JP7157382B2 - Image processing device and preview data generation program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a preview data generation program for generating preview data that does not contain confidential information.

Conventionally, as an image processing apparatus for generating preview data that does not contain confidential information, there is known one that generates preview data that does not contain confidential information by replacing a confidential character string as confidential information with an alternative character string. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example).

JP 2012-218281 A JP 2018-081558 A

However, in the conventional image processing apparatus, there is a problem that the replacement of a confidential character string as confidential information with an alternative character string may greatly change the appearance and lower the preview performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and a preview data generation program capable of improving preview performance when generating preview data that does not include confidential information.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a preview data generation unit that generates preview data, and the preview data generation unit generates the confidential character string , the character types of the characters of the confidential character string and the characters of the substitute character string corresponding to these characters are matched.

With this configuration, when replacing a confidential character string with a substitute character string, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can replace each character of the confidential character string with a character of the confidential character string and a character of the substitute character string corresponding to this character. Since the character types are aligned, it is possible to suppress a drastic change in appearance even if a confidential character string is replaced with an alternative character string. Therefore, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can improve preview performance when generating preview data that does not contain confidential information.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the preview data generation unit may treat kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphabet as different character types.

With this configuration, when replacing a confidential character string with a substitute character string, the image processing apparatus of the present invention replaces kanji with kanji, hiragana with hiragana, katakana with katakana, and alphabet with alphabet. Replacing a column with an alternative character string can prevent a drastic change in appearance.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the preview data generation unit may treat uppercase letters of the alphabet and lowercase letters of the alphabet as different character types.

With this configuration, when the image processing apparatus of the present invention replaces a confidential character string with a substitute character string, it replaces uppercase alphabetic characters with uppercase alphabetic characters, and replaces lowercase alphabetic characters with lowercase alphabetic characters. It is possible to prevent a drastic change in appearance even after replacement with an alternative character string.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the preview data generation unit aligns the number of strokes of the characters of the confidential character string and the characters of the substitute character string corresponding to each character of the confidential character string. Also good.

With this configuration, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can suppress a drastic change in appearance even if a confidential character string is replaced with a substitute character string. performance can be improved.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the preview data generation unit may replace the confidential character string with the alternative character string prepared for each item of the confidential information.

With this configuration, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can replace the confidential character string with a replacement character string suitable for the item of confidential information. can be suppressed.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the preview data generation unit generates the confidential information with a substitute character string randomly selected from a plurality of candidates for the substitute character string prepared for each item of the confidential information. You can replace the string.

With this configuration, the image processing apparatus of the present invention can reduce the possibility that different confidential character strings of the same item will be replaced with the same alternative character string. can be prevented from changing significantly.

A preview data generation program according to the present invention causes a computer to implement a preview data generation unit that generates preview data, and the preview data generation unit replaces a confidential character string as confidential information with an alternative character string. , for each character of the confidential character string, the character types of the character of the confidential character string and the character of the substitute character string corresponding to this character are made the same.

With this configuration, the computer that executes the preview data generation program of the present invention replaces the confidential character string with the substitute character string, for each character of the confidential character string, the character of the confidential character string and the Since the character types are the same as those of the substitute character string, it is possible to suppress a drastic change in appearance even if the confidential character string is replaced with the substitute character string. Therefore, the computer that executes the preview data generation program of the present invention can improve preview performance when generating preview data that does not contain confidential information.

The image processing apparatus and preview data generation program of the present invention can improve preview performance when generating preview data that does not contain confidential information.

1 is a block diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a name list shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an address list shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when displaying a preview; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of preview data generation processing shown in FIG. 4 ; FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 1 when data including confidential information is deleted; 6 is a flowchart of an example of the preview data generation process shown in FIG. 4 different from the example shown in FIG. 5;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 10 includes an operation unit 11, which is an input device such as a button for inputting various operations, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying various information. A unit 12, a printer 13 that is a printing device that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 14 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, and communication with an external facsimile device (not shown) and a public telephone line. A fax communication unit 15, which is a fax device that performs fax communication via a line, communicates with an external device via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, or directly by wire or wirelessly without a network. a communication unit 16 that is a communication device that performs the above operations, a storage unit 17 that is a non-volatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores various information, and a control unit 18 that controls the entire MFP 10 It has

The storage unit 17 stores a preview data generation program 17a for generating preview data. For example, the preview data generation program 17a may be installed in the MFP 10 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 10, may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or may be installed via a network. It may be additionally installed in the MFP 10 from above.

The storage unit 17 stores a name list 17b as a list of names.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the name list 17b.

The name list 17b shown in FIG. 2 is prepared with alternative character string candidates for names, which are one of confidential character strings as confidential information, such as "Taro Yamada" and "Hanako Yamada".

As shown in FIG. 1, the storage unit 17 stores an address list 17c as a list of addresses.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the address list 17c.

The name list 17b shown in FIG. 3 is prepared with alternative character string candidates for the address, which is one of the confidential character strings, such as "Setagaya-ku, Tokyo" and "Osaka-shi, Osaka".

The control unit 18 shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random Memory) as a memory used as a work area for the CPU. Access Memory). The CPU executes programs stored in the storage unit 17 or ROM. The MFP 10 constitutes a computer.

The control unit 18 implements a preview data generation unit 18a that generates preview data by executing the preview data generation program 17a.

Next, the operation of the MFP 10 when displaying a preview will be described.

Before causing the MFP 10 to execute printing based on the image data, the user of the MFP 10 displays a preview of printing based on the image data on the MFP 10 via the operation unit 11, for example, in order to check the finish of the printing. can give instructions. When instructed to display a print preview based on image data, the control unit 18 performs the operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the MFP 10 when displaying a preview.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 18 executes preview data generation processing (see FIG. 5) for generating preview data based on image data (S21).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of preview data generation processing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the preview data generator 18a generates a copy of image data to be printed as processing data (S31).

Next, the preview data generator 18a searches for confidential information in the processing data (S32). Note that the preview data generation unit 18a can employ any method as a method of searching for confidential information. For example, the preview data generation unit 18a may search the processing data for names and addresses as confidential information by character recognition.

After the processing of S32, the preview data generation unit 18a determines whether or not confidential information exists in the processing data based on the search result of S32 (S33).

When the preview data generator 18a determines in S33 that confidential information exists in the data for processing, it determines whether or not a name exists in the data for processing based on the search results in S32 (S34).

When the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S34 that there is a name in the processing data, it selects only one name among the names searched in S32 that has not yet been targeted (S35).

Next, the preview data generation unit 18a randomly selects a name having the same number of characters, character type, and number of strokes as the current target name from the name list 17b (S36). Here, the fact that the character types of the two names are the same means that all the characters forming the two names are of the same character type when the positions from the beginning of the character strings forming the names are the same. That's what it means. The preview data generation unit 18a treats kanji, hiragana, katakana, and the alphabet as different character types, and treats capital letters and lower case letters as different character types. In addition, the fact that two names have the same number of strokes means that all the characters constituting the two names have the same number of strokes, the characters having the same position from the beginning of the character strings constituting the names. That is.

After the process of S36, the preview data generation unit 18a replaces the current name of the object in the processing data with the name selected in S36 (S37).

After the process of S37, the preview data generation unit 18a determines whether or not there is a name that has not yet been targeted among the names searched in S32 (S38).

When the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S38 that there is a name that has not yet been targeted, it executes the process of S35.

If the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S34 that no name exists in the processing data, or if it determines in S38 that there is no name that has not yet been targeted, it determines whether or not an address exists in the processing data. A determination is made based on the search result in S32 (S39).

When the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S39 that there is an address in the processing data, it targets only one address that has not yet been targeted among the addresses searched in S32 (S40).

Next, the preview data generator 18a randomly selects an address having the same number of characters, type of characters, and number of strokes as the current target address from the address list 17c (S41). Here, the fact that the character types of two addresses are the same means that the character types of the characters that are at the same position from the beginning of the character strings that make up the addresses are the same for all the characters that make up the two addresses. That's what it means. The preview data generation unit 18a treats kanji, hiragana, katakana, and the alphabet as different character types, and treats capital letters and lower case letters as different character types. In addition, the fact that the number of strokes of two addresses is the same means that the number of strokes is the same for all the characters that make up the two addresses that are at the same position from the beginning of the character strings that make up the addresses. That is.

After the process of S41, the preview data generation unit 18a replaces the current target address with the address selected in S41 in the processing data (S42).

After the process of S42, the preview data generation unit 18a determines whether or not there is an address that has not yet been targeted among the addresses searched in S32 (S43).

If the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S43 that there is an address that has not yet been targeted, it executes the process of S40.

The preview data generation unit 18a determines in S33 that confidential information does not exist in the processing data, determines in S39 that no address exists in the processing data, or determines in S43 that there is no address that has not yet been targeted. , the preview data is generated by converting the processing data (S44), the preview data generated in S44 is stored in the storage unit 17 (S45), and the preview data generation shown in FIG. End the process.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the preview data generating process of S21 ends, the control unit 18 displays a preview on the display unit 12 based on the preview data stored in the storage unit 17 in the preview data generating process. Then (S22), the operation shown in FIG. 4 ends.

Next, the operation of the MFP 10 when deleting data containing confidential information will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the operation of the MFP 10 when data containing confidential information is deleted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 18 stores the unnecessary data of the confidential information in the storage unit 17 until it determines that the unnecessary data of the confidential information is stored in the storage unit 17 . 17 (S51).

When the control unit 18 determines in S51 that unnecessary data among the data including confidential information exists in the storage unit 17, it determines whether or not a job such as a print job is being executed (S52).

When determining in S52 that a job such as a print job is being executed, the control section 18 determines whether or not the free space of the storage section 17 is equal to or less than a specific capacity (S53).

When the control unit 18 determines in S53 that the free space of the storage unit 17 is not equal to or less than the specific capacity, the control unit 18 executes the process of S51.

If the control unit 18 determines in S52 that a job such as a print job is not being executed, or if it determines in S53 that the free space of the storage unit 17 is equal to or less than a specific amount, the data including confidential information is discarded. The changed data is overwritten and erased in the storage unit 17 (S54), and the process of S51 is executed.

As described above, when replacing a confidential character string with a substitute character string (S37 and S42), the MFP 10 replaces each character of the confidential character string with a character of the confidential character string and a substitute character string corresponding to this character. (S36 and S41), it is possible to suppress a drastic change in appearance even if the confidential character string is replaced with the substitute character string. In particular, when replacing a confidential character string with a substitute character string, the MFP 10 converts kanji characters into kanji characters, hiragana into hiragana, katakana into katakana, uppercase letters of the alphabet into uppercase letters of the alphabet, lowercase letters of the alphabet into lowercase letters of the alphabet, Since each is replaced, it is possible to suppress a drastic change in appearance even if a confidential character string is replaced with an alternative character string. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve preview performance when generating preview data that does not contain confidential information.

When replacing the confidential character string with the substitute character string (S37 and S42), the MFP 10 aligns the number of strokes of the character of the confidential character string and the character of the substitute character string corresponding to each character of the confidential character string. (S36 and S41) Therefore, it is possible to suppress a drastic change in appearance even if the confidential character string is replaced with the substitute character string. Therefore, the MFP 10 can improve preview performance when generating preview data that does not contain confidential information. Note that the MFP 10 does not have to match the number of strokes of the characters of the confidential character string and the characters of the substitute character string corresponding to each character of the confidential character string.

When replacing the confidential character string with the alternative character string (S37 and S42), the MFP 10 aligns the number of characters between the alternative character string and the confidential character string (S36 and S41), so the confidential character string is replaced with the alternative character string. can also prevent the layout from changing. Note that the MFP 10 does not have to match the number of characters of the substitute character string and the confidential character string.

The MFP 10 replaces the confidential character string with an alternative character string prepared for each item of confidential information such as name and address (S36-S37 and S41-S42), so the alternative character string suitable for the confidential information item is substituted. A confidential character string can be replaced, and as a result, even if a confidential character string is replaced with an alternative character string, a drastic change in appearance can be suppressed. In particular, the MFP 10 replaces the confidential character string with a substitute character string randomly selected from a plurality of substitute character string candidates prepared for each confidential information item (S36-S37 and S41-S42). , it is possible to reduce the possibility that different sensitive strings of the same item are replaced with the same alternate string, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the appearance change significantly even if the confidential string is replaced with the alternate string. can. Note that the MFP 10 may be configured to replace different confidential character strings of the same item with the same alternative character string.

In the present embodiment, the MFP 10 uses the two items of name and address as items of confidential information. good. For example, the MFP 10 may set the first name and last name of the name as items of confidential information.

When data including confidential information is stored in the storage unit 17 and becomes unnecessary (YES in S51), it is necessary for security reasons to overwrite the data (S54) instead of simply erasing it. Since it takes time to overwrite and erase, the capacity of the storage unit 17 is wasted until the data including confidential information is completely overwritten and erased in the storage unit 17 . Furthermore, when the free space of the storage unit 17 becomes low (YES in S53), overwrite deletion is executed even during job execution (YES in S52) in order to increase the free space of the storage unit 17 (S54). ), so the performance of the MFP 10 is affected. However, since the MFP 10 does not include confidential information in the preview data (S31-S45), at least the preview data does not have these problems.

The preview data generation unit 18a may execute the preview data generation process shown in FIG. 7 instead of the preview data generation process shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the preview data generator 18a executes the same processes as those of S31 to S33.

When the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S33 that confidential information exists in the data for processing, it targets only one confidential character string that has not yet been targeted among the confidential character strings in the data for processing (S61). .

Next, the preview data generation unit 18a targets only one character that has not yet been targeted in the current target confidential character string (S62).

Next, the preview data generator 18a randomly determines a character having the same character type and number of strokes as the current target character (S63). Here, the preview data generation unit 18a treats kanji, hiragana, katakana, and the alphabet as different character types, and treats uppercase letters of the alphabet and lowercase letters of the alphabet as different character types.

After the process of S63, the preview data generation unit 18a replaces the current target character with the character determined in S63 in the processing data (S64).

After the process of S64, the preview data generation unit 18a determines whether or not there are characters that have not yet been targeted among the currently targeted confidential character strings (S65).

If the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S65 that there is a character that has not yet been targeted, it executes the process of S62.

When the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S65 that there is no untargeted character, it determines whether or not there is an untargeted confidential character string among the confidential character strings in the processing data. (S66).

If the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S66 that there is a confidential character string that has not yet been targeted, it executes the process of S61.

If the preview data generation unit 18a determines in S33 that confidential information does not exist in the processing data, or determines in S66 that there is no untargeted confidential character string, processing similar to that of S44 to S45 is performed. is executed to end the preview data generation process shown in FIG.

Note that the preview data generation unit 18a determines a character having the same number of strokes as the current target character in S63, but may determine a character having a different number of strokes from the current target character in S63.

In addition, the preview data generation unit 18a determines a character of the same character type as the current target character in S63, but may determine a character of a different character type from the current target character in S63. For example, the preview data generation unit 18a may determine symbols such as "o", "▴", "x", and "◇" in S63.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than an MFP such as a dedicated printer, or a computer other than an image forming apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer).

10 MFP (image processing device, computer)
17a preview data generation program 18a preview data generation unit

Claims (8)

From processing data corresponding to image data a preview data generator for generating preview data,
The preview data generation unitto the processing dataSensitive strings as sensitive informationis present, the sensitive stringreplace with alternate stringto generate the preview data,
The preview data generation unit generates, for all characters constituting each of the confidential character string and the alternative character string, the character of the confidential character string, the position of this character in the confidential character string, and the character in the alternative character string. replacing the confidential character string with the alternative character string so that the character type is the same as the character at the same position;
The preview data generation unit treats kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphabet as different character types.An image processing apparatus characterized by: 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview data generation unit treats capital letters of the alphabet and small letters of the alphabet as different character types. a preview data generator for generating preview data from processing data corresponding to image data;
The preview data generating unit replaces the confidential character string with a substitute character string to generate the preview data when the processing data includes a confidential character string as confidential information,
The preview data generation unit generates, for all characters constituting each of the confidential character string and the alternative character string, the character of the confidential character string, the position of this character in the confidential character string, and the character in the alternative character string. An image processing apparatus, wherein the confidential character string is replaced with the substitute character string so that the character type and the number of strokes are the same as those of characters at the same position. a preview data generator for generating preview data from processing data corresponding to image data;
The preview data generating unit replaces the confidential character string with a substitute character string to generate the preview data when the processing data includes a confidential character string as confidential information,
The preview data generation unit generates, for all characters constituting each of the confidential character string and the alternative character string, the character of the confidential character string, the position of this character in the confidential character string, and the character in the alternative character string. replacing the confidential character string with the alternative character string so that the character type is the same as the character at the same position;
The image processing apparatus, wherein the preview data generation unit replaces the confidential character string with the alternative character string prepared for each item of the confidential information. The preview data generation unit replaces the confidential character string with an alternative character string randomly selected from a plurality of candidates for the alternative character string prepared for each item of the confidential information. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4. A preview data generation unit for generating preview data from processing data corresponding to image data is implemented in a computer,
The preview data generating unit replaces the confidential character string with a substitute character string to generate the preview data when the processing data includes a confidential character string as confidential information,
The preview data generation unit generates, for all characters constituting each of the confidential character string and the alternative character string, the character of the confidential character string, the position of this character in the confidential character string, and the character in the alternative character string. replacing the confidential character string with the alternative character string so that the character type is the same as the character at the same position;
The preview data generation program, wherein the preview data generation unit treats kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphabet as different character types. From processing data corresponding to image data Realizing a preview data generation unit for generating preview data in a computer,
The preview data generation unitto the processing dataSensitive Strings as Sensitive Informationis present, the sensitive stringwith an alternate stringto generate the preview data,
The preview data generation unit generates, for all characters constituting each of the confidential character string and the alternative character string, the character of the confidential character string, the position of this character in the confidential character string, and the character in the alternative character string. Replace the confidential character string with the alternative character string so that the character type and the number of strokes are the same as those of characters at the same position.A preview data generation program characterized by: A preview data generation unit for generating preview data from processing data corresponding to image data is implemented in a computer,
The preview data generating unit replaces the confidential character string with a substitute character string to generate the preview data when the processing data includes a confidential character string as confidential information,
The preview data generation unit generates, for all characters constituting each of the confidential character string and the alternative character string, the character of the confidential character string, the position of this character in the confidential character string, and the character in the alternative character string. replacing the confidential character string with the alternative character string so that the character type is the same as the character at the same position;
The preview data generation program, wherein the preview data generation unit replaces the confidential character string with the substitute character string prepared for each item of the confidential information.

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