpa”), a print key 705 for printing, and a cancel key 706 is displayed.

  Thus, the user can automatically obtain the confidential image data without searching for confidential information from the image data and performing the confidential processing.

  Here, the user wants to add predetermined character information (for example, “granny”) as new confidential information while viewing the image data 703, and selects (specifies) the character information 703a on the touch panel 201. The display receiving unit 401 receives the selected character information 703a (“granny”) as confidential information, adds the confidential information, and newly receives the confidential information (“granny”) from the image data 703. A predetermined black pattern 703b is applied to all of the character information 703a corresponding to the character information 703a for concealment processing (FIG. 5: S108).

  As a result, even if the confidential information is not registered in the server 301a, the user can designate it at any time and perform the confidential processing. Further, since the user can add the secret information directly on the spot, the leakage of the secret information can be surely prevented and can be made efficient.

  Further, if the user newly selects one piece of character information 703a, the character information 703a included in the image data 703 is all processed confidentially and reflected in all, which is efficient.

  The display receiving unit 401 displays the added confidential information 707 on the confidential information processing screen 700. Thereby, the user can confirm the confidential information 707 selected and added by the user.

  On the other hand, when deleting the confidential information, the user views confidential information 704a (for example, “Grandfather”) that is not suitable as confidential information on the touch panel 201 while viewing the confidential information 704 that has been processed confidentially on the confidential information processing screen 700. The display accepting unit 401 accepts the selected confidential information 704a as a deletion target, deletes the confidential information 704a, and cancels the black pattern from the selected confidential information 704a from the image data 703. Then, it is processed so as to be visible (FIG. 5: S108).

  Thereby, even the confidential information registered in the server 301a can be designated from time to time and deleted from the confidential information.

  In addition, the display receiving unit 401 deletes the deleted secret information 704a on the secret information processing screen 700. As a result, the user can confirm the confidential information 704a selected and deleted by the user.

  As described above, since the user can add or delete the confidential information as the confidential information to the image data that has been processed once, it is possible to realize the confidential processing in accordance with the era of excessive information.

  When the user presses the print key 705 while viewing the image data 703, the display receiving unit 401 receives the press of the print key 705 and notifies the image forming unit 406 to that effect. Upon receiving the notification, the image forming unit 406 executes image formation on a predetermined sheet based on the image forming condition among the setting conditions and the image data to which the user has added / deleted the confidential information (FIG. 5). : S109). Thereby, the user can obtain a desired printed matter.

  When the image forming unit 406 completes the image formation, the image receiving unit 401 notifies the display receiving unit 401 of the fact, and the display receiving unit 401 that has received the notification notifies the image data used for the image forming, that is, the user stores the confidential information. The added / deleted image data (if the user has not added / deleted confidential information, the image data after the confidential processing received from the server 301a) is deleted, and all cannot be restored (FIG. 5: S110). This reliably prevents leakage of confidential information.

  The display receiving unit 401 notifies the confidential information managing unit 407 of the completion of the image formation via the network 300. Here, when the user further adds / deletes the confidential information to the image data after the confidential processing, the display receiving unit 401 notifies the confidential information management unit 407 of the performed confidential information. Upon receiving the notification, the confidential information management unit 407 deletes the image data after the confidential processing in the server 301a, and makes all unrecoverable. This reliably prevents leakage of confidential information.

  Also, the confidential information management means 407, when the user further adds / deletes the confidential information to the image data after the confidential processing, the confidential information that has been added / deleted is stored for the administrator registered in advance. It transmits to the terminal device 301b (personal computer) and notifies the confidential information (FIG. 5: S111).

  The control means 408 of the manager terminal device 301b that has received the notification displays the added / deleted confidential information on the liquid crystal display, and the administrator has made the added / deleted confidential information. Inquire about registration.

  Any method may be used as the method by which the control unit 408 inquires of the administrator about registration of the secret information that has been added or deleted. For example, the method is as follows.

  That is, when the control unit 408 receives the added / deleted confidential information, the control unit 408 displays an additional deletion registration screen 708 on the liquid crystal display.

  In the addition / deletion registration screen 708, as shown in FIG. 7B, a predetermined message “Secret information has been added / deleted in the concealment mode” 709 and the secrecy that has been added / deleted. Information 710 (for example, “Grandma”), a predetermined instruction “Do you want to register added / deleted confidential information?” 711, and registration for registering the added / deleted confidential information 710 A key 712 and a cancel key 713 are displayed.

  Here, for example, if the administrator selects the cancel key 713 using a keyboard, mouse, or the like, the control means 408 accepts the selection of the cancel key 713 and informs the confidential information management means 407 to that effect. Notice. The confidential information management means 407 that has received the notification determines that the confidential information that has been added or deleted is not registered, and deletes the confidential information. As a result, the added / deleted confidential information is valid only for the user who has performed this operation and is reflected in the printed matter, and is not registered as confidential information for other users.

  On the other hand, when the administrator selects the registration key 712 as he / she thinks that it is necessary for other users as confidential information while viewing the added / deleted confidential information 710, the control unit 408 causes the registration unit 408 to perform registration. The selection of the key 712 is accepted, and the secret information management means 407 is notified to that effect. Upon receiving the notification, the confidential information management unit 407 determines to register the added / deleted confidential information, and registers and sets the added / deleted confidential information in the memory of the server 301a ( FIG. 5: S112).

  The secret information management unit 407 may register and set the secret information by any method. For example, the table 604 is rewritten corresponding to the added / deleted secret information. Here, when confidential information (“granny”) is added, the confidential information management means 407 adds new confidential information (“granny”) to the table 604. On the other hand, when the confidential information (“Grandfather”) is deleted, the confidential information management unit 407 deletes the confidential information to be deleted (“Grandfather”) from the table 604. This makes it possible to add / delete confidential information with the authority of the administrator. In addition, the administrator can examine the secret information that has been added / deleted, examine it, and register it in the server 301a.

  By the way, in S103, as a result of the determination, when the confidential mode is not set (FIG. 5: S103 NO), the confidential mode determination unit 403 determines that it is not necessary to perform the confidential processing on the image data, This is notified to the image forming unit 406. Receiving the notification, the image forming unit 406 uses the read image data as it is, and executes image formation on a predetermined sheet based on the conditions related to image formation among the setting conditions (FIG. 5: S113). . As a result, the user can obtain a printed material that has not been concealed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the MFP 100 forms an image based on the image data, the MFP 100 determines whether or not the confidential mode is set for the image formation. When the mode is set, a secret mode determination unit 403 that transmits the image data to the server is provided. When the server 301a receives the image data, character information in the image data is included in the character information of the server. A secret information determination unit 404 that determines whether or not secret information registered in advance in a predetermined memory exists, and if the secret information is present in the character information as a result of the determination, And a secret information processing unit 405 for performing a secret process and transmitting the secret-processed image data to the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the user from being insufficiently aware of the confidential information and to manage the confidential information in an integrated manner.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the server 301a is not particularly restricted in access. However, due to the property of handling confidential information, only a specific terminal device connected to be able to communicate with the network 300 can access the server 301a. The other terminal devices can be configured not to be able to access the server 301a.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the user goes to the multifunction peripheral 100 to place a document on the document table 101 and read the image data with the multifunction peripheral 100. Although configured to start, other configurations may be used. For example, a user creates an image forming job (print job) to which image data has been added using a terminal device that is communicably connected to the network 300, and transmits the image forming job to the MFP 100 via the network 300. In this case, the confidential mode determination unit 403 may be activated after receiving the image forming job. In this case, for example, the user is configured to set a secret mode in advance for the image forming job at the terminal device. In this case, when the image data after the confidential processing is displayed, for example, the display receiving unit 401 is configured to display the confidential information processing screen on the terminal device via the network 300. The

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the MFP 100 and the server 301a of the image forming system 1 are configured to include each unit. However, a program that realizes each unit is stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium is provided. You may comprise. In the configuration, the multifunction device 100 and the server 301a read the program, and the multifunction device 100 and the server 301a realize the respective units. In that case, the program itself read from the recording medium exhibits the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a method for storing the steps executed by each means in a hard disk.

  As described above, the image forming system and the image forming method according to the present invention are useful not only for multifunction peripherals but also for image forming systems in which copiers, printers, and the like are connected to a server, and the lack of user recognition of confidential information. This is effective as an image forming system and an image forming method capable of preventing and simultaneously managing confidential information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 100 MFP 102 Operation part 300 Network 301a Server 401 Display reception means 402 Image reading means 403 Confidential mode determination means 404 Confidential information determination means 405 Confidential information processing means 406 Image formation means 407 Confidential information management means 408 Control means

Claims (2)

An image forming system comprising a server and an image forming apparatus that are communicably connected via a network,
The image forming apparatus includes:
Image forming means for executing image formation based on image data;
When an image is formed based on image data in the image forming unit, it is determined whether or not a concealment mode is set for the image formation, and as a result of the determination, the concealment mode is set in, and a confidential mode determining means for transmitting said image data to said server,
The server
When the image data is received, confidential information determination means for determining whether or not confidential information pre-registered in the predetermined memory of the server exists in the character information in the image data;
If the confidential information is present in the character information as a result of the determination, a confidential information processing unit that performs the confidential processing on the existing character information and transmits the confidential image data to the image forming apparatus; Prepared ,
The image forming apparatus displays the concealed image data to a user, and receives addition / deletion of new concealment information from the user in response to addition / deletion of the concealment information. Process the image data, cause the image forming means to execute image formation based on the processed image data, and when the image formation is completed, notify the server of the fact and the added / deleted confidential information Display acceptance means;
Further comprising
The server
Upon receipt of the notification, when new confidential information is added / deleted, the confidential information that has been added / deleted is notified to the terminal device for the administrator registered in advance via the network. When the registration of the added / deleted confidential information is received from the administrator terminal device, the confidential information that has been added / deleted is registered and set in a predetermined memory of the server. Further provided with information management means
An image forming system. An image forming method of an image forming system comprising a server and an image forming apparatus that are communicably connected via a network,
The image forming apparatus includes:
An image forming step for performing image formation based on the image data;
In the image forming step, when an image is formed based on image data, it is determined whether or not a confidential mode is set for the image formation, and as a result of the determination, the confidential mode is set. in, and a confidential mode determination step of transmitting the image data to the server,
The server
When the image data is received, the secret information determination step for determining whether or not the secret information registered in advance in the predetermined memory of the server exists in the character information in the image data;
If the confidential information is present in the character information as a result of the determination, the confidential information processing step of performing confidential processing on the existing character information and transmitting the confidential processed image data to the image forming apparatus, Prepared ,
The image forming apparatus displays the concealed image data to a user, and receives addition / deletion of new concealment information from the user in response to addition / deletion of the concealment information. The image data is processed, and the image forming step executes image formation based on the processed image data. When the image formation is completed, the server is notified of the fact and the added / deleted confidential information. Display acceptance step;
Further comprising
The server
Upon receipt of the notification, when new confidential information is added / deleted, the confidential information that has been added / deleted is notified to the terminal device for the administrator registered in advance via the network. When the registration of the added / deleted confidential information is received from the administrator terminal device, the confidential information that has been added / deleted is registered and set in a predetermined memory of the server. Further comprising an information management step
An image forming method.

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