JP6306829B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming program for outputting a partially encrypted image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for outputting a partially encrypted image, a method for encrypting a specified portion of an output scheduled image to be output is known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2007-88548 A International Publication No. 2008/053576

  However, the methods described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a problem that it is necessary for the user to specify the part to be encrypted. In particular, when an image forming apparatus that outputs a partially encrypted image has a small display unit, and allows a user to specify a part to be encrypted on a preview of an output scheduled image displayed on the display unit, Since the preview is small, it is difficult for the user to specify the part to be encrypted.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming program capable of improving convenience when outputting a partially encrypted image.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image output unit that outputs an image, a reference position detection unit that detects, as a reference position, a position where specific information is present in an output scheduled image to be output by the image output unit, An encryption unit configured to encrypt a portion corresponding to the reference position detected by the reference position detection unit in the output scheduled image.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention automatically encrypts a portion corresponding to a position where specific information exists in the output scheduled image, so that it is convenient to output a partially encrypted image. Can be improved.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the encryption unit may encrypt the portion including the reference position in the output scheduled image.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention automatically encrypts the specific information included in the scheduled output image. Therefore, important information that the user wants to keep secret is set as the specific information. This can automatically reduce the possibility of leakage of important information to the outside.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the specific information may be an image.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can automatically reduce the possibility that an important image leaks to the outside.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the specific information is a character, and the reference position detection unit matches the specific information among character information extracted from the output scheduled image by optical character recognition. A position where the portion exists in the scheduled output image may be detected as the reference position.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can automatically reduce the possibility that important characters leak outside.

  The image forming program of the present invention is an image forming program executed by an image forming apparatus including an image output unit that outputs an image, and includes specific information in an output scheduled image to be output by the image output unit. The image formation as a reference position detecting means for detecting a position where the reference position exists as a reference position, and an encryption means for encrypting a portion corresponding to the reference position detected by the reference position detecting means in the output scheduled image The apparatus is made to function.

  With this configuration, the image forming program of the present invention automatically encrypts a portion corresponding to a position where specific information exists in an output scheduled image, so that it is convenient when outputting a partially encrypted image. Can be improved.

  The image forming apparatus and the image forming program of the present invention can improve the convenience when outputting a partially encrypted image.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when executing login processing. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when executing copying. It is a flowchart of the encryption process in the operation | movement shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the image reference | standard encryption process in the encryption process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the character reference | standard encryption process in the encryption process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of the decoding process in the operation | movement shown in FIG. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the information for encryption of an image among the information for encryption shown in FIG. (B) is an example of the image encryption information in the encryption information shown in FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing an example different from the example shown in FIG. 8 (a). It is a figure which shows an example of the output plan image before the encryption by the operation | movement shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the output plan image after the encryption by the operation | movement shown in FIG. (A) is a figure which shows an example of the location encrypted by MFP shown in FIG. FIG. 12B is an example of a portion encrypted by the MFP shown in FIG. 1 and is an example different from the example shown in FIG. It is an example of the output plan image after the encryption by the operation | movement shown in FIG. 3, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the example different from the example shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output scheduled image after encryption by the operation illustrated in FIG. 3, which is different from the examples illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 12.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 is a display device such as an operation unit 11 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations by a user and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. A display unit 12, a scanner 13 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, a printer 14 that is a printing device that performs printing on a recording medium such as paper, an external facsimile apparatus (not shown), a public telephone line, and the like A fax communication unit 15 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a communication line, a network communication unit 16 that is a network communication device that communicates with an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, and the like. Write the data of To which EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) storage unit 17 is a nonvolatile storage device such as, and a control unit 18 which controls the entire MFP 10.

  The operation unit 11 may include an input device that forms a touch panel together with the display unit 12.

  The storage unit 17 stores an image forming program 17a for forming an image. The image forming program 17a may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or an SD card, or from the network. It may be additionally installed in the MFP 10.

  The storage unit 17 can store a plurality of pieces of encryption information 17b as specific information used for encryption by the control unit 18. The encryption information 17b may be an arbitrary character such as “confidential”, or may be an arbitrary image such as an confidential image. The encryption information 17b can be input from an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) via the network communication unit 16, or can be input from a storage medium such as a USB memory or an SD card. Is possible. Further, the encryption information 17b can be input via the operation unit 11 when it is a character.

  Further, the storage unit 17 can store an output scheduled image 17c that is scheduled to be output.

  The storage unit 17 also has encryption mode setting information 17d indicating a setting state as to whether or not the encryption mode for executing encryption is set, and setting as to whether or not the decryption mode for executing decryption is set. Decoding mode setting information 17e indicating the state is stored. Here, the setting states of the encryption mode and the decryption mode can be changed, for example, via the operation unit 11. Also, the setting states of the encryption mode and the decryption mode may be specified every time the job is executed, or may be specified as a setting state that can be applied to a plurality of jobs.

  In addition, the storage unit 17 stores user information 17f in which a combination of a user ID and a password is registered for each user.

  The control unit 18 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. Yes. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 17.

  The control unit 18 executes the image forming program 17a stored in the storage unit 17, thereby encrypting the image output unit 18a that outputs an image and the output planned image 17c that is scheduled to be output by the image output unit 18a. A reference position detection unit 18b for detecting a position where the information 17b exists as a reference position, an encryption unit 18c for encrypting a portion corresponding to the reference position detected by the reference position detection unit 18b in the scheduled output image 17c, and It functions as the decrypting means 18d for decrypting the encrypted portion of the scheduled output image 17c.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 10 will be described.

  The control unit 18 of the MFP 10 performs the operation illustrated in FIG. 2 when an instruction to execute the login process is input via the operation unit 11.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when executing the login process.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 18 displays a login screen for executing the login process on the display unit 12 (S101).

  Next, the control unit 18 receives the ID and password input via the operation unit 11 (S102).

  Next, the control unit 18 determines whether or not the user authentication is successful (S103). Here, the control unit 18 determines that the user authentication is successful when the combination of the ID and the password received in S102 is included in the user information 17f. On the other hand, when the combination of the ID and password received in S102 is not included in the user information 17f, the control unit 18 determines that the user authentication has failed.

  When the control unit 18 determines in S103 that the user authentication has failed, the operation illustrated in FIG.

  On the other hand, when determining in S103 that the user authentication is successful, the control unit 18 changes the state of the MFP 10 to the login state of the user corresponding to the ID accepted in S102 (S104), and performs the operation shown in FIG. finish.

  In addition, although the control part 18 performs a login process based on the combination of ID and a password in the above, you may perform a login process based on information other than the combination of ID and a password. For example, when the MFP 10 includes an ID card reader, the control unit 18 may execute a login process based on the ID read by the ID card reader.

  The control unit 18 of the MFP 10 performs the operation illustrated in FIG. 3 when a copy instruction is input via the operation unit 11 when the user is in a login state.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 10 when executing copying.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 18 causes the scanner 13 to read an image from the document, and stores the image read from the document by the scanner 13 in the storage unit 17 as the output scheduled image 17c (S131).

  Next, the encryption unit 18c determines whether or not the encryption mode is set based on the encryption mode setting information 17d (S132).

  If it is determined in S132 that the encryption mode is the encryption mode, the encryption unit 18c executes the encryption process shown in FIG. 4 (S133).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the encryption process in the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the encryption unit 18c determines whether or not the image encryption information 17b is stored in the storage unit 17 (S161).

  If it is determined in S161 that the image encryption information 17b is stored, the control unit 18 executes the image reference encryption process shown in FIG. 5 (S162).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the image reference encryption process in the encryption process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the reference position detection unit 18b targets one of the image encryption information 17b among the encryption information 17b on the storage unit 17 (S201).

  Next, the reference position detection unit 18b determines whether or not the target encryption information 17b exists in the scheduled output image 17c by pattern matching (S202).

  If it is determined in S202 that the target encryption information 17b exists in the planned output image 17c, the reference position detection unit 18b detects a position where the target encryption information 17b exists in the planned output image 17c as a reference position ( S203).

  Next, the encryption unit 18c encrypts a portion corresponding to the reference position detected in S203 in the output planned image 17c with a specific algorithm (S204). Here, the encryption means 18c encrypts and embeds the ID of the logged-in user for each encrypted portion.

  The reference position detection unit 18b determines in S202 that the target encryption information 17b does not exist in the output scheduled image 17c, or when the processing in S204 is completed, the reference position detection unit 18b stores the image information in the encryption information 17b on the storage unit 17. It is determined whether or not all of the encryption information 17b is targeted (S205).

  When the reference position detection unit 18b determines in S205 that any of the image encryption information 17b is not yet targeted, the reference position detection unit 18b performs encryption for the image encryption information 17b in the storage unit 17 that is not yet targeted. The process of S201 is executed for the information 17b.

  If the reference position detection unit 18b determines in S205 that all of the image encryption information 17b has been processed, the image reference encryption process shown in FIG. 5 is terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the encryption unit 18c determines in S161 that the image encryption information 17b is not stored, or ends the image reference encryption process in S162, and then the character encryption information 17b. Is stored in the storage unit 17 (S163).

  When it is determined in S163 that the character encryption information 17b is stored, the control unit 18 executes the character reference encryption process shown in FIG. 6 (S164).

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the character-based encryption process in the encryption process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the reference position detector 18b extracts character information from the scheduled output image 17c by optical character recognition (OCR) (S231).

  Next, the reference position detection unit 18b targets one of the character encryption information 17b among the encryption information 17b on the storage unit 17 (S232).

  Next, the reference position detecting unit 18b determines whether or not there is a portion that matches the target encryption information 17b among the character information extracted from the output scheduled image 17c in S231 (S233).

  When the reference position detection unit 18b determines in S233 that there is a portion that matches the target encryption information 17b in the character information extracted from the output scheduled image 17c, the reference position detection unit 18b includes the character information extracted from the output scheduled image 17c in S231. A position where a portion matching the target encryption information 17b exists in the output scheduled image 17c is detected as a reference position (S234).

  Next, the encryption unit 18c encrypts a portion corresponding to the reference position detected in S234 in the output planned image 17c with a specific algorithm (S235). Here, the encryption means 18c encrypts and embeds the ID of the logged-in user for each encrypted portion.

  When the reference position detection unit 18b determines in S233 that there is no portion of the character information extracted from the scheduled output image 17c that matches the target encryption information 17b, or when the processing of S235 is completed, the reference position detection unit 18b It is determined whether or not all of the character encryption information 17b in the encryption information 17b is targeted (S236).

  When the reference position detection unit 18b determines in S236 that any of the character encryption information 17b is not yet targeted, the reference position detection unit 18b performs encryption for the character encryption information 17b in the storage unit 17 that is not yet targeted. The process of S232 is executed for the information 17b.

  If the reference position detection unit 18b determines in S236 that all of the character encryption information 17b has been processed, the character reference encryption process shown in FIG. 6 ends.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the encryption unit 18c determines in S163 that the character encryption information 17b is not stored, or terminates the character-based encryption process in S164, and then performs the encryption process shown in FIG. Exit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the decrypting means 18d determines in S132 that it is not in the encryption mode, or when the encryption processing in S133 is completed, whether or not it is in the decryption mode based on the decryption mode setting information 17e. Judgment is made (S134).

  If it is determined in S134 that the decoding unit 18d is in the decoding mode, the decoding unit 18d executes the decoding process shown in FIG. 7 (S135).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the decoding process in the operation shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the decrypting means 18d detects an encrypted portion of the scheduled output image 17c (S261). Here, the decrypting means 18d excludes the portion encrypted in the series of operations shown in FIG. 3 from the detection target.

  The decrypting means 18d determines whether or not there is a location corresponding to the logged-in user among the locations detected in S261 (S262). Here, the decrypting means 18d acquires the IDs embedded in the respective parts by temporarily decrypting the parts encrypted in the output scheduled image 17c in order with a specific algorithm, and acquires the ID and the login. If the ID of the current user matches, it is determined that the location corresponds to the logged-in user.

  When the decrypting unit 18d determines in S262 that there is a location corresponding to the logged-in user, the decrypting unit 18d officially decrypts all locations corresponding to the logged-in user among the locations detected in S261 with a specific algorithm. (S263).

  When the decrypting unit 18d determines in S262 that there is no portion corresponding to the logged-in user or ends the process of S263, the decrypting process illustrated in FIG. 7 ends.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image output unit 18a determines that the decoding mode is not set in S134, or when the decoding process in S135 ends, the output scheduled image 17c stored in the storage unit 17 is printed by the printer 14. (S136), and the operation shown in FIG.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing examples of image encryption information 17b. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the output planned image 17c before encryption by the operation shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the output planned image 17c after encryption by the operation shown in FIG.

  In the encryption mode, the MFP 10 uses, for example, the characters “ABCD”, “EFGH”, the image shown in FIG. 8A, and the image shown in FIG. 8B as the encryption information 17b. If the output scheduled image 17c shown in FIG. 9 is stored in S131, the portion corresponding to the position where the encryption information 17b exists in the output scheduled image 17c is encrypted (S133), and FIG. Is printed on the recording medium (S136). Specifically, in the encryption process, the reference position detection unit 18b detects the position where the encryption information 17b exists in the output scheduled image 17c shown in FIG. 9 as the reference position (S203 and S234). The encryption unit 17c encrypts the same part as the detected reference position (S204 and S235). By this encryption, an output scheduled image 17c shown in FIG. 10 is generated.

  Further, in the decryption mode, when the MFP 10 stores the scheduled output image 17c shown in FIG. 10 in S131, the MFP 10 decrypts the encrypted portion of the planned output image 17c (S135), and the output shown in FIG. 9 in S136. The scheduled image 17c is printed on a recording medium.

  As described above, the MFP 10 automatically encrypts specific information in the output scheduled image 17c, that is, a portion corresponding to the position where the encryption information 17b exists (S202 to S204 and S233 to S235). Therefore, it is possible to improve convenience when outputting an image partially encrypted.

  The MFP 10 does not need to encrypt the same portion as the reference position in the output scheduled image 17c as long as the portion corresponding to the reference position in the output scheduled image 17c is encrypted. For example, the MFP 10 may encrypt a location 31 having a specific shape and size including the reference position 21 as shown in FIG. For example, if the MFP 10 stores “2014 release schedule” and “product name:” as the encryption information 17 b, (i) “2014” shown in the output schedule image 17 c of FIG. 9 in S 133. In addition to “scheduled to be released”, the image shown below “scheduled to be released in 2014” can be encrypted. (Ii) In addition to “product name:”, “abcd”, “efgh”, “ABCD” , And “EFGH” can be encrypted. Specifically, in the encryption process, the reference position detection unit 18b detects the position where the encryption information 17b exists in the output scheduled image 17c shown in FIG. 9 as the reference position (S234). As shown in FIG. 12, the encryption unit 17c is configured to: (i) a size including the “2014 release schedule” and the image shown below (for example, one line of character string with the reference position as the upper left corner) (Ii) the size of the rectangle including “Product name:” and the character string shown on the right side thereof (for example, 8 with the reference position as the left end). The rectangle of character size) is encrypted (S235).

  When the MFP 10 encrypts the portion including the reference position in the output planned image 17c in S204 and S235, the MFP 10 automatically encrypts the encryption information 17b included in the output planned image 17c. By setting important information such as images and characters desired to be set as the encryption information 17b, it is possible to automatically reduce the possibility of leakage of important information to the outside.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, a location 32 having a specific shape and size located in a specific direction and distance from the reference position 21 may be encrypted. For example, when “scheduled to be released in 2014” and “product name” are stored as the encryption information 17b, in S133, (i) “scheduled to be released in 2014” shown in the output scheduled image 17c of FIG. The image shown on the lower side and (ii) the character string (“abcd”, “efgh”, “ABCD”, and “EFGH”) shown on the right side of “Product Name” can be encrypted. Specifically, in the encryption process, the reference position detection unit 18b detects the position where the encryption information 17b exists in the output scheduled image 17c shown in FIG. 9 as the reference position (S234). As illustrated in FIG. 13, the encryption unit 17 c is a rectangle having a size that includes (i) an image shown under “scheduled to be released in 2014” in a position adjacent to the lower side of “scheduled to be released in 2014”. Is encrypted (S235), and (ii) has a size (for example, a size of 5 characters) in which the character string shown on the right side of “product name:” is included at a position one character on the right side of “product name”. The rectangle is encrypted (S235).

  When the MFP 10 encrypts a part of a specific shape and size located in a specific direction and distance from the reference position in the output planned image 17c in S204 and S235, specific information (for example, item name information) ) (For example, image and character information corresponding to the item name) can be automatically encrypted. For this reason, it becomes possible to collectively set the encryption information 17b to be encrypted.

  The MFP 10 can set in advance, via the operation unit 11, for example, what part of the scheduled output image 17 c is to be encrypted according to the reference position.

  In the MFP 10, the portion to be encrypted is a quadrangle in the present embodiment, but may be a shape other than a quadrangle. For example, when the MFP 10 encrypts a portion of the image as the encryption information 17b according to the outer shape of the image, if the outer shape of the image as the encryption information 17b is not a rectangle, the shape of the portion to be encrypted is other than a rectangle. Become a shape.

  In this embodiment, the MFP 10 also encrypts and embeds the ID of the logged-in user for each encrypted location, and therefore encrypts a plurality of locations corresponding to different users in one output scheduled image 17c. can do. However, the place where the ID of the logged-in user is embedded does not have to be every encrypted place. For example, the MFP 10 may encrypt the ID of the logged-in user when encryption is performed and embed it in a specific position such as the lower right corner of the scheduled output image 17c. Further, in the case where the MFP 10 can be decrypted by any user, the ID of the logged-in user need not be embedded in the output scheduled image 17c when performing encryption. good.

  In the above description, printing by the printer 14 based on image data read from an original by the scanner 13, that is, copying, is described as image output by the image output unit 18 a. However, the image output by the image output means 18a may be an output other than copying. For example, the image output by the image output unit 18a may be printing by the printer 14 based on fax data received by FAX via the fax communication unit 15 or print data received via the network communication unit 16. Printing based on the printer 14 may be used, fax data may be faxed via the fax communication unit 15, or image data may be transmitted via the network communication unit 16.

  Further, the MFP 10 performs encryption using the encryption information 17b stored in the storage unit 17, but the network communication unit 16 stores the encryption information stored in an external device such as a PC. And encryption may be performed using this encryption information.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a printer dedicated machine, a copy dedicated machine, or a FAX dedicated machine.

10 MFP (image forming apparatus)
17a Image formation program 17b Encryption information (specific information)
17c Image to be output 18a Image output means 18b Reference position detection means 18c Encryption means 21 Reference positions 31, 32

Claims (2)

Image output means for outputting an image;
Reference position detection means for detecting, as a reference position, a position where specific information exists in an output scheduled image to be output by the image output means;
An encryption means for encrypting a portion corresponding to the reference position detected by the reference position detection means in the output scheduled image;
Decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted portion of the output scheduled image,
The encryption means encrypts the portion including the reference position in the output scheduled image,
The specific information is a specific image or a specific string,
The encryption means encrypts and embeds the ID of the logged-in user for each encrypted location,
The decryption means decrypts a portion of the encrypted portion where an ID that matches the ID of the logged-in user is embedded,
When the specific information is the specific character string, the encryption unit includes the specific character string as the specific information as the location including the reference position of the specific character string, and the specific information. An image forming apparatus that encrypts a quadrangle including a specific number of images shown below a character string. An image forming program executed by an image forming apparatus including an image output means for outputting an image,
Reference position detection means for detecting, as a reference position, a position where specific information exists in an output scheduled image to be output by the image output means;
An encryption means for encrypting a portion corresponding to the reference position detected by the reference position detection means in the output scheduled image; and
Causing the image forming apparatus to function as a decrypting unit that decrypts an encrypted portion of the scheduled output image;
The encryption means encrypts the portion including the reference position in the output scheduled image,
The specific information is a specific image or a specific string,
The encryption means encrypts and embeds the ID of the logged-in user for each encrypted location,
The decryption means decrypts a portion of the encrypted portion where an ID that matches the ID of the logged-in user is embedded,
When the specific information is the specific character string, the encryption unit includes the specific character string as the specific information as the location including the reference position of the specific character string, and the specific information. An image forming program for encrypting a rectangle including a specific number of images shown below a character string.

Images