JPH11261798A - Image edit recording device and image information processing management system using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an additional function that is convenient and easily used and an added value from a manufacture of the device and from a user of the device as well by synthesizing specific image information while taking it into account that no effect is caused on original image information and printing out the image effectively on paper. SOLUTION: Original image information 111 and specific image information 110 are inputted to an image information input means 101 and the specific image information 110 is stored in a specific image information memory 102, and one specific image information 112 is selected among sets of the specific image information 110. The original image information 111 and advertising image information 112 are inputted to an image edit section 45, from which feature information is extracted respectively. Based on the feature information, 1st processing and 2nd processing are confirmed. The processing contents are fed to a synthesis processing confirmation means, where the processing of synthesizing the original image information and the advertising image information as one image is confirmed. A 1st processing section 103, a 2nd processing section 104 and an image information synthesis section 105 conduct each processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image editing and recording apparatus for combining specific image information (such as an advertisement image) with image information read from a document and outputting the combined image information.

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a color image recording apparatus, for example, a color digital copying machine, a predetermined image processing is performed on an image of a document input from an image reading section, and an image of a color document is output from an output section. Or receives image information edited by an external device such as a personal computer and outputs image information. More recently, high-performance devices with many editing functions have been developed, such as performing predetermined processing on images of color originals to change them to expressive color images, and editing multiple color images simultaneously. ing.

In the recent copy service market, black-and-white copying machines have conventionally been the mainstream, but many devices for handling color images, such as digital video cameras, digital cameras, and personal computers, have been commercialized as portable terminals. As a result, there are more opportunities to handle color digital images personally. Under such circumstances, color digital copying machines have been commercialized in response to market demands, and small-scale retail stores such as convenience stores have been introduced as color copying services.

[0003]

However, in such a color digital copying machine, a color copy can be provided only by replacing a conventionally commercialized black and white copying machine with a color digital copying machine. Then, although different from the conventional one, there is a point where it is questionable in terms of the cost required for replacing a copying machine or the like whether to provide a service by replacing with a color digital copying machine. Further, there is still a large difference in the price per sheet between black-and-white copying and color copying, and at present the remarkable growth of color digital copying machines has not yet been expected in the copy service market.

[0004] Therefore, it is conceivable to add some added value to eliminate the disadvantage of cost. For example, JP
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-87564, there is a device that records additional information (copy date, number of pages, etc.) different from image information on a document at a predetermined position on a sheet. However, such a function alone does not require a color digital copying machine, and the distinction between additional information and document information may be unclear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to combine specific image information while taking into account not affecting the original image information, to effectively record and output each image on paper, and to provide a device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image editing and recording apparatus which has convenient and easy-to-use additional functions and added value from the viewpoint of the user. The object of the present invention is
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information processing system that connects a headquarters, a headquarters, and image editing and recording devices of each store via a network, and enables analysis while managing specific image information collectively.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image editing and recording apparatus for synthesizing original image information and specific image information which is image information different from the original. Unit, a specific image storage unit that stores the input specific image, and issues an instruction to process specific image information selected from the input document image information and the specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit. An image information editing unit, an image processing unit that performs image processing according to an instruction of the image information editing unit, an image combining unit that combines the processed document image information and the specific image information into one image, and a combined image. And an image information output unit for outputting and recording information as an image. The image information editing unit includes a document image feature extraction unit that extracts feature information from the document image information, a specific image feature extraction unit that extracts feature information from the specific image information, and a response to the feature information of the document image information. A first processing deciding unit for deciding a first processing which is an image processing of the document image information and issuing an instruction to the image processing unit, and an image processing of the specific image information according to the characteristic information of the specific image information. A second processing deciding means for deciding the second processing which is the above, and issuing an instruction to the image processing section, and deciding the synthesizing processing of the processed original image information and the specific image information and issuing an instruction to the image synthesizing section. And a synthesizing process deciding means for issuing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing and recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the image information editing unit synthesizes a boundary image that clarifies a boundary between the original image information and the specific image information. Is characterized by having means for determining

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image editing and recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the first processing deciding means and the second processing deciding means grasp the processing contents of each other and decide the processing contents. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing and recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the first processing deciding means and the second processing deciding means are based on one processing content and the other processing content. Is determined.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing and recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the document image feature extracting means extracts position information of document image information, and the specific image feature extracting means extracts a specific image. And the combining process determining means combines the direction of the document image information and the direction of the specific image information based on the position information and combines them.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing and recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the image information editing unit comprises:
The image processing apparatus further includes a specific image selecting unit that selects specific image information to be combined from specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit based on characteristic information obtained by the document image characteristic extracting unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing and recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the characteristic information is color information, and the image information editing unit is configured to output the original document image information and the specific image information respectively. It is characterized in that the processing content is determined so that information can be transmitted.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing and recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the characteristic information is size information, and the image information editing unit performs a size balance between original image information and specific image information. Is adjusted, and the processing content is determined so that information can be transmitted.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in an image editing and recording apparatus for synthesizing original image information and specific image information which is image information different from the original, an image information input section for inputting image information, A specific image storage unit that stores a specific image; a specific image information management unit that manages specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit based on management information; input document image information and the specific image storage An image information editing unit that issues an instruction to process specific image information selected from the specific image information stored in the unit, an image processing unit that performs image processing according to the instruction of the image information editing unit, An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing original image information and specific image information, and an image output unit for outputting and recording the synthesized image information as an image are provided.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing and recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the image information editing unit determines a process of outputting only the specific image information.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in an image editing and recording apparatus for synthesizing original image information and specific image information which is image information different from the original, an image information input section for inputting image information, A specific image storage unit that stores a specific image, a specific image information management unit that manages specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit based on management information, and a specific image information management unit that manages the specific image information. A selection input unit that displays specific image information and is selectable by an operator;
An image information editing unit that issues an instruction to process specific image information selected from the input document image information and the specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit, and performs image processing according to the instruction of the image information editing unit. The image processing unit includes an image processing unit that performs processing, an image combining unit that combines the processed document image information and the specific image information, and an image output unit that outputs and records the combined image information as an image. The specific image management unit outputs specific image information from the specific image storage unit to a selection input unit based on the management information, and displays the specific image information.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing and recording apparatus according to the ninth, tenth or eleventh aspect, the image information editing unit determines a process of combining the specific image information with the management information. It is characterized by doing.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image editing and recording apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the specific image management unit stores specific image information to be synthesized based on the management information from the specific image storage unit. A specific image automatic selecting means for causing the image editing unit to selectively output the image is provided.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image editing and recording apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, wherein the specific image information management unit includes a fee determining means for determining a fee for the selected specific image information. It is characterized by having.

The invention of claim 15 is the invention of claims 9 to 14
The image editing and recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the specific image management unit includes an output totaling unit that totalizes and manages the number of image outputs output from the image synthesis output unit.

The invention of claim 16 is the invention of claims 9 to 14
In the above image editing and recording apparatus, the specific image automatic selection means of the specific image management unit changes specific image information to be selected according to time information.

The invention according to claims 17 and 18, wherein the original image information and specific image information which is image information different from that of the original are synthesized. An image information management system comprising: a specific image information management device that manages the specific image information to be stored or output to a computer; and an information transfer device that performs mutual information transfer between the image editing and recording device and the specific image information management device.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the image editing and recording device periodically transmits the total output management information managed by the specific image information management unit to the specific image information recording device via the information transfer device. And the specific image information management device further performs total management of the total management information transferred from the plurality of image editing devices.

The invention according to claim 18 is that the image editing and recording apparatus periodically transmits the specific image information and the management information stored in the image storage unit to the specific image information recording apparatus via the information transfer apparatus. The specific image information management device transmits and manages the specific image information and the management information transferred from the plurality of image editing devices.

The image editing and recording apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the original image information and the specific image information different from the original are synthesized.
An image information processing apparatus comprising: a specific image information management device that manages the specific image information to be stored or output to the image editing recording device; and an information transfer device that performs mutual information transfer between the image editing recording device and the specific image information management device. It is a management system.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the specific image information management device periodically transfers the stored and managed specific image information to the image editing / recording device via the information transfer device. .

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, the image editing and recording apparatus has a transfer means for transferring machine information enabling device identification to the specific image information management apparatus. Specific image information suitable for each image editing and recording device is transferred based on the machine information transferred by the transfer means.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the image editing and recording device has a transfer requesting unit for requesting transfer of specific image information selected from the specific image information managed by the specific image information management device. The specific image information management device transfers only the specific image information requested by the transfer request unit to the image editing and recording device.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the image information management system according to the twenty-first aspect, the specific image information managing means counts the transferred specific image information and stores and manages the total information. The image information management system according to claim 21, characterized in that:

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the specific image information management device transfers specific image information to be managed to the information management device, and the information management device stores and manages the transferred specific image information. It is characterized in that specific image information suitable for the image editing and recording apparatus is selected and transferred.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image information management system according to the twenty-third aspect, the information management device totalizes and manages the number of output of the specific image information for each image editing and recording device. The management information is transferred to the specific image information management device.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Description of Color Digital Copier>
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of a color digital copying machine which is an embodiment of an image editing and recording apparatus according to the present invention. A document table 2 and an operation panel (not shown) are provided on the upper surface of the color digital main body 1. An automatic document feeder 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the document table 2 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the document table 2 and has a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the surface of the document table 2. Further, inside the color digital main body 1, an image reading section 4 and an image forming section 9 are configured.

First, the automatic document feeder 3 mounted on the document table 2 on the upper surface of the color digital main body 1 is a double-sided automatic document feeder (RADF) for two-sided originals. The automatic document feeder 3 conveys a document such that one side of the document faces a predetermined position of the document table 2,
After the image reading on one side is completed, the original is turned over so that the other side faces at a predetermined position on the original table 2, and is conveyed toward the original table 2. Then, after the reading of the image on both sides of one document is completed, the document is discharged, and the double-sided conveyance operation is performed for the next document. Note that the above-described document conveyance and reverse operation are controlled in relation to the operation of the entire color digital.

The automatic document feeder 3 controls the document table 2
In order to read the image of the document conveyed upward, an image reading unit 4 having a document scanning body that reciprocates in parallel along the lower surface of the document table 2 is arranged below the document table 2. The image reading unit 4 includes a first scanning unit 5, a second scanning unit 6, an optical lens 7, and a photoelectric conversion element 8. The first scanning unit 5 includes an exposure lamp for exposing the image surface of the original and a first mirror for deflecting a reflected light image from the original in a predetermined direction. Reciprocating at a scanning speed of. The second scanning unit 6 includes second and third mirrors for further deflecting the reflected light image from the document deflected by the first mirror of the first scanning unit 5 in a predetermined direction. It reciprocates in parallel with the scanning unit 5 with a constant speed relationship. The optical lens 7 reduces the reflected light image from the document deflected by the third mirror of the second scanning unit 6 to form a light image at a predetermined position. The photoelectric conversion element 8 is a three-line color CCD, on which a reduced optical image is formed by an optical lens, sequentially converts the optical image, and outputs a reflected light image from a document as an electric signal. That is, it is possible to read a black-and-white document or a color document image and output line data obtained by color separation into RGB color components. The document image information converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion element 8 is further transferred to an image processing unit described later and subjected to predetermined processing as image data.

Next, the image forming section 9 located below the color digital copying machine 1 will be described. A paper feed mechanism 11 is provided below the image forming unit 9 shown in FIG. 1, and a recording unit 10 that separates sheets stacked and accommodated in a sheet tray one by one to record an image. Feed towards the side of. The sheets separated and supplied one by one are conveyed in a timing-controlled manner by a pair of registration rollers 12 disposed in front of the recording unit 10, and reconveyed with the timing of the recording unit 10. Below the recording unit 10, a transfer / transport belt mechanism 13 extending substantially in parallel is disposed, and the sheet is electrostatically transferred to a transfer / transport belt 16 stretched between a plurality of rollers such as a driving roller 14 and a driven roller 15. It is configured to be sucked and transported.

Further, a fixing device 17 for fixing the toner image transferred and formed on the sheet onto the sheet is disposed downstream of the transfer / conveying belt mechanism 13, and the fixing device 17 passes between the fixing roller nips of the fixing device 17. The discharged sheet is discharged by a discharge roller 19 through a conveyance direction switching gate 18 onto a discharge tray 20 attached to an outer wall of the apparatus.

The switching gate 18 selectively switches the sheet transport path between discharging the fixed sheet out of the apparatus and re-supplying the sheet to the recording unit 10 again. The sheet whose transport direction has been switched again toward the recording unit 10 by the switching gate 18 is re-supplied to the recording unit 10 after turning over the sheet via the switchback transport path 21.

On the upper side of the transfer conveyance belt 16 stretched substantially in parallel by the drive roller 14 and the driven roller 15 and the like, the first and second transfer conveyance belts are arranged in close proximity to the transfer conveyance belt 16 from the upstream of the conveyance path. , The third and fourth image forming stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd constitute a recording unit 10. The transfer conveyance belt 16 is frictionally driven by the drive roller 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow Z in FIG. 1 and carries the transfer material fed through the paper feeding mechanism 11 as described above. To the image forming stations Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd.

Each of the image forming stations Pa to Pd has substantially the same configuration, and includes photosensitive drums 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d which are driven to rotate in the direction of arrow F in FIG. Around the photoconductor drums 22a to 22d, chargers 23a, which uniformly charge the photoconductor drums 22a to 22d,
23b, 23c, 23d and photosensitive drums 22a to 22
developing device 24a for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on
24b, 24c, 24d and transfer dischargers 25a, 25b, 25c, 2 for transferring the developed toner image to a transfer material.
5d, and cleaning means 26a, 26b, 26 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drums 22a to 22d.
c and 26d are sequentially arranged along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drums 22a to 22d.

Above each of the photosensitive drums 22a to 22d, a semiconductor laser device for emitting dot light modulated in accordance with image data, and a deflection for deflecting light from the semiconductor laser device in the main scanning direction. The apparatus is provided with laser beam scanner units 27a, 27b, 27c, and 27d each including an fθ lens for forming an image of the laser beam deflected by the deflecting device on the surface of the photosensitive member. Laser beam scanner unit 27a
Is a pixel signal corresponding to the yellow component image of the color original image, a laser beam scanner unit 27b is a pixel signal corresponding to the magenta component image of the color original image, and the laser beam scanner unit 27c is a pixel signal corresponding to the color original image. A pixel signal corresponding to the cyan component image is input to the laser beam scanner unit 27d, and a pixel signal corresponding to the black component image of the color original image is input to the laser beam scanner unit 27d.

Thus, the photosensitive drum 22 of the recording unit 10
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the color-converted original image information is formed on each of a to 22d, a yellow toner is applied to the developing device 24a of the recording unit 10, a magenta toner is applied to the developing device 24b, and Since the cyan toner is stored in the device 24c and the black toner is stored in the developing device 24d, the color-converted document image information is reproduced in the recording unit 10 as a toner image of each color.

Further, between the first image forming station Pa and the paper feed mechanism 11, a (brush) charger 2 for absorbing paper is provided.
8 is provided, and the attraction charger 28 charges the surface of the transfer / conveying belt 16, and in a state where the transfer material supplied from the paper feeding mechanism 11 is securely adsorbed onto the conveying belt 16, Is transported without shifting between the image forming station Pa and the fourth image forming station Pd. On the other hand, a static eliminator (not shown) is provided almost directly above the drive roller 14 between the fourth image forming station Pd and the fixing device 17. An alternating current for separating the attracted transfer material is applied.

In the color digital copying machine having the above structure, a cut sheet is used as a transfer material, and the transfer material is fed out of a paper feed cassette and fed to a paper feed mechanism 11.
When the sheet is fed into the guide of the sheet feeding conveyance path, the leading end portion of the transfer material is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the sheet is temporarily stopped by the registration roller pair 12 according to a detection signal output from the sensor. I do. Then, at a timing with each of the image forming stations Pa to Pd, the sheet is sent to the side of the conveyor belt 16 rotating in the arrow Z direction in FIG.
At this time, since the conveyor belt 16 is charged at a predetermined level by the above-mentioned charger 28 for adsorption, the conveyor belt 16 is stably conveyed and supplied while passing through the image forming stations Pa to Pd.

In each of the image forming stations Pa to Pd, a toner image of each color is formed by the above-described configuration, and is superimposed on a support surface of a transfer material electrostatically conveyed and conveyed by the convey belt 16 to form a fourth image. When the transfer of the image by the forming station Pd is completed, the sheet is peeled off the conveying belt 16 by the discharging device from the leading end of the sheet and guided to the fixing device 17. The transfer material on which the toner image has been finally fixed is discharged from the transfer material discharge port to a discharge tray 20.
Discharged upward.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a network system configuration centering on the color digital copying machine 1 instead of the color digital copying machine 1 as a stand-alone.
The image information input method includes not only inputting document information from the image reading unit 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 but also external devices such as a personal computer 32, a digital camera 33, a digital video camera 34, and a communication portable terminal 35 connected to a network. It supports image information input from devices. Further, image information can be input from a remote place through the Internet, an intranet, or a rapidly growing communication infrastructure. Therefore, a color digital copying machine that outputs such image information plays an important role as a multifunction printer or a network printer, and in addition to the functions of the color digital copying machine, adds value from the viewpoint of further use. Is a system configuration that can be provided.

Next, the configuration and function of the image processing portion of the color image information installed in the color digital copying machine will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image processing portion included in the color digital copying machine 1. The image processing unit included in the color digital copying machine 1 includes an image information input unit 40, an image processing unit 41, an image information output unit 42, an image memory 43 including a hard disk device or a RAM (random access memory) or the like. , A central processing unit (CPU) 44, an image editing unit 45, external interface units 46 and 47, and a specific image information management unit 48.

The image information input section 40 is a shading correction circuit 40a for correcting the line image level of the line data read by the three-line color CCD 8, and detects the shift of the image line data read by the three-line color CCD 8. A line matching unit 40b such as a line buffer to be corrected, and a sensor color correction unit 4 for correcting the color data of the line data of each color output from the three-line color CCD 8
0c, an MTF correction unit 40d that corrects the change of the signal of each pixel so as to have a sharpness, a γ correction unit 40e that corrects the visibility by correcting the brightness of the image, and the like.

The image processing section 41 includes a monochrome data generating section 41a (monochrome original) for generating monochrome data from an RGB signal which is a color image signal input from the image information input section 40, and each of the recording devices of the recording apparatus. An input processing unit 41b which converts the input image data into a YMC signal and a clock conversion, and an area separation unit 41c which separates whether the input image data is a character portion, a halftone photograph, or a photographic paper photograph; A black generation unit 4 that performs under color removal processing based on the YMC signal output from the processing unit 41a to generate black
1d, a color correction circuit 41e for adjusting each color of a color image signal based on each color conversion table, a zoom processing circuit 41f for performing magnification conversion of input image information based on a set magnification, and a spatial filter 41g, multi-valued It comprises a halftone processing section 41h for expressing gradation such as error diffusion and multi-value dither.

The image memory 43 includes four hard disks (rotary storage media) 43a to 43d, a delay buffer memory (semiconductor memory) 43e, and an image synthesis memory (semiconductor memory) 43f. The halftone-processed color image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 43. The hard disks 43a to 43d sequentially receive the 8-bit 4-color (32-bit) image data serially output from the image processing unit 41, and temporarily store the 8-bit 4-color (32-bit) image data in the buffer into the 8-bit 4-color image data. The data is converted and stored as image data for each color. Further, specific image information such as an advertisement image is also stored in the hard disks 43a to 43d. The image combining memory 43f combines a plurality of images such as an original image and an advertisement image. Since the positions of the image forming stations Pa to Pd are different, each color image data is temporarily stored in the delay buffer memory 43e of the image memory 43, and the image data is sent to each of the laser scanner units 27a to 27d by shifting the time. To prevent color misregistration.

The image information output section 42 includes a halftone processing section 41
h) a laser control unit 42a that performs pulse width modulation based on each color image data from h, a laser scanner unit for each color that performs laser recording based on a pulse width modulation signal corresponding to an image signal of each color output from the laser control unit 42a 27a to 27d.

The central processing unit (CPU) 44 includes an image information input unit 40, an image processing unit 41, an image information output unit 42, an image memory 43, an image editing unit 45, which will be described later, external interface units 46 and 47, and a specific image. Information management unit 48
Is controlled based on a predetermined sequence.

The image editing unit 45 includes an image information input unit 40,
This is for performing predetermined image editing on the image data once stored in the image memory 43 via the image processing unit 41 or an interface to be described later. The process of synthesizing the original image and the advertisement image according to the present invention is also performed here, and the editing operation of the synthesized image data is performed using the image synthesizing memory 43f.

The interface 46 is a communication interface means for receiving image data from an external image input processing device (communication portable terminal, digital camera, digital video camera, etc.) provided separately from the color digital copying machine 1. is there. Interface 4
6 is converted into a data level that can be handled by the image recording unit 10 of the color digital copier 1 by temporarily inputting the image data into the image processing unit 41 and performing color space correction and the like. 43d.

The interface 47 is a printer interface for inputting image data created by the personal computer 2, and is a monochrome or color FAX interface for receiving image data received by facsimile. The image data input from the interface 47 is already a CMYK signal, is subjected to a halftone process 41h, and is stored and managed in the hard disks 43a to 43d of the image memory 43. The image information input from both interfaces becomes a document image and an advertisement image.

The specific image information management section 48 stores and manages specific image information stored in the image memory 43 based on management information described later. In some cases, selection of specific image information to be synthesized is determined based on the management information. However, in the first and second embodiments described later, the specific image information management unit 48 does not exist and is not managed by the management information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the operation management of each part of the entire apparatus of the digital copying machine 1 by a central control unit (CPU) 44. For details of the image data input unit 40, the image processing unit 41, the image memory 43, the image data output unit 42, and the central processing unit (CPU) 44, see FIG.
As described above, the description of the overlapping points will be omitted.

The central processing unit 44 includes, in addition, RADF,
Digital copier 1 such as scanner and laser printer
Are managed by sequence control, and a control signal is output to each unit.
Further, an operation board unit 49 composed of an operation panel is connected to the central processing unit 44 so as to be able to communicate with each other, and a control signal indicating the copy mode content set and input by the operator according to the operation of the operation panel is transmitted to the central processing unit 44. The color digital copying machine 1 is transferred to the processing device 44 and controlled so that the entire color digital copying machine 1 operates according to the set mode. Further, control signals indicating various operation states of the color digital copying machine 1 are transferred from the central processing unit 44 to the operation board unit 49,
On the operation board unit 49 side, an operation state is displayed on a display unit or the like so as to show an operator what state the apparatus is currently in by the control signal.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an operation panel in a color digital copying machine. A touch panel liquid crystal display device 61 is arranged at the center of the operation panel 60, and various mode setting keys are arranged around the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61. On the screen of the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61, there is a screen switching instruction area for constantly switching to a screen for selecting an image editing function. By directly pressing this area with a finger, various image editing functions can be selected. A list of various editing functions is displayed on the LCD screen. From among the displayed various editing functions, the operator sets the editing function by touching the area where the desired function is displayed with a finger.

Next, various setting key groups arranged on the operation panel 60 will be briefly described. 62, a dial for adjusting the brightness of the screen of the liquid crystal display 61; 63, an automatic magnification setting key for setting a mode for automatically selecting a magnification; 64, a zoom key for setting a copying magnification in increments of 1%; Numerals 66 and 66 denote fixed magnification keys for reading and selecting a fixed magnification, and 67 denotes a same-magnification key for returning the copy magnification to a standard magnification (actual magnification).

Reference numeral 68 denotes a density switching key for switching the copy density adjustment from automatic to manual or to the photo mode, 69 denotes a density adjustment key for finely setting the density level in the manual mode or the photo mode, and 70 denotes a density adjustment key. A tray selection key for selecting a desired paper size from the paper sizes set in the color digital paper supply unit.

Reference numeral 71 denotes a copy number setting key for setting the number of copies, reference numeral 72 denotes a clear key operated when clearing the number of copies or stopping continuous copying in the middle, reference numeral 73 denotes a start key for instructing start of copying, Reference numeral 74 denotes an all-clear key for releasing all of the currently set modes and returning to the standard state, 75 denotes an interrupt key operated when a user wants to copy another original during continuous copying, and 76 denotes a color digital operation. Is an operation guide key for displaying a message of the color digital operation method by operating when the user does not understand the operation, and 77 is a message forward key for displaying the continuation of the message displayed by operating the operation guide key 76. Numeral 78 is a double-sided mode setting key for setting a double-sided copying mode, and 79 is a post-processing mode setting key for setting an operation mode of a post-processing device for sorting copies discharged from the color digital.

Reference numerals 80 to 82 denote setting keys for a printer mode and a facsimile mode. Reference numeral 80 denotes a memory transmission mode key for temporarily storing a transmission original in a memory and then transmitting the same. Reference numeral 81 denotes a digital color digital mode for copying, faxing, and printing. Copy to switch between /
A fax / printer mode switching key 82 is a one-touch dial key for storing a destination telephone number in advance and transmitting a telephone call to the destination by one-touch operation during transmission.

The operation panel presented this time and the various keys arranged on the operation panel are merely examples, and the keys provided on the operation panel differ depending on various functions mounted on the color digital copying machine. Needless to say.

<First Embodiment> A color digital copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes stored advertisement image information and a document set at a predetermined position of the color digital copying machine for copying. And a mode in which the original image information is combined and recorded on the same sheet. FIG. 6 (a),
7B and FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate the operation panel 60.
1 shows an example of an operation screen for a copy service shop sequentially displayed on a liquid crystal display device 61 with a touch panel arranged at a substantially central portion of the display device.

FIG. 6A shows an initial screen when the apparatus is in an operable standby state. A copy fee is input to a coin bender (not shown) arranged adjacent to the color digital copying machine 1. Then, a normal copy mode is set and color copying is possible, and the apparatus stands by. Although the normal copy fee system is displayed on the liquid crystal screen here, the charge system table may be pasted at an easily visible place.

The LCD screen displays "copy with advertisement".
A selection area 91 is provided. By selecting this advertisement-added copy mode, it is displayed that the copy fee is lower than usual, and the reduced advertisement-added copy fee system is similarly displayed on the liquid crystal screen. As with the normal charge system table, the copy charge system with advertisement may be pasted in comparison with the charge table. In addition, when special information is provided as a special service, the fee may be increased depending on the content of the information. At that time, the reason for the increase is displayed as a message.

FIG. 6B is a display screen when the “copy with advertisement” selection area 91 is directly pressed with a finger. The display state of the “copy with advertisement” selection area 91 is as follows.
The black and white color is inverted so that the operator can easily understand that the mode is selected. On this screen, a message indicating that the document image is slightly smaller than usual is issued to alert the user and obtain final confirmation. Also on this screen, the reduced-cost copy fee system with advertisement is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 61. If the user does not want to reduce the size of the document image, the user can press the "return" selection area 62 with his / her finger to cancel the advertisement-added copy mode and return to the initial screen.

A user who considers that an advertisement is higher in added value even if the original is reduced is charged with a charge based on the ad-included copy fee system by an adjacent coin vendor (not shown).
7 (a) appears on the liquid crystal display screen. FIG. 7A shows how to set a document. When the document is set and the cover is closed, the size of the document is automatically detected and the process proceeds to the next screen. It is also possible to set a document by a RADF (duplex automatic document feeder) 3.

FIG. 7B shows a “vertical document icon” provided for setting whether the document is a vertical document or a horizontal document.
Selection area 93 and “horizontal document icon” selection area 94
Is a selection screen in which the user instructs the user to press any of the above with his / her finger, and it is possible to determine the place where the advertisement image for the document image is to be inserted. "Vertical manuscript icon" selection area 9
When 3 is pressed, the area display is inverted between black and white to inform the operator that the portrait document has been selected, and the position where the advertisement is entered is displayed with an icon to obtain the user's confirmation. Here, even if the user changes his mind, the user can return to the initial screen by pressing the "return" selection area 92 with his finger. However,
Even if the user does not have to distinguish between vertical and horizontal documents as in this case, using the latest image character recognition technology, it is possible to automatically distinguish whether the document to be set is a vertical document or a horizontal document. It is also possible to perform it.

FIG. 7C shows a state in which the magnification, paper, and density can be changed in the same manner as in normal copying. After that, when the operator presses the start key, the copy operation including the advertisement is performed. It is a screen displaying that it is started.

In the color digital copying machine having the above configuration, the function of recording the advertisement image on the paper together with the original image is mounted as a part of the function of the color digital copying machine. That is, in a color digital copying machine as shown in FIG. 2 and a color image system in which peripheral devices are connected to a network, a color digital copying machine as an image editing and recording apparatus synthesizes and edits a document image and a specific image. The point is to print out.

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the image editing and recording apparatus of the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a color digital copying machine which is an image editing and recording apparatus according to the present invention. The color digital copying machine according to the present embodiment includes an image input unit 101,
Specific image information memory 102, image editing unit 45, first processing unit 103, second processing unit 104, image information synthesis unit 10
5, a black image recording unit 106 and a color image recording unit 107. Here, the specific image is an advertisement image different from the original image. The image information memory 102 is shown in FIG.
Hard disks 43a to 43 of the image memory 43 in FIG.
The specific image information storage area in d is shown. First processing unit 10
The sixth and second processing units 107 are processing units performed by the image processing unit 41 in FIG. Image information synthesis unit 105
Is the synthesizing memory 43f in FIG. The black image recording unit 106 and the color image recording unit 107 are provided in the image information output unit 42 in FIG.

The image editing section 45 stores the original image information 11
Original feature extraction function for extracting features from Advertisement 1, advertisement feature extraction function for extracting features from advertisement image information, Original image information 1
A first processing determination function for determining first processing content that is image processing for document image information based on the eleventh feature information;
A second processing determination function for determining the second processing content, which is image processing on the advertisement image information 112, based on the feature information of the advertisement image information 112, and a synthesis processing determination for determining the synthesis processing content of these processed image information. Has functions.
Here, the characteristic information is, for example, color information, size information, character arrangement (vertical writing, horizontal writing), image arrangement direction, and the like.

Here, the first processing is image processing according to the characteristic information without impairing the characteristics of the original image information, and basically changes the color, shape, size, etc. of the original image greatly. This is a process that can faithfully reproduce the features of the original image itself from the beginning without causing the original image itself.
For example, the process is performed until the size of the document image is entirely reduced and scaled within a predetermined range. Here, if the reduction magnification is too large, reproduction of the document image information becomes a problem, so that the size of the document image is set within a range in which processing that does not impair the characteristics of the document image can be performed.

The second processing is an image processing for characterizing the advertisement image information into a predetermined state. When the advertisement image information 112 and the document image information 111 are edited into one image, the second processing is performed. This is applied to the advertisement image information 112 so that the image is clear. That is, processing is performed to reproduce the advertisement image information 112 as a color image, or processing is performed to add a border image to the original image information side with respect to the advertisement image information. The background part is painted with a specific pattern image. As a result, the advertisement image information is expressed in a form different from the form in which the document image information is expressed.

Next, the operation of the color digital copying machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the image information input means 101 includes a document image reading unit (scanner) 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 itself, a personal computer 32 connected to a network, a digital camera 33, a digital video camera 34, The portable terminal 35 and the like are included. The advertisement image information 1 is input by these image input means 101.
10 are input and stored in the specific image information memory 102, that is, the hard disks 43 a to 43 d of the image memory 43.

Now, when an instruction to start reading a document image having predetermined specific image information (pressing the start key 73) is issued,
At the same time when the image of the original set at a predetermined position of the color digital copying machine is read, the specific image information memory 1 is read.
02, specific image information (advertisement image information) 11 out of a plurality of specific image information (advertisement image information) 110
2 is selected. The specific image information 112 is, for example,
It is assumed that the output order of the specific image information 110 is determined in advance, or that the administrator of the copying machine gives a selection instruction.

In the image editing section 45, the following processing is performed. The original image information 111 and the selected advertisement image information 112 are input, and the characteristic information is extracted. The first processing and the second processing are determined based on these characteristic information. These processing contents are determined by the synthesis
The processing for combining the original image information and the advertisement image information as one image is determined. That is, the arrangement when combining the original image and the advertisement image is determined.

The first processing content and the second processing content are input from the image editing unit 45 to the image processing unit 41, and the first processing unit 103 and the second processing unit The processing is performed by the processing unit 104. Further, based on the content of the combining process, the respective images are arranged and combined in the combining memory 43f as the image information combining unit 105. The black image recording unit 106 of the image information output unit 42 is
An image is recorded on a sheet by the color image recording unit 107.

As described above, the mode in which the advertisement image information registered in advance in the copying machine and the original image information of the original set in the copying machine for copying are recorded on the same sheet is set, for example, in a color mode. By mounting the digital color copier on the side where the digital color copier is installed, information desired to be transmitted to an unspecified number of people can be recorded as an advertisement image together with a copy image. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the user of the digital color copier, a copy to which the advertisement image is added is output without losing the image information of the manuscript required by the user. Not even. Conversely, various information different from the original image information can be obtained, and the copy fee is reduced, so that it becomes effective.

The original image information is basically processed so as to maintain the characteristics of the original image information, and the advertisement image information is processed so as to always be in a predetermined state on a sheet. Then, even if these pieces of image information are output as the same image information, the difference between the document image and the advertisement image can be easily understood. That is, the advertisement image and the original image do not directly affect each other, and it is possible to express and convey the information content intended by each image information in one image.

When outputting image information edited as one image, the color digital copying machine is composed of a monochrome image recording unit 106 and a color image recording unit 107 capable of reproducing a color image. An information output unit 42 is provided. Therefore, the image information output unit 42
If the edited image information is output from the original, the original image and the specific image do not affect each other's image information, and each image information is made into one image in various forms so that the difference is clear. Can be expressed. That is,
This color digital copier converts original image information and advertisement image information, utilizing the characteristics of each image information,
This is reproduced from the color recording unit as one piece of image information. As a result, the image information is reproduced as one image without deteriorating the characteristics of the image possessed by each image information. Therefore, the advertisement image and the original image do not directly influence each other, and each image is intended. Information can be transmitted.

In the following, when each image information is expressed as one image (combined and output), processing on original image information is considered so as not to affect each other's image information, and specific image information The method for reproducing each image information with expressive power will be described sequentially with reference to examples.

First, when the specific image information is an advertisement image, the advertisement image is expressed and output in color in order to further increase the advertisement effect and to make an unspecified number of people interested in the advertisement image. . Thus, it is possible to clarify the difference between the advertisement image and the original image.

The color advertisement image information is stored in the image reading section 4 of the color digital copier 1 as described with reference to FIG.
It is also possible to input color document information from an external device such as a personal computer 32, a digital camera 33, a digital video camera 34, and a communication portable terminal 35 connected to a network. . It is also possible to input color advertisement image information created from a remote place through the Internet, an intranet, or a rapidly growing communication infrastructure. The color advertisement image information obtained by these input means is stored in the hard disks 43a to 43d of the image memory 43. The advertisement image and the document image information selected from the plurality of advertisement images are respectively processed so as not to affect each other's image information, and are combined and output as one image.

As described above, it is possible to easily register desired image information without requiring a special input device to register advertisement image information. Further, in the case of a color digital copying machine, a color scanner is originally mounted on the original image reading section, and it is possible to easily take in advertisement image information as color image information including a color image.

Assume that the user copies a black and white original as shown in FIG. 121 is an A4 black and white original, 12
2 is color advertisement information, 123 is a B5 black and white manuscript, 124
Is a combined copy of the A4 document and the advertisement, and 125 is a combined copy of the B5 document and the advertisement. In the first process, the reduction ratio of the black and white originals 121 and 123 is kept within a predetermined range as a whole. If the reduction ratio is too large, reproduction of the original image information becomes a problem. Is within the range of processing that does not impair. In the second process, the reduction ratio of the color advertisement information 122 is determined according to the remaining area. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, black characters in the normal color original are YMC
The signal is converted into a signal, the under color removal processing is performed through the area separation unit 41c, and black is generated by the black generation unit 41d that generates black.
However, even if the advertisement image 122 is color, if the original image is known in advance to be a monochrome image, the area is processed as a monochrome image, and the monochrome data generation unit 41a
Generates black data. Therefore, the characteristics of the black-and-white original image are not remarkably changed without being printed in color due to the recognition error. Therefore, the original images 121, 1
Since the advertisement image 122 is reproduced as a color image even if the image 23 is a monochrome image, the original image 12
The difference between 1 and 123 and the advertisement image 122 becomes clear, and the advertisement image 122 can be emphasized.

Further, the image editing section 45 outputs the advertisement image 122
By combining the boundary images so that the difference (boundary / separation) between the original image 121 and the original image 123 becomes clear so that the advertisement image does not make the most important original image information difficult for the person who made the copy. Combining processing is being performed. That is, the image editing unit 45 determines the process of synthesizing the boundary image in addition to the process of synthesizing the image information. For example, the boundary image is stored in the image memory 43 or the like, and the image editing unit 45 reads out the boundary image and specifies a synthesis position of the boundary image. In this way, it is possible to express and convey the information content intended by each image information in one image without directly affecting the advertisement image and the document image.

Hereinafter, a specific method for recording an image between the advertisement image and the original image so that the boundaries of the respective images can be recognized will be described. FIG. 10 shows the synthesis of a boundary line (solid line, wavy line, dashed line, etc.) 128 as a boundary image. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the background color 129 of the advertisement image is a fixed density solid pattern as the boundary image. Also, this is one of the specific methods of recording an image between the advertisement image 127 and the document image 126 so that the boundaries of the respective images can be recognized. As the boundary image, a thin background color pattern is used so that the advertisement image 127 is more conspicuous. Can also be used. FIG. 12 uses a hatched pattern 130 of a specific color as the boundary image so that the advertisement image 127 is more conspicuous.

Now, in order to make the boundaries between the advertisement image and the original image clearer, the color features of the advertisement image are automatically extracted and a background color pattern different from the advertisement image is used. Is good. If background color patterns of the same system are used without extracting the color features of the advertisement image, the advertisement image becomes very difficult to see, and the effect of the advertisement decreases.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the image editing and recording apparatus. 8 are given the same reference numerals.

The read document image information 111 is input to the image editing unit 45 in response to an instruction to start reading the document image (pressing the start key 60). Image editor 45
Extracts characteristic information from the document image information 111 and synthesizes the specific image information 110 stored in the specific image information memory 102 from a plurality of types of processing contents in the first processing based on the characteristic information. The advertisement image information 112 optimal for processing is selected and read. That is, even if the original image and the advertisement image are output as the same image information, the advertisement image information 112 that can be easily distinguished from the original image is selected.

Further, the image editing section 45 extracts characteristic information from the read advertisement image information 112, grasps a plurality of types of processing contents to be performed by the second processing based on the characteristic information of the advertisement image information 112, and Based on the feature information of the image information,
While determining the optimal first process, the advertisement image information 112
The second processing content is determined based on the characteristic information of (1). In this manner, the processed image information is combined as in FIG.
Output. As a result, the original image information 111 and the advertisement image information 112 can be reproduced as one image on a sheet without losing the features of the image information.

Thus, even if the original image and the advertisement image are output as the same image information, the image of the original and the advertisement image can be easily distinguished. That is, the advertisement image and the original image do not directly affect each other, and it is possible to express and convey the information content intended by each image information in one image.

Next, image editing for giving priority to the feature of the image information of either the original image or the advertisement image will be described. For example, the image editing unit 45 determines the first processing by giving priority to the image processing content to be performed on the image information of the read document. Then, based on the first processing content, the optimum advertisement image information is selected from a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) stored in the specific image information memory 102. Based on the feature information of the selected advertisement image information 112 and the first processing content, the advertisement image and the original image do not directly affect each other even if they become one image, and the intended information content of each image information Are determined, and a second process that enables each to express and transmit is determined.

There is also a reverse method. That is, the image editing unit 45 selects the advertisement image information 112 from the plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) 110 stored in the specific image information memory 102, and
12 with priority given to image processing to be performed on the second
Confirm the processing of. Regarding the read document image information 111, even if it becomes one image, the advertisement image and the document image may directly affect each other based on the characteristic information of the document image information 111 and the second processing content. Instead, the first processing that enables each of the image contents to express and transmit the information content intended by each image information is determined.

In this way, unlike the first embodiment in which the original image information and the advertisement image information are individually processed, of the image processing performed on the original image information and the image processing performed on the advertisement image information, The content of the other process is determined according to the content of one of the processes, and as a result, the information content intended by the respective image information is expressed on paper without losing the characteristics of the image information of each other.・
It is possible to communicate.

When outputting image information edited as one image, an image information output unit 42, which is composed of a color image recording unit and a monochrome image recording unit, capable of reproducing a color image, is connected to an image editing and recording apparatus. (Color digital copier). Therefore, the image information output unit 42
If the edited and combined image information is output, the original image and the specific image do not affect each other, and each image information is combined so that the difference is clear. It can be expressed in various forms as one image.

In the following, when each image information is expressed as one image (combined and output), processing on original image information is performed so as not to affect each other's image information, and specific image information The method for reproducing each image information with expressive power will be described sequentially with reference to examples.

For example, when both the original image information 111 and the advertisement image information 112 are color image information, the image editing unit 45 automatically or in accordance with an instruction from the liquid crystal display device 61 with a touch panel of the operation panel 60 displays the original image information. Information 1
11 and the advertisement image information 112 do not directly affect each other, and any of the image information is converted to a black and white image so that each of the image information can express and transmit the intended information content. The first process or the second process to be replaced is determined.

FIG. 14 shows a case where the priority is given to the advertisement image information. That is, the color original 131 and the color advertisement 132
Is synthesized, the advertisement image 132 is used as a color,
Perform synthesis processing. Therefore, color digital copier 1
133 is a black-and-white original portion 131a.
And a color advertising portion 132a.

When both the original image information 111 and the advertisement image information 112 are black and white image information, the image editing unit 45 automatically or in response to an instruction from the liquid crystal display device 61 with a touch panel of the operation panel 60, The first processing or the second processing for replacing the image information with the color image is determined. As shown in FIG. 15, when the black-and-white document 134 and the black-and-white advertisement 135 are combined, the combining process is performed with the document in color. Therefore, the copy 136 synthesized by the color digital copying machine 1 is stored in the color original 13
4a and a black-and-white advertisement portion 135a.

In this way, the original image and the advertisement image do not affect each other on the image information, and the color information is distinguished to clarify the difference, so that each image can express the information to the maximum. Becomes

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing another example of the second embodiment. The document image information reading section 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 itself, which is the image information input means 101,
The document image information 111 is read from the document. Image editor 4
5 extracts the document color information 111a as feature information.
Based on the document color information 111a, the first processing is determined, and at the same time, based on the first processing, the optimum advertisement image information 112 is stored from among a plurality of stored specific image information (advertisement images) 110. Select specific image information memory 10
2 is read out from the advertisement image information 112. Further, the color information 112a of the advertisement image information 112 is extracted, and the second processing is determined based on the extracted color information 112a. Thus, the image editing unit 45 converts the determined processes into the first and second processing units 103 and 104,
The image information is output to the image information synthesizing unit 105, the two image information are synthesized after image processing, and output from the image information output unit 42.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When the color 37 is color, the color advertisement image 138 is intentionally subjected to the second processing on the black-and-white advertisement image information and combined into one.
The synthesized copy 139 is composed of a color document portion 137a and a black-and-white advertisement portion 138a. In this way, the difference between the original image and the advertisement image is clarified without affecting each other's image information, and while the features of the original image information most required by the user are basically maintained, Each image can express information to the maximum.

In the above-described example, the first processing is determined by giving priority to the document image information based on the color information, and then the second processing of the advertisement image color information is determined. As shown in the block diagram of FIG.
11b, and the process is performed with priority given to the determination of the first process. The image editing unit 45 includes a specific image information memory 102
The advertisement information 1 suitable for the B5 manuscript registered in advance
10a, advertisement information 110b suitable for B4 document, advertisement information 110c suitable for A4 document, or advertisement information 110d suitable for A3 document. The image editing unit 45 determines the second processing based on the extracted color information 112b of the advertisement image information 112. Thus, the image editing unit 45 converts the determined processes into the first and second processing units 103 and 104,
The image information is output to the image information synthesizing unit 105, the two image information are synthesized after image processing, and output from the image information output unit 42. Thus, the advertisement image information is stored for each original image size, and the advertisement image information corresponding to the size of the input original image information is reproduced as one image information. -The balance is maintained in a predetermined relationship.

FIG. 19 shows another example of the second embodiment. Since the processing in the image editing unit is as described above, detailed description is omitted. The image editing unit 45 determines the first processing content by giving priority to the size information 111b of the document image information 111. The image editing unit 45 includes a plurality of groups of advertisement information 501 to 510 suitable for an A4 document, a plurality of groups of advertisement information 511 to 520 suitable for a B5 document, or a plurality of groups of advertisement information suitable for a B4 document registered in the specific image information memory 102 in advance. The advertisement image information 112 is selected from a group of advertisement information 521 to 530 or a group of a plurality of advertisement information 531 to 540 suitable for an A3 document. The image editing unit 45 displays the advertisement image information 1
The second processing is determined based on the twelve size information 112b. A plurality of types of advertisement image information are stored for each of the processed document image sizes, and one is selected from a plurality of pieces of advertisement image information corresponding to the size of the input document image information, and as one piece of combined image information Since the reproduction is performed, the size and balance of the original image and the advertisement image are maintained in a predetermined relationship.

Another example will be described. This example
After the first processing such as trimming, masking, vertical / horizontal magnification, and scaling is performed on the original image information read by the original image reading unit of the color digital copying machine 1 itself, the original image information is converted to image size information instead of original size information. Accordingly, the second processing of the advertisement image is determined, and one composite copy is created. FIG. 20 shows a B5 document image (182 × 25
(7 mm) 140 is enlarged by a factor of 1.2, the edited image size is about 218 × 308 mm, which is larger than the B5 size (depending on the magnification, but when the magnification is 1.2 ×, it becomes B4 (257 × 364 mm)). Fits). The image editing unit 45 automatically selects the advertisement image 141 from the plurality of advertisement information 521 to 530 groups corresponding to the B4 document registered in advance in the specific image information memory 102, performs the second process, and generates one composite copy 142. Created.

In this way, the advertisement image information is stored for each final document image size, and the desired image editing is performed on the document image information. As a result, the advertisement image information suitable for the size of the image information is selected and one image is selected. Since it is reproduced as information,
The desired size and balance of the original image and the advertisement image in the desired shape are maintained in a predetermined relationship. Therefore, even if the output copy image is taken, there is no sense of incongruity, and it is possible to express and transmit the information content intended by each image information on a sheet.

Next, when making a copy with an advertisement, the image editing unit 45 sends the original image reading unit 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 to the original of any size (A4, A3, B5, B4, etc.). The first processing of the original image information 111 is fixed at a certain reduction ratio, and the first processing unit 103
Performs the processing. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the reduction ratio of the originals 143 and 146 of B5 and A4 is set to 90%. The image editing processing unit 45 determines the reduction ratio of the advertisement image information 112 according to the area of the remaining area, and determines the second processing. The second processing unit 104 performs the second processing, combines the images in the combining memory 43f, and records and creates one combined copy 145, 147 in the image information output unit 42. As described above, when the original image is recorded on the paper after the predetermined reduction processing is performed, the size of the advertisement image is determined based on the blank portion that can be secured on the paper. Advertising information can be provided by effectively utilizing the blank portion.

It is conceivable that the image editing unit 45 sets a predetermined vertical reduction ratio for each size of the document image information read by the document image reading unit 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 itself. For example, as shown in FIG.
4 is 87%, B5 is 88%, A3 is 85%, B4 is 86
%, The first processing is performed, and the second processing is determined according to the area of the region secured as the remainder. In this way, the advertisement information is provided by effectively utilizing the blank portion on the paper, and the ratio of the combined original image and the advertisement image on the paper is well-balanced, so that the composite copy is provided with a good appearance.

As shown in FIG. 23, the advertisement image information 1 registered in the specific image information memory 102 in advance.
It may be meaningful for 49 to be indecipherable or full scale when reduced. In this case, original image 1
48, the second processing is determined prior to the first processing, and the original image read by the original image reading section 4 of the color digital copier 1 itself according to the area of the remaining area secured. The first processing is determined for the information 148, and the composite copy 150 with the advertisement image 149 emphasized is output.

Next, still another example will be described. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram illustrating another example of the second embodiment. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 24, regardless of the size of the document image information 111 read by the document image reading unit 4 of the color digital copying machine 1, the user can change the final composite output paper size from the operation panel 60. There is something to specify. Based on the specified output paper size information,
The image editing unit 45 outputs (A4, A4
3, B5, B4, etc.) A4 paper advertisement information 551 registered in advance in the specific image information memory 102, or B
One is selected from the advertisement information 561 for five sheets, the advertisement information 571 for B4 original paper, or the advertisement information 581 for A3 original paper. Then, the selected advertisement image information 1
The second processing is determined for the twelve size information 112b. Further, the first process of enlarging or reducing the document image information 111 is determined based on the output paper size and the advertisement image size in the second process, according to the area of the remaining area. Then, the images are combined and a combined copy is output.

The ratio of the size of the advertisement image to the size of the paper, the ratio of the area reserved for recording the original image information, and the like can be set in advance, and it is possible to express each other's image information in a well-balanced manner. . Advertising image information is stored together with the paper on which the image is recorded,
Since the advertisement image information and the document image information corresponding to the selected paper are reproduced as one image information, it is possible to set in advance the ratio of the advertisement image to the size of the paper in consideration of the size. Thus, the size and balance of the original image and the advertisement image are maintained in a predetermined relationship.

Next, another example will be described. As shown in FIG. 25, for example, the user specifies the output paper size A4 from the operation panel 60. The document image size read by the document image reading section 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 itself is, for example, a B5 document 151 as shown in FIG. The image editing unit 45 performs a first process of enlarging the document image information within the range of A4 based on the document size B5 and the output paper size A4. Then, based on the output paper size and the first processing content, the most appropriate advertisement image 153 that can be accommodated in the area of the remaining area is selected, and the second processing for the selected advertisement image information is determined and processed. The combined image information is combined and a combined copy 152 is output.

As another example, for example, the user specifies the output paper size B4 from the operation panel, and inputs a ratio of 20% of the output paper size from the operation panel as an advertisement image area. Original image size read by original image reading section 4 of color digital copying machine 1 itself,
For example, for B5, the image editing unit 45
The first process for enlarging the document image to be 0% is determined. Next, the image editing unit 45 selects and reads the advertisement image information 112 registered in advance in the specific image information memory 102 under predetermined conditions, and extracts the size information of the advertisement image information 112. Further, a second process is determined for the advertisement image information 112 so as to be 20% of the output sheet.
These image information are combined, and A4
Output to size paper. Since the area (advertisement image size) in which the advertisement image information can be registered is set according to the paper size, the ratio of the advertisement image to the paper size and the space for recording the original image information are secured. It is possible to express each other's image information in a well-balanced manner in view of the ratio of the areas.

The image editing section 45 selects the original image size read by the original image reading section 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 and a plurality of advertisement image sizes registered in the specific image information memory 102 in advance. It is possible to determine the paper size on which these images can be combined and output without reducing and combining them. As shown in FIG. 26, A4 document information 154 and 210 mm × 60 mm
When the advertisement manuscript information 155 is present, the image editing unit 45 processes each at the same size, and outputs a composite copy 156 on a B4 size output sheet. Since the paper size for recording these images is determined based on the size of the original image and the size of the advertisement image, even when the features (size and length) of the original image are prioritized, the information of the desired advertisement image is also reliably determined. It is effective because it can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment> In the third embodiment, an advertisement image is stored and managed based on the expiration date information of the advertisement image information. In this color digital copying machine, the operator selects a desired advertising genre from the operation panel 60, and the copying machine automatically selects an advertising image from within the genre. FIG. 27 shows the operation panel 60.
1 shows an example of an operation screen for a copy service shop sequentially displayed on a liquid crystal display device 61 with a touch panel arranged at a substantially central portion of the display device. FIG. 27A shows an initial screen when the apparatus is on standby in an operable state. If a coin vender (not shown) arranged adjacent to the color digital copying machine 1 is charged with an appropriate copy fee. Then, a normal copy mode is set, and a color copy or a black and white copy can be taken. Note that the normal copy fee system 164 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen here, but may be pasted on a place where the fee system table is easy to see.

Next, on the liquid crystal display screen 61, "copy with advertisement" selection areas 161 to 163 are provided. The copy with advertisement can be selected according to the preference of the person who takes the copy in a plurality of genres. The message that the copy fee will be lower than usual by selecting the copy mode with advertisement is displayed.

FIG. 27B is a display screen when, for example, the “copy with electric product advertisement” selection area 161 is directly pressed with a finger, and the display state of the “copy with electric product advertisement” selection area 161 is as follows. The selected mode is highlighted to make it easier for the operator to understand. In this screen, the copy fee system with advertising has become cheaper 1
65 is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 61. In addition, normal fee system 1
As in the case of 64, the copy fee system with advertisement 165 may be displayed on the liquid crystal screen 61 in comparison with the fee table, or a comparison table may be pasted. In addition, when special information or high value-added information is provided as a special service, the fee may be increased, but at that time, a message indicating the reason for the increase is displayed.

On this screen, a message indicating that the document image is slightly reduced from the normal size is issued to draw the user's attention and obtain final confirmation. If the user does not want the original image to be reduced, the user can press the “return” selection area 166 with a finger.
The copy mode with advertisement is released and the initial screen (FIG. 27)
(A)). The user who thinks that the advertisement is higher in added value even if the manuscript is reduced enters a charge based on the advertised copy charge system 165 to an adjacent coin vendor (not shown).
(A) appears on the liquid crystal display screen. The description of FIG. 7 is as described above, and will not be repeated.

The present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 28 is a partial block diagram showing a third embodiment of the color copying machine. As shown in FIG. 28, a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) 110 are classified and managed by genre. The advertisement image information 110 stored in the specific image information memory 102 is stored and managed by the specific image information management unit 48 based on management information such as advertisement field information, fee information, total information, and expiration date information.

Hereinafter, a storage management method for each advertisement image based on the expiration date information and a method of utilizing the expiration date information will be described with reference to examples. First, a management table as shown in FIG. 29 is provided in the specific image information management unit 48 in FIG. 3 in order to manage the advertisement image and the expiration date information in association with each other. In the management table of the specific image information management unit 48, for example, an advertisement start date and an advertisement expiration date are stored for each advertisement image from the advertisement image A to the advertisement image F.
Since the plurality of specific image information managed by the specific image information management unit 48 are stored and managed together with the expiration date information of the image information, the specific image information (advertisement image) 11 is always stored.
It is possible to grasp 0 and manage it. For example, 1
Considering August 31, 997 as a reference (today), it can be seen that the advertisement images B and F have already expired.

Next, processing for utilizing the advertisement term information will be described. First, on a basic operation screen as shown in FIG. 27 (a), it is displayed that advertisement can be copied, and when waiting for copying, "electric product advertisement", "clothing-related advertisement", " When the user selects the “electric product advertisement” 161 from the three selection areas 161 to 163 of the “rental house advertisement”, FIG.
To display the message "Electrical Product Advertising" in order to convey that the "Electronic Product Advertising" has been selected, and display a message to insert coins into the coin insertion slot while inverting black and white of the "Electric Appliance Advertising" portion 161. . Then, for a predetermined time, FIG.
When the display screen of (b) is displayed, the display transits to the display screen of FIG. 30 at a predetermined timing, and the operator can select a favorite advertisement genre from the touch panel on this display screen.

On the display screen, as shown in FIG.
The hierarchy relating to “electric product advertisement” advances one step, and a further subdivided selection area 168 is displayed. Assume that the user has then selected the "copier" selection area therein. All of the advertisement images A to F in FIG. 29 are advertisement images of the “copier”, and the advertisement image B and the advertisement image F
Has already expired. Therefore, the specific image management unit 4
Reference numeral 8 denotes an advertisement image A, C, D, or E excluding the advertisement image B and the advertisement image F among the advertisement images A to F of the “copier” advertisement images already stored in the specific image information memory 102. One of them is automatically selected, and a composite copy with the original image desired by the user is made and output. The user selects the specific image information managed by the specific image information management unit 48 based on the time limit information, and combines and outputs the document image information and the specific image information by the combining means. A composite copy of new advertisement image information is always obtained without taking an advertisement image composite copy of information.

Similarly, the specific image information management unit 48 stores the advertisement image A already stored in the specific image information memory 102.
-F, any one of the advertisement images A, C, D, and E excluding the advertisement image B and the advertisement image F is automatically selected. Can be automatically selected with priority, and a composite copy with the original image desired by the user can be output. As the advertisement image to be synthesized, an advertisement image whose expiration date is imminent is preferentially selected and linked with the total management, so that the number of outputs of the specific image information (advertisement image) can be increased as much as possible.

As shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, an advertisement image 171 combined with the original image 170
In, the expiration date information of the advertisement image 171 to be synthesized can be recorded together with the advertisement image 171. FIG. 31B shows an example in which the advertisement image 176 is automatically determined from a plurality of advertisement images stored in the specific image information memory 102. The result of the
The expiration date information 173 of the advertisement image is also combined. In this case, the specific image information management unit 48 outputs the expiration date information, and the image editing unit 45 issues an instruction to add in the combining process and combines the images. As described above, since the advertisement expiration date is set in the advertisement image to be synthesized, the user can be notified of how long the advertisement is valid and how fresh the information is.

There is also a type in which an operator makes final advertisement selection. First, as described with reference to FIG. 27, the display screen changes from (a) to (b), and the “electric product advertisement” part 1 is used to inform that “electric product advertisement” has been selected.
A message is displayed to invert the black and white of the coin 61 and to insert a coin into the coin insertion slot. And for a predetermined time,
When the display screen of FIG. 27 (b) is displayed, the screen transitions to the display screen of FIG. 30 at a predetermined timing, on which the operator can select a favorite genre of advertisement from the touch panel.

Then, on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 30, the hierarchy relating to “electric product advertisement” advances one step further and is further subdivided, and the user next selects the “copier” selection area therein. Assume that Specific image information management unit 48
Are advertisement images A, C, D, and E excluding the expired advertisement image B and advertisement image F as advertisement images that can be synthesized based on the period information of the advertisement images A to F stored in the management table.
Make a selection. This selection information is sent to the CPU 44 and the CP
U44 determines that the advertisement images A, C, D, and E, except for the advertisement image B and the advertisement image F, can be selected, and causes the liquid crystal display screen 60 of the operation panel 60 to display the image, as shown in FIG.

As described above, since the output display which is the specific image information selecting means of the liquid crystal screen flow is controlled based on the advertisement period information, the user does not care about the expiration date and can select a plurality of specific image information selection areas. The user can select desired specific image information from, and does not include expiration information. When the No. 1 advertisement image C is selected, the screen transits to the screen in FIG. If the user does not care, the next candidate or the previous candidate can be selected again, and the user can return to the initial screen.

At this time, the specific image information management unit 48 stores the advertisement image A already stored in the specific image information memory 102.
It is also possible to display on the display screen, as shown in FIG. 32, advertisement images that can be selected in order from the one near the expiration date among the “copying machine” advertisement images of F to F. The output display of the specific image information selecting means in the liquid crystal screen flow is controlled so that an advertisement image to be synthesized in this manner is likely to be preferentially selected with an expiration date nearing. Therefore, the user does not care about the expiration date, and while selecting desired specific image information from a plurality of specific image information selection areas, the image data whose expiration date is close to naturally is preferentially selected and the specific image information ( The number of outputs of the advertisement image can be increased as much as possible.

Furthermore, the advertisement image B whose expiration date has passed
Regarding the handling of the advertisement image F and the advertisement image F, the advertisement image whose expiration date has passed as shown in FIG. 32 is not displayed as a selectable advertisement image on the selection area (No.
5, No. 6). Although not shown, the presence of the advertisement image B and the advertisement image F is displayed, but it is also possible to prevent input even if the displayed selection area is pressed and selected from the touch panel. At this time, the advertisement image B and the advertisement image F
The display area may be subjected to a display process such as hatching or some pattern being superimposed on it to distinguish it from other selectable advertising image selection areas. These controls are controlled by the CPU 44 based on information from the specific image information management unit 48. Therefore, the user can select desired specific image information from a plurality of specific image information selection areas without worrying about the expiration date. FIG. 31 (a) shows an image obtained by synthesizing the advertisement image and the original image thus selected, and FIG. 31 (b)
As described above, this advertisement image may also be recorded with the expiration date of the advertisement image.

Next, a method for managing and storing an advertisement image based on expiration date information added for each advertisement image will be described. Normally, a memory has a limit (capacity) in which data can be stored, and in order to effectively use a limited storage area, not only the input image information is stored but also the efficiency is increased. It is desirable to control so that effective image information is stored and managed. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, a new advertisement image inputting method includes not only inputting document information from the image reading unit 4 of the color digital copying machine 1 but also using a personal computer 32, a digital camera 33, It supports image information input from external devices such as a video camera 34 and a communication portable terminal 35. In addition, through the Internet, intranets, or a rapidly growing communications infrastructure,
Image information can be input from a remote location.

Therefore, as described in FIG. 29, a management table for managing the expiration date is provided for each advertisement image, and the stored advertisement image is determined by comparing the reference date with the expiration date. If the processing is determined as described above, the memory can be used effectively. Since the specific image information management unit 48 manages and controls the specific image information based on the expiration date of the advertisement image, the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43 can be effectively used.

Hereinafter, a method for determining how to process the stored advertisement image by comparing the reference date and the expiration date will be described with reference to an example. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a storage management process of an advertisement image by the specific image information management unit 48. First, the specific image information management unit 48 compares the reference date with the expiration date (step S1), and when an advertisement image whose expiration date has passed is confirmed (step S2), identifies the confirmed advertisement image. (Step S3), the specific image information memory 1 of the image memory 43
02 is automatically deleted (step S4). If not, proceed to the next step. This check may be automatically performed when the power is turned on, or may be checked each time the date changes using a timer (clock function) inside the control unit (CPU). It may be. Since the specific image information management unit 48 manages and controls the specific image information based on the expiration date of the advertisement image, the specific image information (advertisement image information) is deleted from the specific image information memory area in the image memory 43 after a certain grace period, and the image memory is deleted. The specific image information memory 102 in 43 is used effectively.

FIG. 35 shows another process. When trying to store a new advertisement image (step S11),
First, it is checked whether any of the plurality of stored advertisement images has expired (step S12). If there is one whose expiration date has passed, the advertisement image is specified (step S13), and overwritten and stored on the area where the image is stored (step S14). If the expiration date has not been confirmed, the advertisement image is stored in a new area (step S15). Since the specific image information management unit 48 manages and controls the specific image information based on the expiration date of the advertisement image, the specific image information (advertisement image information) whose expiration date has expired is invalidated, and new specific image information (advertisement image information) ) Is written and stored, and management control is newly performed by the specific image information management unit 48 to effectively utilize the image memory.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing another memory management process when newly registering an advertisement image. When trying to store a new advertisement image (step S2
1) First, it is confirmed whether a new advertisement image can be stored in the image memory 43 (step S22). If an area that can be newly stored can be secured, the area is registered in the secured area (step S23). If an area to be newly registered cannot be secured, the expiration date has expired among a plurality of stored advertisement images. Check if there is anything (step S2
4). If there is any one whose expiration date has passed, the advertisement image is specified (step S25) and overwritten and stored on the area where the image is stored (step S26). If this cannot be secured, a message indicating that new registration is not possible is displayed (step S2).
7).

As described above, when a new advertisement image is registered, it is recorded and registered in a vacant place of the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43. If the memory is full, the specific image information management unit 48 Based on the expiration date information managed and controlled, the advertisement image is registered on the expired advertisement image. The specific image information management unit 48 determines, among the specific image information already stored in the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43, the image information whose expiration date indicating the expiration date of the image information has exceeded a predetermined period. The specific image information newly invalidated and input is stored and managed, and the image memory 43 is effectively used.

Next, a method for confirming the advertisement image stored and managed in the image memory 43 will be described. As described above, the advertisement image is stored and managed in the management table of the specific image information management unit 48 and the image memory 43 together with the expiration date information. It has a function to check the expiration date information. As a method of confirming the stored information, a method of using the display panel 61 provided on the operation panel 60 (FIG. 37) and a method of outputting as image information from the printer unit of the image information output unit 42 (FIG. 37) FIG. 38). This is because the specific image information management unit 48 selects a plurality of items from the advertisement image information 110 stored in the specific image information
Determines the process of processing and combining only this advertisement image.
Then, this advertisement image information is output for confirmation. Further, as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, the advertisement image is displayed together with the additional information on the advertisement image (FIG. 3).
9) Alternatively, by printing out (FIG. 40), it is also possible to confirm in detail what the advertisement image looks like.

Thus, a list of information (charge management information, total management information, size management information, expiration date management information, etc.) related to the specific image information (advertisement image) managed by the specific image information management section 48 is displayed. Then, these outputs are performed, and confirmation can be performed. For example, advertisers should take action based on comprehensive judgments such as discontinuing or replacing new low-value advertising image information with low numbers in the tally, or giving the highest priority to advertising images that are due soon. Can do it.

Further, instead of merely outputting in the order of storage, it may be output for each advertisement field as shown in FIG. 41, or an advertisement image of a specific field (copier field) may be output. It is also possible to rearrange and output information based on one (advertisement start date) of the information on the advertisement image added to the advertisement image.

The advertisement image confirmed in this manner may be left in the image memory if necessary, or may be forcibly deleted from the memory by pressing the delete button if unnecessary. You may make it. Furthermore, when it is desired to change information such as the size, color, and expiration date of the advertisement image, it is possible to arbitrarily change the information by operating a change button or the like.

<Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the digital copying machine will be described. In the fourth embodiment,
It has a charge management function that determines a copy charge by selecting an advertisement image. The block diagram of the fourth embodiment is the same as FIG. 28, and the specific image information management unit 48 manages the fee. Other parts are the same as those in FIG. 28, and the description is omitted.

FIG. 42 shows an example of an operation screen for a copy service sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display device 61 with a touch panel arranged substantially at the center of the operation panel 60 in the fourth embodiment. Basically, FIG.
Although the screen is almost the same as that shown in FIG. 1, since the “copy with advertisement” selection areas 171 to 173 are different, the outline thereof will be mainly described.

FIG. 42 (a) shows an initial screen in a standby state in which the present invention is operable, and is suitable for a coin vender (not shown) arranged adjacent to the color digital copying machine 1. When a high copy fee is input, the normal copy mode is set and a color copy or a black and white copy can be taken.

Next, the "copy with advertisement" selection areas 171 to 173 are provided on the liquid crystal display screen. The copy with advertisement can be selected according to the preference of the person who takes the copy divided into a plurality of genres. The message that the copy fee will be lower than usual by selecting the copy mode with advertisement is displayed.

FIG. 42B shows a display screen when, for example, the “copy with shopping advertisement” selection area 171 is directly pressed with a finger, and the display state of the “copy with shopping advertisement” selection area 171 is as follows. The selected mode is highlighted to make it easier for the operator to understand. In this screen, the reduced advertising copy fee system is displayed on the LCD screen.

On this screen, a message is displayed to notify the user that the document image is slightly reduced from the normal size, to alert the user, and to obtain a final confirmation. If the user does not want the original image to be reduced, the user can press the “return” selection area 176 with a finger,
The copy mode with the advertisement is released and the initial screen can be returned. A user who thinks that the value of the ad is higher than the value of the ad even if the original is reduced is advertised copy fee system 17.
When the fee based on No. 5 is inserted into an adjacent coin vendor (not shown), the next screen appears on the liquid crystal display screen.
The next screen is the same as that in FIG.

In the case where the advertisement image and the B5 document image shown in FIG.
The charge management of No. 8 will be described. A plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) 110 are already stored in a specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43, and the specific image information (advertisement images) 110 are classified by genre. You can select your favorite genre. "Shopping advertisement" 171, "Sports advertisement"
172, it is assumed that "shopping advertisement" 171 is selected from "music movie advertisement" 173, and a copy of the B5 original is desired to be made, and according to the advertisement image information selected by the specific image information selecting means. The specified fee is determined by the specific image information management unit 48. The copy fee system 175 with the advertisement thus determined is replaced with the ordinary copy fee system 1
If the price difference and the copy output are satisfactory for the user, for example, 5 yen lower than 74, the user selects the copy with advertisement. If the reduction of the original image is not satisfactory, a normal copy can be made at a normal charge only by pressing the "return" key. The combination of the advertisement image and the manuscript image has already been described, and a description thereof is omitted.

Many advertising images are classified and stored in the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43, and there is an advantage that the copy user can select his / her favorite genre. Also, the combined output copy fee of the advertisement image of the selected genre is changed to the specific image information management unit 48.
Since the fee is determined as a fee management function, the user can understand before copying. The user judges based on the price difference and the added value. If the user is not satisfied with the reduction of the original image, the user can return to the initial screen and make a normal copy.

The specific image information memory 1 in the image memory 43
02, a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) managed by the specific image information management unit 48 has a discount amount set in advance for charge management. In addition, if there is a discount ticket such as a movie or an amusement park that provides special information or high value-added information as a special service as well as a discount, the fee may be higher.

Regarding charge management, there are a copy service provider using a color digital copying machine, an advertiser who contributes an advertisement fee (the copy service provider and the advertiser may be the same or a plurality of advertisers) and a copy user. Because of these complex interests, it is a problem that cannot be determined uniformly. However, as shown in FIG. 43, each advertisement image information and discount information or additional charge information are both stored in the image memory 43,
It is managed by the specific image information management unit 48. Here, the same price is set for each genre, but a different price may be set for each advertisement, or the genre may be arranged in a hierarchical structure to devise a charge table.

Many advertising images are stored in the specific image information memory 10.
Although they are classified and stored in genre 2 and charge rates of individual advertisement images are different even though charge rates of respective advertisement images are different, they are not described as an example. In this case, the composite copy fee of the finally selected advertisement image and original image is determined. The user judges based on the price difference and the added value. If the user is not satisfied, the user can return to the initial screen and make a normal copy.

When actually making a copy, the output paper size differs depending on the size of the original. When the paper size changes, the advertisement size changes accordingly. When the paper size changes because the amount of toner used and the amount of other consumables used differ, FIG.
It is necessary to change the fee system as in 4. Since the fee is determined by the fee management function of the specific image information management unit 48 for each output paper size and displayed on the liquid crystal display screen, it is very easy for the user to understand.

[0156] The case of the normal copy without the addition of the advertisement image is referred to as a first output mode, and the case where the advertisement image is added and combined with the original image and output is referred to as the second output mode. There is almost no difference between the amount used and the amount of consumables used. The difference is how much an advertiser finds value in and invests in the ad. This determines how much discount or extra money is possible. In any case, the fixed fee is different between the first output mode and the second output mode, and the specific image information management unit 48 determines the fee for the combined output copy with advertisement. The advertisement image is added without greatly impairing the image information of the document required by the user, and thereby the merits of lowering the copy fee and obtaining new information or benefits different from the document image information are greater.

[0157] It is a very important matter how effective it is for an advertiser who places an advertisement. One way to measure effectiveness is to know how many advertised copies have been made and how many people have seen them. FIG.
5, the specific image information management unit 48 performs total management of the number of outputs in the first output mode in which only document image information is output and the number of outputs in the second output mode in which an advertisement image is combined and output. How much advertised copy is taken is a very important issue for advertisers. Tallying on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis by the tallying management means of the specific image information managing unit 48, and knowing and analyzing how much of a certain advertisement image information is taken as a synthetic copy and exposed to human eyes. Can be.

For the advertiser, it is necessary to know which advertisement was effective, that is, which advertisement was synthesized and how much was copied. FIG. 46 shows, as an example, assuming that there are advertisement images A to J, how many copies were taken as a composite copy last month and this month. The specific image information management unit 48 counts and manages the number of composite copy outputs for each advertisement image. Further, the specific image information management unit 48 counts and analyzes how much of the composite copy is taken for each advertisement image information, and measures such as canceling or changing to new advertisement image information for items with low numbers are taken. It turns out that it is necessary.

It is not possible to calculate the balance only by knowing which advertisements and how many composite copies have been taken. If the paper size changes, the advertisement fee also changes, that is, it is necessary to know the number of composite copies for each paper size. FIG. 46 shows that the advertisement images A to J are totaled and managed by the specific image information management unit 48 for each sheet size this month. Based on this, the balance is calculated by multiplying the fee and number for each paper size. Detailed aggregation management is performed for each output size and each advertisement image information with different fees, and the balance can be calculated on a weekly or monthly basis. Based on this, it is possible to review the fee structure for each output size and each advertisement image.

FIG. 47 shows an example in which each advertisement image is combined with an advertiser and totalized and managed by the specific image information management unit 48.
It is. The advertising effect of each advertiser can be clearly seen. Classify the aggregation result of the advertisement image composite copy by each advertiser unit, and KKK
It can be seen that the advertisement image information of the advertiser is small, but the advertisement image of the YYY advertiser is selected very much. By analyzing the difference in the number of outputs of the advertising image information, a better advertising copy system can be achieved.

The counting management function of the specific image information management unit 48 manages the number of advertisement images as shown in FIG. 45, FIG. 46, and FIG. 47, however, from the touch panel liquid crystal display 61 at the center of the operation panel. Can be displayed on the liquid crystal display by inputting a password or inputting a password.
In a similar manner, confirmation can be made by outputting using the printing function of the color digital copying machine body. In addition, the balance analysis can be performed based on the result. Since the aggregation result is synthesized and output together with the advertisement image information, the advertisement image information and the number of the aggregation can be viewed together and analyzed.

The specific image stored in the specific image information memory in the image memory 43 and managed by the specific image information management unit 48 in response to an instruction from the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61 at the center of the operation panel 60 or input of a personal identification number. The information (advertisement image) and the total management information are combined and output, and can be confirmed. The structure is such that the number of advertisement image composite copies that are totalized and managed for each advertiser cannot be seen unless the personal identification code possessed by the advertiser alone is input.
Other advertisers cannot see the results.
This has the advantage that the advertiser's strategy does not need to be known to other advertisers.

As shown in FIG. 48, the number of copy of the advertisement image, which is totalized and managed for each advertiser, is displayed on the liquid crystal display according to an instruction from the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61 in the central portion of the operation panel 60 or a password input and confirmed. Is possible. At the same time, printing can be performed using the printing function of the color digital copying machine. However, the total management in the specific image information management unit 48 of another advertiser cannot be viewed. For example, by inputting the code, the YYY advertiser can confirm only the portion of the YYY advertiser shown in FIG. 48 by liquid crystal display or output.

<Fifth Embodiment> Next, a digital copying machine according to a fifth embodiment will be described. In the fifth embodiment, specific image information is automatically selected. The block diagram of the fifth embodiment is basically the same as FIG. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 28, a plurality of specific image information input by various image input methods are stored in a specific image information memory 102 which is a part of an image memory 43 provided in the color digital copying machine 1 in advance. Stored, specific image information management unit 4
8 is managed. From the plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) stored in the specific image information memory 102, the optimum advertisement image information is automatically selected by the specific image information automatic selection function of the specific image information management unit 48. You.
Further, the image editing unit 45 grasps a plurality of types of second processing contents to be performed on the advertisement image information 112, determines the first processing for the document image 111 from the characteristics of the document image information 111, The second processing is determined for the advertisement image 112 based on the characteristics of the advertisement image information 112 and the like. The color digital copier combines the read image information 111 of the document with the selected advertisement image information 112 and outputs the combined image information as one piece of image information.

As a result, the original image information and the advertisement image information can be reproduced as one image on a sheet without damaging the features of the image information. Further, since image information to be combined with the original is automatically selected from a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images), the image information stored and managed on a plurality of averages and on the side provided with the information are averaged. Also, meaningful information can be obtained.

As described above, the user does not need to consider the size, content, or other processing of the advertisement image, and the specific image information management unit 48 determines the optimum advertisement from a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images). Automatically select image information.
Then, the image editing unit 45 grasps a plurality of types of image processing contents to be performed on the advertisement image information, and determines the respective image processing contents of the document image and the advertisement image. Here, the image editing / recording apparatus (color digital copying machine) combines the read image information of the document with the automatically selected specific image information and outputs it as one image information. As a result, the original image information and the advertisement image information can be reproduced as one image on a sheet without losing the features of the image information.

Conditions for automatically selecting from among a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) as advertisement image information to be recorded together with the original image include output progress information (output date and time, output date and time) for each specific image information (advertisement image). And the like, and seasonal information (time, season, etc.) for providing specific image information (advertisement image). The details will be described below using examples.

First, selection based on output progress information will be described. The number of times of composite copy output for each advertisement image information is totalized and managed by the specific image information management unit 48, and the specific image information is automatically selected by the specific image information automatic selection unit provided in the specific image information management unit 48. It is managed and controlled so that it is output on average.

FIG. 49 shows an advertisement image A as specific image information.
5 is an example on the management table when it is assumed that the advertisement image J is stored and managed for each document size. The management table manages how many specific image information (advertisement images) recorded as a composite copy together with the original image are output. The specific image information for each paper size is managed by the specific image information management unit 48 so as to be output on average from the data on the management table. Therefore, the past output levels (the number of times) of the specific image information stored and managed in plurals are averaged. Further, the specific image information to be selected next has already been determined. As described above, the number of composite copies output for each piece of advertising image information is totalized and managed by the specific image information management unit 48, and is selectively managed so that each specific image information is output on average. Can obtain a wider range of information, and the advertiser can achieve the original purpose of advertising, which is to transmit more information to an unspecified number of people.

The specific image information to be output next time may be determined as an advertisement image to be combined when the advertisement copy mode is selected and the processing is executed.
Further, the management table is configured to manage only the number of outputs for each specific image information. However, output history information (output date and time) for each specific image information is stored and managed as past history information. It is also possible to select the advertisement image information including the output history information as the advertisement image information to be output together with the document image.

Next, exchange of a document or selection of an advertisement image based on the number of copies will be described. When multi-copying (multiple copies) the original image information input from the original image information input means, or when copying a plurality of different bundles of originals, the specific image information is determined according to the number of copies or the number of originals. Different specific image information is automatically selected from a plurality of specific image information stored in the memory 102 and reproduced as a composite copy to which the advertisement image is added together with the original image.

When a plurality of copies are to be obtained from one original, the number-of-copies information is input to the specific image information management unit 48, and the specific image information management unit 48 sets the advertisement image to be synthesized for each copy. Are read from the image memory 43 so as to be different from each other, or a plurality of pieces of advertisement image information stored in the image memory 43 are sequentially read, and processing is performed so that the advertisement image to be synthesized for each copy is different. When a large number of multi-copies are taken from a single original, it is also possible to switch the specific image information to be synthesized every N multi-copies to the next different advertisement image and synthesize them. is there. As long as the number of multi-copy is equal to or less than the number of specific image information, all the specific image information is different even for the same original image information, and there is no single same copy. Therefore, the user side can obtain a wider range of information, and the advertiser side can achieve the original purpose of the advertisement to transmit more information to an unspecified number of people.

Next, a description will be given of a processing method in which the advertisement image is switched every time new document image information is input from the document image information input means, and a different advertisement image is synthesized for each document image. That is, when two or more originals are copied, the specific image information automatic selection function provided in the specific image information management unit 48 includes a plurality of specific image information stored in the specific image information storage memory 102 each time the original changes. Different specific image information is sequentially selected from the information. Each image processing content is determined by the image editing unit 45. The copier is
Image processing and composition are performed according to the contents, and composite copies containing different advertisement images are output. Accordingly, the user side can obtain wider information, and the advertiser side can achieve the original purpose of advertising, that is, transmitting more information to an unspecified number of people.

Next, as another example, an output mode in which only advertisement information can be output and confirmed will be described.
This color digital copying machine combines a document image information 111 read by a data image input unit (scanner) 40 and selected specific image information (advertisement image), and outputs a single output image as a first output mode. (Ordinary advertisement combined copy) and a second output mode for combining and outputting only a plurality of pieces of advertisement image information stored as specific image information. Here, the selection of the output mode is performed by a key on the operation panel or an operation from a liquid crystal touch panel (not shown).

FIG. 50 is a block diagram of the first and second output modes. Basically, it is the same as the block diagram of FIG. 28, but in the second output mode, the information used is different from the block used. The block diagram of the first output mode in FIG. 50A is exactly the same as that in FIG. 28, and thus the description is omitted. In the second output mode of FIG. 50B, a plurality of pieces of advertisement image information are output from a plurality of pieces of specific image information (advertisement images) 110 stored in the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43. The information management unit 48 selects automatically. The image editing unit 45 determines the processing content for combining the selected plurality of pieces of advertisement image information. Based on this process,
The digital copying machine combines a plurality of selected specific image information (advertisement images) and outputs one piece of image information. Some users want only the advertisement image information even if there is no original image, so a mode to output multiple advertisement images collectively on one recording material for such a person is provided. ing.

FIG. 51 shows a block diagram of another second output mode. This second output mode is a mode in which one piece of advertisement image information is output as an output image. Therefore,
The specific image information management unit 48 includes a plurality of advertisement image information 110
, One of the advertisement image information 112 is automatically selected, and the image editing unit 45 determines the output position of the advertisement image information 112. An output image is formed by the image information synthesizing unit 105,
The image is output by the image information output unit 42. The above-described example is characterized in that a plurality of advertisement images are combined and output on one sheet of recording paper, whereas the present example is characterized in that one piece of advertisement image information is output for one sheet of recording paper.

The operation from the operation panel for each of the above output modes will be described. As shown in FIG. 27, a selection area indicating a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) for each field is provided on the operation screen. Further, the specific image information management unit 48 stores a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images).
Are managed by field. First, the first output mode will be described. The user can select a desired field from the operation panel liquid crystal touch panel. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the user selects “Electric Product Information” 161 from the three selection areas 161 to 163 of “Electric Product Information”, “Clothing Information”, and “Rental House Information”. The specific image information management unit 48 selects one specific image information (advertisement image) in the “electric product information” field stored in the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43, and stores the input original image information and Output a composite copy of

Next, the second output mode will be described.
It is assumed that the user selects “electric product information” 161 from three selection areas 161 to 163 of “electric product information”, “clothing-related information”, and “rental housing information”. Here, a plurality of advertisement image information are stored in the specific image information memory 102 in the image memory 43, and the specific image information management unit 4
8 automatically selects a plurality of pieces of advertisement image information related to “electric product information” 161 from among a plurality of pieces of specific image information (advertisement images) managed. The image editing unit 45 determines the image processing content of the advertisement image information. The digital copying machine combines a plurality of specific image information (advertisement image) related to “electric product information” and outputs the combined image information as one image information.

Next, selection of advertisement image information based on seasonal information will be described. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 28, a plurality of specific image information in various fields input by various image input methods are stored in a specific image information 43 which is a part of the image memory 43 provided in the color digital copying machine 1. The specific image information management unit 4 stored in the memory 102 in advance
8 is managed by field.

The specific image information management section 48 automatically selects optimum advertisement image information according to time information from a plurality of managed specific image information (advertisement images). The respective image processing contents are determined, and the image editing / recording apparatus (color digital copying machine) combines the read image information of the document and the selected specific image information and outputs it as one image information. For example, in the morning, information valid only for that day,
Give priority to shopping information such as event information for the day or lunch information for the day, and from the afternoon to restaurant information, entertainment information such as movies, theaters and sports information (which may be discounted) Select automatically. The advertisement image management table (advertisement image group) managed by the specific image information management unit 48 is switched according to the time zone. The management may be performed by changing the contents by dividing the time zone more finely.

In this way, the digital copying machine automatically selects the most appropriate advertisement image information according to the time information from among many pieces of advertisement image information, determines the contents of each image processing, and sets the image information of the read original and the selected image information. The specified specific image information is combined and output as one image information. There is valid information depending on the time zone. For example, in the morning, information that is valid only for the day, event information for the day, shopping information such as lunch information for lunch, etc., is given priority. By switching between the morning and the afternoon, mainly, etc., the advertisement image information becomes more effective for the user. By switching, the ratio of taking a composite copy with advertisements increases, which is also advantageous for advertisers. The user layer differs depending on the time zone, and the advertisement image information can be set according to the user layer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 52, on the operation screen, a selection area showing a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) for each field is provided. The specific image information management unit 48 manages the information by time and based on time information. Here, as an example, in the morning, selection areas 181 to 183 of three fields of “shopping information”, “event information”, and “rental housing information” are provided.
Appears on the operation screen (FIG. 52A). From the afternoon, the selection area is switched to the selection areas 185 to 187 in the three fields of “restaurant information”, “entertainment information” such as movies, sports, theater, concerts, and the like (FIG. 52).
(B)). As described above, the advertisement image management table (advertisement image group) managed by the specific image information management unit 48 is switched according to the time zone (see FIG. 53). It is also possible to finely divide the time zone and change the content for management. By switching the field according to the time of day, the rate of taking composite copies with advertisements increases, and for users,
The benefits are great for advertisers as well. The user layer differs depending on the time zone, and the advertisement image information can be set according to the user layer.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 28, a plurality of specific image information in various fields input by various image input methods is stored in a part of an image memory 43 provided in the color digital copying machine 1. Is stored in the specific image information memory 102 in advance. The specific image information management unit 48 manages the information for each field and also for the calendar (month, day, season). The specific image information automatic selection function provided in the specific image information management unit 48 is an optimal advertisement according to calendar (month, day, season) information from a plurality of managed specific image information (advertisement images). Automatically select image information. The image editing unit 45 determines the image processing contents of each tooth, and the image editing and recording apparatus (color digital copying machine) combines the read image information of the original with the selected specific image information to form one image. Output as image information. The advertisement image information is effective for an advertisement in which the content can be changed on a monthly or seasonal basis, such as a corporate image advertisement, or an advertisement effective only on Sunday.

As shown in FIG. 52 and the like, on the operation screen, there is provided a selection area indicating a plurality of specific image information (advertisement images) for each field. The display is switched for each day of the week by the advertisement image management table (advertisement image group) in accordance with the change of the calendar (month, day of the week, season) information by the specific image information management unit 48, and the management for each field is performed (see FIG. 54). . The advertisement image information is effective for an advertisement in which the content can be changed on a monthly or seasonal basis, such as a corporate image advertisement, or an advertisement effective only on Sunday.

<Sixth Embodiment> Next, a digital copying machine according to a sixth embodiment will be described. In the sixth embodiment, image processing is performed so as to be easy to see when synthesized from original image information and advertisement image information. The block diagram of this digital copying machine is the same as that of FIG. 28, and the detailed description is omitted.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in more detail using the screen of the operation panel. The operation screen flow of the operation panel 60 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the detailed description is omitted. The operation screen flow for copy service stores is easy to understand even with a limited number of functions, and is characterized by being easily operated by anyone.
Therefore, the placement (set) direction of the document is limited, and either "copy and combine the advertisement image below horizontal document size horizontal writing" or "copy and combine the advertisement image below vertical document size horizontal writing" You can only choose. However, in the present embodiment, the selection range of the position of the advertisement image with respect to the document image is widened and the operability is simplified without adding such a restriction. This will be described in detail below.

For example, considering an A4 original image size,
As shown in FIG. 55, four types of A4 original vertical size horizontal writing, A4 original vertical size vertical writing, A4 original horizontal size horizontal writing, and A4 original horizontal size vertical writing can be considered. Also, there are four types of advertisement image positions on the recording paper, namely, upper, lower, left, and right, and there are many advertisement image positions in combination of these. A user has a desire to combine and copy an advertisement image at an arbitrary position in accordance with the characteristics of each document image.

FIG. 56A shows an example of the operation screen.
As shown in the figure, "selection areas" 191 and 192 for determining the position of the advertisement image are set at eight positions of the top, bottom, left and right of the vertical size recording paper and the top, bottom, left and right of the horizontal size recording paper. Provided,
By touching the “selection area” 191 or 192 desired by the user, the position of the advertisement image is determined with respect to the recording paper. Proceeding to the screen of FIG. 56B, a composite image 195 of the original image 194 and the advertisement image is displayed, and the user is allowed to confirm.

In FIG. 56, both the vertical-size recording paper and the horizontal-size recording paper are shown on the operation screen. , The vertical size and the horizontal size can be determined. Therefore, there is no need to distinguish between the vertical size and the horizontal size on the operation screen. May be provided. Even if the position of the advertisement image is once determined, the “return” selection area 19 in the operation screen
By pressing 3, the user can again determine the position of the advertisement image.

The original is placed on the original platen 2 of the color digital copying machine 1.
And the cover can be closed to copy, or placed on an automatic document feeder (RADF) 3 on the upper surface of the document table 2 for copying. Often, a user mistakenly turns a document upside down. This is not a significant problem if it is a normal copy, but it is a problem in the present embodiment in which the original image and the advertisement image are combined. If the placement direction (up / down) of the document is wrong, the document image is read upside down.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 56 (a), if the lower part is selected in the "selection area" 192 of the vertical size recording paper as the position selection of the advertisement image, the original image and the advertisement image are changed as shown in FIG. This causes a problem in which the directions of the combined copies are turned upside down.

Therefore, the original image feature extraction function of the image editing unit 45 is used to extract the characteristics of the original image (character vertical direction,
Character arrangement / document placement direction). The image editing unit 45 determines the image processing for the document image information by the first processing determination function based on the characteristics of the document image,
The image processing for the specific image information is determined by the second processing determination function. Including the solution of the above problem, the combining process finalizing function determines the process of arranging and composing the determined advertising image in the correct position while considering not only the copy image of the original but also the original image. . Thus, the digital copying machine performs the composite copy, and effectively records and outputs each image on paper. Regarding the processing for the original image and the processing for the advertisement image here,
Two specific examples will be described in which the directions of the original image and the advertisement image are not reversed based on the vertical direction and the arrangement of the characters of the input original image.

First, as shown in FIG. 58, if the input document image is determined to be upside down by the document image feature extraction function of the image editing unit 45, the hard disk 43a to
The original image data stored on the memory 43d is stored in the memory 4 for synthesis.
The document image is re-developed on 3f and the original image is synthesized so as to be oriented correctly with respect to the advertisement image. A composite copy of the original image corrected in the correct direction and the advertisement image stored in the specific image information storage unit is made at the advertisement image position arbitrarily selected by the user. Even if the original is set upside down and copied, the input original image data is processed so that it matches the direction of the advertisement image, so the user does not have to worry about the original when setting the original .

As shown in FIG. 59, if the input document is determined to be upside down by the document image feature extraction function of the image editing unit 45, the advertisement image stored in the specific image information storage means is determined. By performing image rotation and position change on the combining memory 43f, the advertisement image is combined with the original image so as to be oriented correctly.
A composite copy of the original image corrected in the correct direction and the advertisement image stored in the specific image information storage unit is made at the advertisement image position arbitrarily selected by the user. Even if the original is set upside down and copied, the selected advertisement image data is image-processed so that it matches the orientation of the original image, so the user does not care about the original when setting the original. Good.

In the synthesizing process determining function of the image editing unit 45, the position of the advertisement image is determined with respect to the recording paper. The position relationship between each document image and the advertisement image and the document image feature extraction function extract the position. The characteristics of the original image (the vertical direction of the characters, the arrangement of the characters, and the original placing direction) are displayed on the operation panel, and the operator selects the output area of the advertisement image. The specific image information management unit 48 stores the specific image information memory 1
An appropriate advertisement image (vertical writing, horizontal writing, size of the advertisement image) is automatically selected from the advertisement images stored in the image No. 02. FIG. 60 introduces some examples of various advertisement images for A4. That is, there are a vertical size horizontal writing advertisement image, a horizontal size horizontal writing advertisement image, a horizontal size vertical writing advertisement image, a vertical size vertical writing advertisement image, and the like.

FIG. 61 shows the advertisement image (one copy display) shown in FIG. 60 based on the features of the various original images shown in FIG.
Some examples of automatically selecting an appropriate advertisement image from among the above and synthesizing and copying are shown. More specifically, FIG. 61A shows an example in which when the original is A4 portrait size and horizontal writing, features are extracted by the original document feature extraction function of the image editing unit 45, and the advertisement image position is shown in FIG.
“Down” is selected on the operation screen of FIG. In this case, the A4 vertical size horizontal writing advertisement image is automatically selected.

FIG. 61B shows an example in which the document is extracted by the document feature extracting means that the document is A4 vertical size and vertical writing. Is selected. Also in this case, the A4 vertical size horizontal writing advertisement image is automatically selected.

FIG. 61 (c) shows an example in which the original is extracted by the original feature extracting means when the original is A4 horizontal size and horizontal writing. Selected. In this case, the A4 landscape size advertisement image is automatically selected.

FIG. 61 (d) shows an example in which the original is extracted by the original feature extracting means that the original is A4 horizontal size and vertical writing. Is selected. In this case, the A4 horizontal size vertical writing advertisement image is automatically selected.

As described above, when the user designates the placement of the advertisement image based on the characteristics of the original image (the vertical direction of the characters, the arrangement of the characters, and the direction of placing the original), the advertisement image conforming to the designation is copied to the digital copier. Automatically selects and performs composite image processing. Therefore, the user does not have to worry about the size of the advertisement image, horizontal writing, vertical writing, and the like.

In the example described above, the user gives an instruction from the liquid crystal touch panel operation screen regarding the determination of the position of the advertisement image. Is determined.

Next, with respect to the advertisement image position automatically determined in advance, the features of the original image (character vertical direction,
An advertisement image suitable for the position and the size is automatically selected from the advertisement images stored in the specific image information memory 43 from the information on the arrangement of the characters and the document placement direction).
As an example, as shown in FIG. 61B, when the original is automatically set to A4 vertical size and vertical writing, and the advertisement image is automatically set to “bottom”, the A4 size is set based on the advertisement image position and the vertical size vertical writing feature of the original. Automatically select horizontal writing advertisement image for vertical size. Therefore, the operation becomes very simple.

As a means for determining an appropriate position of an advertisement image from the information (character vertical direction / character arrangement / document placement direction) of an original image, an advertisement image position management table is provided as shown in FIG. Set default. However, means for changing the setting of the advertisement image position management table by operation from the operation panel or the liquid crystal touch panel is provided, and the administrator or the user can change the condition for automatically determining the position of the advertisement image.

As an example, when the original is A4 horizontal size and vertical writing as shown in FIG. 61D, the advertisement image position is “left” from the default of the advertisement image management table of FIG. And the vertical size vertical writing advertisement image for A4 size is automatically selected from the characteristics of the original document in horizontal size and vertical writing.
As an example of the setting change, the default is “left” as shown in FIG. 62 when the original is A4 portrait size and vertical writing,
Due to the setting change of the administrator or the user, the position of the advertisement image is always set to “down” when the original is A4 vertical size and vertical writing. Although the advertisement image position is automatically determined by the advertisement image position management table, a means for changing the setting of the advertisement image position management table is provided so that the administrator or the user can change the conditions for automatically determining the position of the advertisement image. As a result, special applications can be accommodated.

As shown in FIG. 63, the input document image information is displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel display device 61, and the result of the copy including the advertisement image obtained by combining the document image and the advertisement image is also displayed. That is, the position of the advertisement image can also be confirmed by this display. The determination of the advertisement image position may be performed by the user from the liquid crystal touch panel operation screen, or may be automatically determined from the advertisement image position management table. Therefore, the state of the original image input before the copy with the advertisement can be checked, and the user can check the overall balance including the position of the advertisement image, so that the number of failed copies can be greatly reduced.

It has already been described that the user may set the document upside down on the automatic document feeder 3 or the document table 2 with the document placement direction wrong. In this case, as shown in FIG. 64, the document image is input upside down and displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel display device 61 as it is. However, if the input document image is determined to be upside down by the document image feature extracting means, the document image data once stored on the hard disks 43a to 43d is re-developed on the synthesizing memory 43f so that the vertical direction is appropriate. The result of the copy containing the advertisement image obtained by combining the original image and the advertisement image in the state is also displayed. That is, the advertisement image position can be copied after confirming the correct orientation of the document image information.

Even if the user sets the original upside down, the original corrected in the normal direction by image processing from the information (character vertical direction, character arrangement, original placing direction) of the original image. An image is displayed, and the user can check the overall balance including the position of the advertisement image.
Therefore, the number of failed copies can be greatly reduced.

As shown in FIG. 64, the input original image and the advertisement image are combined, and the input state of the original image and the position of the advertisement image with respect to the input original image are displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel display 61 as a copy including the advertisement image. Is displayed. It is also assumed that the user looks at the display of the final copy with the advertisement image and wants to change the position of the advertisement image without hesitation. In this case, a "change selection area" for instructing to change the position of the advertisement image is displayed on the copy confirmation screen containing the advertisement image, and when the "change instruction area" is touched, the position of the advertisement image is determined, Automatically re-selects an advertisement image suitable for the position and size from the information (character vertical direction, character arrangement, document placement direction) of the original image from the advertisement images stored in the specific image information storage means Is what you do. Since it is possible to instruct to change the position of the advertisement image on the confirmed screen, the position of the advertisement image can be changed by a simple operation, and the copy with the advertisement image after the change can be confirmed again before the copy.

<Seventh Embodiment> A seventh embodiment is an image information processing system having a color digital copying machine.
This color digital copying machine processes the original image and the specific image information (advertisement image) in accordance with the characteristics of the respective image information as in the above-described embodiment. The seventh embodiment is an image information processing system in which specific image information processed by these color digital copiers is managed by a specific image information management device at a head office or a headquarters.

FIG. 65 is a block diagram of a color digital copying machine according to the seventh embodiment. Since this block diagram has basically the same configuration as that of FIG. 28, the same portions are denoted by the corresponding reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. This digital copier has a communication infrastructure 21 such as a telephone line, terrestrial wave, and satellite communication.
2, 213 transfers specific image information such as advertisements,
It differs from FIG. 28 in that it is fetched from the communication I / F 47. The captured specific image information is stored in hard disks 43a to 43d as specific image information memories in the image memory 43.
And is managed by the specific image information management unit 48 in advance.

A copy user can select a copy with specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) or a normal copy, and creates specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) so that the copy user can find a value to be added. This is very important. For that purpose, it is necessary to aggregate various data such as the usage status of the copy with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) and the output status for each specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) and analyze the obtained data.
Hereinafter, this analysis will be described.

[0212] The collective creation and transfer of specific image information (advertisement image and the like) at the head office and headquarters will be described. FIG. 66 is a diagram of a digital image information processing system in which specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is transferred by mutual information transfer means using a convenience store of a chain store organization as an example. In a chain store organization that also provides copy services, such as a supermarket or a convenience store, the specific image information management device 211 of the head office and headquarters collectively creates specific image information (advertisement image and the like) for each store, and stores and manages it. ing.
The specific image information (advertisement) is periodically transmitted from the specific image information management device 211 to the communication unit (communication interface) 47 of the digital copier of each store by the mutual information transfer means 212 such as the Internet or an intranet using a telephone line or a dedicated line. Information data such as images) is transferred. The transferred specific image information data is already a CMYK signal, is once processed by the halftone processing unit 41h, and is stored in the hard disks 43a to 43d of the image memory 43.

The specific image information (advertisement image and the like) stored in the hard disks 43a to 43d is managed by the specific image information management unit 48, and the optimum specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is selected from the specific image information (advertisement image and the like). Etc.) Automatically select information. Further, the image editing unit 45 performs a plurality of types of image processing to be performed on the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) information, and converts the original image information of the original set at a predetermined position of the color digital copying machine into the image editing unit 45 is a memory 43 for synthesis
The composite processing is performed using f, and stored together on the same sheet. Other examples of the mutual information transfer means 212 include a satellite communication network 213 using satellites and terrestrial communication (not shown).

The point of the seventh embodiment is that a two-way communication infrastructure is used to create specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) at low cost and that can be recognized by the user as having added value. Then, the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created at the head office and headquarters is transferred to each store, and the digital copier at each store sends the total management data of the copy output with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). Headquarters and headquarters. The purpose of this analysis is to increase the utilization rate of a copy with specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) by analyzing these total data and creating even better specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). In addition, head office and headquarters take up the best specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) among the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created at each store, and
It is also important to efficiently create specific image information (advertisement image and the like) by transferring the information to each store.

Hereinafter, the digital image information processing system of the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings. Specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) created at the headquarters and
As described in (Batch creation and transfer of specific image information (advertisement image and the like) at headquarters and headquarters), the information is stored and managed in the digital copier of each store. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) stored and managed in the digital copying machine can be selected from various genres, and a normal copy can be made without selecting the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). It is possible. As described above, since the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) information is periodically transferred from the head office and the headquarters to the digital copier of each store, the total cost of creating the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) can be reduced, and the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) can be reduced. The creator of the information (advertisement image, etc.) is specialized, and the know-how is accumulated at the head office to produce excellent products. Further, since the same specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is used in a wide area, the head office and the headquarters can easily gather advertisement sponsors, and each store can regularly obtain timely specific image information (advertisement image and the like).

It is up to the head office and the head office to know how many copies with specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) are used in each store, and which specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) are well selected. Furthermore, for an advertiser (sponsor), it is one of the methods of measuring the effect, and the effect is a very important issue.

Next, an example of counting of specific image information (advertisement image and the like) will be described. FIG. 67 shows the aggregation management table. This total management table is an example in which the number of outputs of a normal copy and the number of copies of a copy with specific image information (such as an advertisement image) are compared on a monthly basis. FIG. 68 is a tabulation management table indicating how many copies of specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) have been output last month and this month assuming that there were A to J advertisement images. The number of outputs for each copy with specific image information (advertisement image and the like) in FIGS. 67 and 68 is counted and managed by the specific image information management unit 48. FIG. 69 shows the advertisement images grouped by advertiser and totalized and managed by the specific image information management unit 48. The advertising effect of each advertiser can be clearly seen.

Since the specific image information management unit 48 manages the aggregation result for each digital copier in each store,
Digital copiers at each store use specific image information (advertisement images, etc.)
The aggregation management data of the attached copy output is periodically transferred to the specific image information management device (head office, head office management device) 211 at the head office and headquarters via the mutual information transfer unit 212 described above. Specific image information transferred (advertisement image, etc.)
The tabulated management data of the attached copy output is stored and managed by the tabulated information storage management unit of the specific image information management apparatus (head office, headquarters side management apparatus) 211. The headquarters and headquarters collect the tallying result data transferred from each store, and further perform tallying for the whole or each region, and specific image information (advertisement image etc.)
Perform an analysis.

[0219] Some of the specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) created in each store is excellent, and the specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) is utilized throughout the region or nationwide. There is something to be done. Each store transmits such excellent specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) to the specific image information management device (the head office,
Headquarters side management device) 211.

In this way, the head office and the headquarters can further determine and continue the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) and create new specific image information (advertisement image) by collecting and analyzing the information. Image know-how can be accumulated, and aggregated data and analytical data can be used to develop advertisers (sponsors) at headquarters and headquarters.

Further, the transferred specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is temporarily stored in the specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211, and the head office and headquarters confirm this and adopt it. Is determined, the management can be performed by the specific image information management device (the head office and the head office management device) 211. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred to the digital copier of another store via the mutual transfer means 212. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created collectively from the specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211 at the head office and the head office is periodically transmitted to the digital copier of each store via the mutual information transfer unit 212. Forward,
In addition to unilaterally transferring the data, the digital copiers of each store periodically collect the totaling result data of the copy output with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) via the mutual information transfer unit 212 and transmit the specific image information management device ( Head office, headquarters side management device) 21
This is a feedback system that returns to 1.

The specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211 at the headquarters and headquarters is provided with a copy with specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) that is aggregated and managed by the digital copier at each store. When a transfer request for the output summary data is issued, the digital copiers of the stores respond to the transfer request via the mutual information transfer means 212 described above, and the specific image information management devices at the head office and the headquarters (head office and head office management devices). ) Transfer to 211. The transferred total management data of the copy output with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is stored and managed by the total information storage management unit of the specific image information management device (head office, head office management device) 211. The headquarters and headquarters collect the totaling result data transferred from each store, further perform totaling for each area or each area, and analyze each specific image information (advertisement image, etc.).

As described above, the total management data of the digital copiers of each store is transferred at the request of the head office and the headquarters. Therefore, whenever it is desired to investigate and analyze the head office and the headquarters, the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) It is possible to collect the tally result data of the copy output with the attached, and the head office and the head office can collect the tally result data of the copy output with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) limited to the area or limited to the specific store. it can.

The specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211 at the head office and the head office requests the digital copier of each store to transfer the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) uniquely created at each store. Then, in response to the transfer request, the digital copiers at each store operate the mutual information transfer means 2 already described.
The information is transferred to a specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211 of the headquarters and headquarters via the interface 12. The headquarters and the headquarters temporarily store the transferred specific image information (advertisement image and the like) in the specific image information management device (the headquarters and the headquarters side management device) 211, and the headquarters and the headquarters confirm this and decide to adopt. For example, the management can be performed by the specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred to the digital copier of another store via the mutual transfer means 212.

<Eighth Embodiment> Next, an image information processing system according to an eighth embodiment presents specific image information (advertisement image and the like) registered in a color digital copying machine in various forms. The point is to provide a digital image information processing system in which specific image information (advertisement image) created collectively at the head office and headquarters is transferred to each store using the communication infrastructure.

The following describes this image information processing system with reference to FIG. An administrator of the digital copier 1 at each store operates a specific image information transfer requesting unit from the operation panel,
For example, a transfer of specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is requested by inputting a simulation code. By the mutual information transfer means (212, 213) described above, a transfer request signal for specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred to the specific image information management device 211 at the headquarters and the headquarters. The specific image information management device 211 transfers specific image information data such as specific image information (advertisement image and the like) stored and managed to the communication unit (communication interface) 47 of the digital copier 1 in each store. The transferred specific image information data is already a CMYK signal, is once subjected to halftone processing 41h, is stored in the hard disks 43a to 43d of the image memory 43, and is managed by the specific image information management unit 48.

The head office and the headquarters transfer the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) in response to the request for the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) of each store. (Advertisement image, etc.) can be obtained, and when there is enough time, confirmation and selection of specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) can be made.

Specific image information management device 211 at headquarters and headquarters
Already described that collectively creates and stores and manages specific image information (advertisement images and the like) for each store. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is required to be timely, new ones are created sequentially, and old ones are deleted. However, it is difficult to newly create all the specific image information (advertisement images and the like) stored and managed at one time, and they are sequentially updated. Therefore, when transferring regularly, the specific image information management device 211 of the head office and the head office transfers only the updated specific image information (advertisement image etc.) data to the communication unit (communication interface) 47 of the digital copying machine 1 of each store. I do. Also in the case of transferring based on a transfer request signal from each store, the specific image information management device 211 of the head office and the headquarters stores only the updated specific image information (advertisement image etc.) data in the communication unit of the digital copier 1 of each store. (Communication interface) Transfer to 47.

FIG. 70 shows a management table of the specific image management device (head office, headquarters management device) 211. Previous month management specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) B of management numbers 2, 3, and 8;
C and H remain unchanged this month, and the other previous month specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) A, D, E, F, G, this month, new specific image information (advertisement image etc.) J, K, L, The updated specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is updated with M and N, and a flag of 1 is added to the updated specific image information (advertisement image and the like), and a flag of 0 is added to the non-updated specific image information (advertisement image and the like). . The specific image information management device 211 transfers only the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) with the flag of 1, that is, the updated specific image information to the digital copier of each store.

Since only the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) updated from the head office and the headquarters is transferred to the digital copier of each store, the transfer time can be greatly reduced, and the transfer of the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) can be performed. Such costs can be reduced.

The manager of the digital copier 1 in each store checks the transferred specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) by using transfer information confirming means, for example, inputting a simulation code or the like. The specific image information (advertisement image or the like) can be displayed on the device 61 or the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) can be output on paper by the printing function of the digital copying machine. Specific image information management device 211 at headquarters and headquarters
The manager of the digital copier at each store confirms and selects the specific image information data transferred to the digital copier at each store via the mutual information transfer means (212, 213).

As described above, the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the headquarters and the headquarters is checked by printing it on the display device of the digital copying machine or printed out. (Advertisement image, etc.) The data can be confirmed on the display screen or on the printout that the data has been sent normally, and the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) information transferred from the head office and headquarters is necessary for the store. Can be determined.

Next, a case where the transferred advertisement image is temporarily stored in the image memory will be described. The administrator of the digital copying machine 1 of each store prepares specific image information (advertisement image and the like).
Are output, and based on the result, only specific image information (advertisement image or the like) considered suitable for the shop is selected. The administrator inputs the management number from the operation panel 60 or the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61, so that the selected specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is stored in the image memory 43.
Is stored as it is. The specific image information data not selected is automatically deleted from the image memory 43. As another example, specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is sequentially displayed on the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61, confirmation and selection are performed on the display screen, and unnecessary identification is performed on the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61 by a registration / delete key. The image information (such as an advertisement image) is deleted from the image memory 43.

Next, a case will be described in which the transferred advertisement images are sequentially selected and only the selected advertisement images are stored in the image memory. The specific image information data transferred from the specific image information management device 211 at the head office and the head office to the communication unit (network interface) 47 of the digital copying machine at each store via the mutual information transfer means (212, 213) is stored in the image memory one by one. The confirmation selection is performed by storing the information in the storage 43 and displaying it on the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61 or outputting it on paper. As a result, the touch panel liquid crystal display device 61
Unnecessary specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is deleted from the image memory 43 by the registration and deletion keys.

As described above, the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) sent from the head office and the headquarters to each store is confirmed, and the selected specific image information (advertisement image and the like) information is stored in the digital copying machine. As a result, the limited image memory of the digital copier can be used effectively, and the store can be selected by selecting from specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) of all genres transferred from the head office and headquarters. Can be obtained.

The head office and headquarters also create black-and-white specific image information (advertisement images and the like) for black-and-white digital copying machines. Therefore, the mutual image transfer means (21)
2, 213), specific image information data transferred to the digital copier of each store includes not only color specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) but also black and white specific image information (advertisement image, etc.).
Is also included. In order to distinguish this, an identification code of color or monochrome is given to the first part of the specific image information data. For example, assuming that the digital copying machine at store B in FIG. 66 is a black-and-white digital copying machine, the black-and-white digital copying machine at store B transmits the identification image transferred before the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) data transfer. By recognizing the code, the transfer of only the black and white specific image information data is permitted and stored in the image memory 43. On the other hand, if the digital copiers at the other stores A and C in FIG. 66 are color digital copiers, the color or black and white identification code to be transmitted prior to the specific image information (advertisement image etc.) data transfer. , The transfer of only the color specific image information data is permitted, and the color specific image information data is stored in the image memory 43.
8 to manage.

As described above, specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the headquarters and headquarters in a mixture of color and black and white.
The black-and-white digital copier stores and manages only black-and-white specific image information (advertisement image, etc.), and the color digital copier stores and manages only color specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). By permitting the transfer of only black and white specific image information (advertisement image and the like) from the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) transferred from the head office and the headquarters, the transfer time can be greatly reduced. In addition, the image memory can be greatly reduced, and even in stores where color digital copiers are installed, color specific image information (advertisement images, etc.)
, And by transferring only the color specific image information (such as an advertisement image), the transfer time can be reduced.

When the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) data for this month is transferred from the specific image information management device 211, the digital copying machine 1
The specific image information (advertisement image etc.) of the previous month stored and managed on the side is entirely deleted from the image memory 43 and replaced with the specific image information (advertisement image etc.) of this month. As an embodiment, as shown in the management table of the digital image recording apparatus (digital copier of each store) in FIG. 72, all the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) of the previous month is automatically deleted, and the administrator of the digital copier can Every month, a specific image information (advertisement image or the like) transferred from the head office is selected and stored in the image memory 43 of the digital copying machine for management.

Since the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) stored in the copying machine is rewritten to a new transfer image every time one transfer is performed, the required image memory 43 does not increase, and the old specific image is not changed. Since information (advertisement images and the like) is automatically deleted, time efficiency is good.

As shown in FIG. 2, an original image reading unit 2 (scanner) of the color digital copying machine 1 itself, a personal computer 32 connected to a network, and a digital camera as a method of inputting specific image information (advertisement image and the like). 33, a digital video camera 34, a communication portable terminal 35, and the like. Therefore, each store can create its own specific image information (such as an advertisement image), and each store needs its own specific image information (such as an advertisement image) to characterize each store. It is necessary to distinguish the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) unique to each store from the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) transferred from the head office and the head office. Each specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is stored in the image memory 43, and is separately managed in the specific image information management device 48. As an example, as shown in the management table of the digital image recording apparatus (digital copier of each store) in FIG. 72, the specific image information code is 1 for the specific image information transferred from the head office or the headquarters, and the specific image information unique to each store. Is assigned a code of 0. Each is managed by a specific image information code.

As another example, in the image memory 43,
There is also a method of completely separating the specific image information storage area unique to each store from the specific image information storage area transferred from the head office and the head office. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) input from the copier side and the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the head office and the head office are separately stored and managed.
When the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred from the headquarters, the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) unique to each store is not erased by mistake, and each specific image information (advertisement image, etc.)
Search is easy.

When the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is periodically transferred from the specific image information management device 211 (head office, headquarters side management device) via the information transfer means, the digital image recording shown in FIG. All the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) with the specific image information code of 1 in the management table of the device (digital copier of each store) is deleted. Thereafter, the administrator of the digital copying machine performs an operation of selecting specific image information (advertisement image or the like) transferred from the head office, newly stores the specific image information in the specific image information storage area, and performs management.

Another example will be described. When specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is periodically transferred from the specific image information management device 211 (the headquarters or headquarters side management device) via the information transfer unit 212, the digital image recording device (see FIG. 73). All the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) with the specific image information code of 1 in the management table of the digital copier (each store) is deleted. The same is true up to this point, except that the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) to be transferred is automatically selected and newly stored in the specific image information storage area.
The specific image information (advertisement image and the like) managed by the specific image information management device 211 at the headquarters and the headquarters may be the same maker advertisement or the same sponsor advertisement if the management number is the same. It has been created to have. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 73, by storing the management numbers of the headquarters and the headquarters side selected in advance in the digital copying machine,
From the next month, specific image information (advertisement image and the like) having the same management number can be automatically stored.

Since the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) stored in the copying machine every time one transfer is performed, only the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the head office or the headquarters is completely rewritten. Since it is not necessary to rewrite each store's own specific image for each transfer, time efficiency is high, the required image memory does not increase, and old specific image information (advertisement image etc.) is automatically saved. Since it is deleted, time efficiency is good. In another example, it is not necessary to select specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) for each transfer, and once the management number of the specific image information management device at the head office is stored, automatic Erasing and storing are possible.

The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) stored in the copying machine for each transfer must be completely rewritten only for the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the head office or headquarters. Is the same as the above example, except that the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is completely erased even if the specific image information code in the management table of the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store) is 1. That is not done.
As shown in FIG. 74, the specific image information management device 211 transfers only the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) with the update information 1 flag in the management table of the head office management device to the digital copier of each store. In response to this, the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store) checks the management number of the head office management device that has been selected and registered in advance and the transferred management number, and specifies only the one that matches the number for the previous month. The image information (advertisement image and the like) is deleted, and the transferred specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is stored in the specific image information storage area.

The specific image information (advertisement image and the like) stored in the copying machine for each transfer is the updated specific image information of the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) transferred from the head office and the headquarters. (Advertisement images, etc.)
Only the updated specific image is replaced with the previous month specific image, and the total processing time including the transfer time is shortened.

As shown in the management table in FIG. 72, the specific image information code (such as an advertisement image) of the unique specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created at each store is 0, and the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created at the head office and headquarters. Is set to 1. When erasing the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.), always check the specific image information code so that it cannot be deleted unless the specific image information code is 1, and specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created independently by each store To protect. Even among the specific image information (advertisement images, etc.), it is protected from being deleted by the information transmitted from the head office and headquarters side, so that the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created by each store by mistake will not be deleted Absent.

The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) created by the head office and headquarters may be common throughout the country, but may be divided into several regions as shown in FIG. Information (advertisement images and the like) is collectively created at the head office and the head office, and the specific image information management device 211 at the head office stores and manages the information together with the area code. The white dots in the figure indicate the head office and the black dots indicate the branches. The specific image information management device 211 periodically transfers the data via the mutual transfer unit 212. In response to this, the digital copier 1 of each store skips the specific image information data that does not match the transferred area code and the region code registered in the digital copier 1 itself when installed in each store, and matches. Only transfer of specific image information (advertisement image etc.) is permitted.

Since the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) information created for each region from the head office and the headquarters is periodically transferred to the digital copier of each store, the region color is displayed while a certain range (region) is common. Specific image information (advertising images, etc.)
Is created at the headquarters side, so rather than creating each store independently,
Costs are lower. In addition, since the same specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is used for each region, the head office can easily gather advertisement sponsors.

As shown in FIG. 75, specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) corresponding to each region is divided into several regions, and the headquarters and the headquarters collectively create the specific image information. The operation is the same as that of the above-described embodiment up to the point of storing and managing together with the area code. The difference is that the local code is input from the digital copier side to the specific image management device 211 at the head office via the mutual information transfer means 212 and 213, for example, from the operation panel of the digital copier, for example, by inputting a simulation code. A transfer request input of image information (advertisement image or the like) is performed. By the mutual information transfer means 212 and 213 already described, the transfer request signal of the area code and the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is transferred to the specific image information management device 211 of the head office or the headquarters. The specific image information management device 211 of the head office transfers specific image information data matching the area code from the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) data stored and managed to the digital copier 1 of each store.

The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) for each area is transferred from the head office and the head office in response to the transmission of the area code from each store and the request for the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) for each area. At the date and time, specific image information (advertisement image etc.) can be replaced. Also, since transfer is permitted only for data that matches the area code, specific image information (advertisement image and the like) specific to the area, such as specific image information (advertisement image and the like) with a high temporal efficiency and a good locality, can be obtained.

The specific image information management device 211 of the head office and the head office
Transfer of specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) to the digital copier of each store from the specific image information management device 21
1 obtains machine information registered in advance in the digital copier 1 of each store. Therefore, the specific image information management device 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes a machine information transfer request unit. In response to the machine information transfer request, the digital image recording apparatus (digital copier of each store) transfers the machine information via the information transfer units 212 and 213. In accordance with the machine information of the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store), the specific image information management device (head office, headquarters side management device) 211 selects from the stored and managed specific image information (advertisement image etc.) The specific image information (advertisement image etc.) is automatically selected and periodically transferred to the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store) via the information transfer means 212 and 213. Therefore, there is no need to make various settings at the time of transferring specific image information (such as an advertisement image) each time.

As the machine information, information on a color machine or a monochrome machine, installation area information, language correspondence information, and the like can be considered. As shown in the machine information table of FIG. 75, code 0 is used when the digital copying machine is a color machine, and code 1 is used when the digital copying machine is a monochrome machine. Figure 7 shows the location of the digital copier.
If it is divided as shown in FIG. 4, code 0 for Tohoku / Hokkaido, code 1 for Kanto, code 2 for Chubu, code 3 for Kinki, code 4 for Chugoku / Shikoku, and code 5 for Kyushu / Okinawa. Japanese code 0, English code 1,
The German code is 3, the Spanish code is 4, and the Chinese code is 5. The digital image recording devices (digital copiers at each store) of these codes transfer the information to the specific image information management device 211 (head office, headquarters side management device) via the information transfer means 212 and 213.

As described above, the head office and head office management device 211
Automatically determines the area code of the digital copier installed in each store, and periodically transfers appropriate specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) created for each area to the digital copier in each store. There is no need to set installation area information when transferring (advertisement images, etc.). In addition, since only the data that matches the area code is permitted to be transferred, specific image information (advertisement image and the like) specific to the area, such as specific image information (advertisement image and the like) with high temporal efficiency and high regionality, can be obtained. .

In response to these codes, the specific image information management device 211 (head office, headquarters side management device) selects the appropriate specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) from the stored and managed specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). ) Is automatically selected and periodically transferred to a digital image recording apparatus (digital copier of each store) via the information transfer means. Head office, headquarters side management device 211
Automatically discriminates the destination and language information of the digital copier in each store, and periodically transfers the appropriate specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) information created for each language to the digital copier in each store. When information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred, there is no need to set language correspondence information. It is also conceivable to use digital copiers of different languages in various stores overseas or in Japan, so that specific image information (advertisement images and the like) with an international character can be obtained.

<Ninth Embodiment> In the ninth embodiment, the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) registered in the color digital copying machine and the original set in a predetermined position of the color digital copying machine for copying are copied. A mode to record original image information on the same paper as a part of the function of the color digital copier, and as a system to operate this function efficiently in a network environment using communication infrastructure This is the digital image information processing system we have constructed. Further, the point of this embodiment is that the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) data created collectively at the head office and the headquarters is stored and managed on the digital copier side of each store by using the bidirectional communication infrastructure. Store and manage the specific image information management device at the headquarters and headquarters or the server at each store, transfer the specific image information data only when necessary, and collectively manage the specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) at the same time as the transfer It is. The aim is to increase the utilization rate of a copy with specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) by analyzing these data collected in real time and creating even better specific image information (advertisement image, etc.).

Hereinafter, the digital image information processing system of the present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings.

First, the case where the specific image information is stored and managed in the server of each store will be described. FIG. 77 is a diagram of a digital image information processing system in which specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is transferred by mutual information transfer units 212 and 213 via a server of each store, taking a convenience store of a chain store organization as an example. A PO that has already been constructed as a system in supermarkets and convenience stores that also provide copy services in a chain store organization
The server that manages the S terminal and the like uses a bidirectional communication infrastructure and is connected to the head office and headquarters via a network. Utilizing this network system (mutual information transfer means 212 such as the Internet or an intranet using a telephone line or a dedicated line), the specific image information management device 211 of the head office and the headquarters stores specific image information collectively created for each store. (Advertisement images, etc.) to an information management device (server at each store)
Transfer to 214. The transferred specific image information data is stored in the memory (hard disk or the like) of the information management device (server in each store) 214. The information management device (server in each store) 214 and the digital copying machine 1 are connected to a network.

The copy user can select a copy with specific image information (such as an advertisement image) or a normal copy. When a copy with desired specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is selected from a plurality of genres, the digital copier 1 of each store requests the transfer of the desired specific image information by the specific image information transfer requesting means. In response to the transfer request, the requested specific image information from the specific image information stored and managed in the information management device 214 (the server of each store) is recorded on the digital image via the information transfer means 212 and 213. The data is transferred to the apparatus 1 (digital copier in each store). Subsequent processing is the same as when the specific image information is stored and managed in the specific image information management device at the headquarters or headquarters. In any case, the point is that the specific image information (such as the advertisement image) is not stored and managed on the digital copying machine side. The advertisement image is managed by an external advertisement image management device (head office or server), and the advertisement image is transferred according to the transfer request from the digital copying machine.
The digital copying machine does not require a memory for specific image information (such as an advertisement image), and the price of the digital copying machine itself can be reduced.

Next, a method of using outline information (size, color / black and white, genre, title, reduced outline image, etc.) to determine specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) on the digital copying machine side will be described. The specific image information management device (the headquarters, headquarters side management device or server at each store) stores the specific image information (advertisement image etc.) stored and managed and the general information (size, color / black and white, Genre, title, reduced outline image, etc.). FIG. 78 is a management table of general information managed by the head office, headquarters side management device, or server at each store. When the copy user selects the copy with the advertisement image, only the schematic information of the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is transferred to the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store) via the information transfer means described above. The general information of the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) transferred to the digital copier of each store is temporarily stored in the memory 43.

FIG. 79 is a flowchart showing an operation screen for determining specific image information (advertisement image or the like) from general information.
27 is an example for further restricting specific image information (advertisement image and the like) with respect to FIG. 27 illustrating the operation screen flow. When the selection area of "electric product advertisement" is pressed in FIG. 27 (b), the item related to the electric product is extracted from the middle category of the summary information management table (FIG. 78), and the screen of FIG. 79 (a) is displayed. You.

Next, when the selection area of “copier” is pressed, a screen shown in FIG. 79 (b) is displayed, and a reduced schematic image 219 of specific image information (advertisement image or the like) relating to the copier appears. By using the selection key 220, other specific image information (advertisement image or the like) related to the copying machine can be displayed. When the specific image information is determined, the selection area 221 of “confirm” is pressed. When the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is determined, a transfer request signal is output from the digital copying machine 1, and in response to the transfer request, the specific image requested each time from the head office, the head office management device, or the server at each store. Information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred to a digital image recording device (digital copier in each store) via information transfer means.

The transferred specific image information (advertisement image and the like) and the original image information input from the original image information input means of the digital copier 1 of each store are combined and output on one sheet. . An external advertisement image management device (headquarters or server) that manages the advertisement image transfers information about the advertisement image in response to a request from the digital copying machine, and responds to the determined request for the advertisement image thereafter. Is transmitted, the digital copying machine does not require a memory for specific image information (advertisement image and the like), and the price of the digital copying machine can be reduced. In addition, the copy user can select specific image information (advertisement image and the like) without depending on the machine.

Next, only the outline information (size, color / black and white, genre, title, reduced outline image, etc.) of the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is stored in the digital copying machine in advance.
The case of management will be described. The specific image information management device (the headquarters, headquarters side management device or server at each store) stores the specific image information (advertisement image etc.) stored and managed and the general information (size, color / black and white, Genre, title, reduced outline image, etc.). This summary information is transferred to the digital image recording apparatus (digital copier of each store) via the information transfer means described above periodically or based on a transfer request from the digital copier. The general information of the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) transferred to the digital copier of each store is stored in the image memory 43 and managed by the general information management means 48.

As already described with reference to FIG. 79, specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is determined by the copy user from the general information managed by the general information management means 48 of the digital copying machine. When the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is determined, a transfer request signal is output from the digital copying machine 1 and, in response to the transfer request, a request is issued from the head office, the head office management device 211, or the server 214 of each store in each case. The specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is transferred to the information transfer units 212 and 2.
The image data is transferred to a digital image recording device (digital copier of each store) via the PC 13. The external advertisement image management device (head office or server) that manages the advertisement image transfers and manages only the information regarding the advertisement image to the digital copying machine, so that the specific image information ( It is not necessary to have a full memory for advertisement images, etc., and only a small memory for general information is required, and the price of the digital copier body can be reduced. In addition, the copy user does not leave the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) to the machine, but selects a desired one, and the total processing time is short because the transfer of the general information is unnecessary.

In the description so far, the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred from the server at the head office, headquarters, or each store to the digital copying machine each time. Will be described. The user can select specific image information (advertising images, etc.) from various genres as described above,
Ordinary copying is also possible without selecting specific image information (such as an advertisement image). Therefore, knowing how many copies with specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) are used, and which specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) are well selected, is an additional advertiser for the headquarters and headquarters. (Sponsor) is one of the ways to measure the effect, and how effective it is is a very important issue.

An example of counting specific image information (such as an advertisement image) will be described below. In response to a transfer request of the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) from the digital copying machine 1 of each store, the specific image information management device (the head office, the head office management device, or the server of each store) each time requests the specific image information. Is transferred to the digital copier 1 of each store via the information transfer means, and at the same time, the specific image information management device (the head office, the head office management device or the server of each store) collects the transferred specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). Perform management. There is no need to collect tally data for each digital copier, and tallying can be performed in real time simultaneously with the transfer of the advertisement image. FIG. 80 shows an example of a management table that is totalized and managed for each advertisement image in the specific image information management device at the head office and the head office. The number of times of transfer for each advertisement image, that is, the number of times of use is shown in real time. Also, these total management information is useful information for each store. The server at each store can obtain real-time aggregation management information from the specific image information management device at the head office or headquarters by requesting the transfer of the aggregation management information.

The external advertisement image management device (head office or server) which manages the advertisement images totals the transferred advertisement images every time the advertisement images are transferred in response to a request from the digital copying machine. There is no need to collect tally data for each copying machine, and tallying can be performed in real time simultaneously with the transfer of the advertisement image. In addition, total data can be analyzed at any time, making it possible to create more timely specific image information (advertisement images, etc.). By transferring real-time total data from the head office and headquarters to each store, each store can also grasp the total results in real time it can.

<Tenth Embodiment> In the tenth embodiment, the server of each store performs color digital copying from a plurality of specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the specific image information management device at the head office or headquarters. This is an image information processing system in which specific image information (advertisement image or the like) suitable for the machine is selected, confirmed, and then transferred to a color digital copying machine. In FIG. 77, the server 214 of each store stores specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) suitable for the features (color digital copier, black-and-white digital copier, copyable size, etc.) of the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store). Select, confirm, and transfer to digital image recording device (digital copier in each store). In FIG. 77, assuming that the digital copying machine of the A store is a color digital copying machine 1-a and the digital copying machine of the B store is a black and white digital copying machine 1-b. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) suitable for the color digital copying machine is selected from the plurality of specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the specific image information management device 211, and after being determined, the A store Transfer to color digital copier 1-a.

[0270] The server 214 of the B store operates the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) transferred from the specific image information management device 211 at the head office and headquarters. Image, etc.)
After it is determined, it is transferred to the black and white digital copying machine 1-b of the B store. There are a satellite communication network using a satellite as a mutual information transfer means, and terrestrial communication (not shown). The advertisement image transferred from the head office or headquarters is managed by the server 214 of each store, and the advertisement image information is determined by the server 214 and then transferred to the digital copying machine. Can be used effectively. Further, since the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is transferred to the server 214, the transfer does not hinder even when the digital copying machine is in use.

An embodiment of a method for confirming specific image information (advertisement image or the like) will be described below. The specific image information management device 2 is sent to the information management device (server of each store) 214.
As means for confirming specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the management device 11 (head office, headquarters side management device), FIG.
Can be displayed on the display device of the server and confirmed. Summary information (genre, size, regional information, language information, color /
Black and white, reduced outline images, etc.) are displayed. FIG.
The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) data is transferred to the digital copying machine 1 by pressing the selected area of “confirmation printing” on the display screen of the server 214 shown in FIG. Thus, one specific image information (advertisement image or the like) can be printed on one sheet of paper (FIG. 82). Alternatively, a plurality of specific image information (advertisement image and the like) can be printed on one sheet of paper (FIG. 8).
2).

In the case of confirmation printing, specific image information data is transferred from the server 214 of each store to the communication unit (communication interface) 47 of the digital copier 1 of each store.
The transferred specific image information data is already a CMYK signal, is subjected to halftone processing 41h, is stored in the hard disks 43a to 43d of the image memory 43, and can be printed on paper by a series of printing operations described above. . In the embodiment, the touch panel type display device has been described, but a method of giving an instruction by a mouse operation is often used. In order to check the advertisement image transferred from the head office or headquarters, the digital copier can output the advertisement image according to the instruction from the server. Therefore, specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) data transferred from the head office or head office Can be confirmed by the output print whether or not it was sent normally. Further, it is easy to determine whether the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) information transferred from the head office or the head office is necessary or unnecessary for the shop.

The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) can be confirmed on the display device of the information management device (server of each store) 214 or
Or specific image information of a digital copier (advertising image, etc.)
The data can be transferred and confirmed by printing specific image information (advertisement image and the like) according to an instruction from the server (FIGS. 81, 82, and 83). From the confirmed image information, the desired specific image information is “determined” on the touch panel display device of the server 214 in FIG. 81.
While confirming by pressing the selection area with your finger,
Only the determined specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is stored in the specific image information storage unit 43 of the digital image recording device (digital copier of each store), and is managed by the specific image information management unit 48. Since the advertisement images transferred from the headquarters and headquarters to the server are checked, and the advertisement images selected from them are transferred to the digital copier, use the limited image memory of the digital copier effectively. It is possible to determine the characteristics of the store by selecting from specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) of all genres transferred from the head office and headquarters.

Next, an embodiment of a method of automatic selection and determination will be described below. Machine information (color copier / monochrome digital copier, copyable size, installation area information, language correspondence information, etc.) of the digital copier connected to the information management device (server of each store) 214 is stored in the server 214 of each store. Then, the information matching the characteristic information (color image, black and white image, image size, installation area information, language correspondence information, etc.) of the transferred specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is selected and determined. FIG. 84 is a schematic information management table showing the features of the transferred specific image information. Advertisement image transferred from features of advertisement image (color image, black and white image, image size, etc.) and machine information of digital copier (color copier / black and white digital copier, copyable size, installation area information, language support information, etc.) , The transfer time can be greatly reduced. The cost for transferring the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) can be reduced, and the image memory can be significantly reduced.

Next, a POS constructed as a system in a supermarket, a convenience store, or the like.
Description will be made assuming a case such as a C store in FIG. 77 in which a plurality of digital copying machines are connected to a server 214 that manages terminals and the like.

In this network system (mutual information transfer means 212 such as the Internet or an intranet using a telephone line or a dedicated line), the specific image information management device 211 of the head office and the headquarters stores the specific image information created collectively for each store. The information (advertisement image and the like) is transferred to the information management device (server in each store) 214. The transferred specific image information data is stored in an information management device (server in each store) 214
(For example, a hard disk). The server 214 of each store selects and determines specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) suitable for the characteristics (color digital copier, monochrome digital copier, copyable size, etc.) of each of the plurality of digital copiers installed in each store. Then, the data is transferred to each digital copier in each store.

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 77, a plurality of digital copying machines are connected to the server 214 of the C store, and one color digital copying machine 1-a is provided.
If the other is a black and white digital copier 1-b,
The server 214 of the C store selects specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) suitable for each digital copying machine from the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred from the specific image information management device 211 of the head office and headquarters. Then, after it is determined, it is transferred to the color digital copying machine 1-a and the monochrome digital copying machine 1-b of the C store.

The advertisement image transferred from the head office is managed by the server of each store, and the advertisement image managed by the server is determined and transferred to a plurality of digital copiers managed by the server. Therefore, the head office and headquarters do not need to transfer specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) for each digital copier, but only to the server of each store, so the transfer time is greatly reduced, and the cost of transfer is reduced. Can be reduced. Also, specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is stored on the server.
Is transferred, no problem occurs in the transfer even when a plurality of digital copying machines are in use.

The specific image information (advertisement image) optimal for each digital image recording device transferred to each of the plurality of digital image recording devices (digital copiers in each store) managed by the information management device (server in each store) 214 ) Can be printed on paper by the output means of each digital copying machine. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 77, specific image information (advertisement image and the like) suitable for the digital copiers 1a and 1b from the server 214 of the C store is described. The specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) transferred is transferred.
For the confirmation of, by the instruction from the server 214,
Color digital copying machine 1-a and monochrome digital copying machine 1
In each digital copying machine of -b, printing can be performed on paper. Also, the transferred specific image information (advertisement image and the like) can be confirmed not by an instruction from the server 214 but also by a print instruction operation in each digital copying machine. FIG. 83 shows a print example in the field of electric products / copiers of specific image information which has been determined and transferred as Japanese language support for color digital copiers, for the Kansai region and throughout Japan.

The advertisement image confirmed by the server and transferred to each digital copying machine can be output for confirmation at each digital copying machine side, so that the specific image information (advertising image etc.) transferred from the server can be output. ) You can check the output print to see if the data was sent correctly. Further, it can be visually determined whether or not the output specific image information (such as an advertisement image) matches the characteristics of the output digital copying machine.

In the above description, the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is unilaterally transferred from the head office and the headquarters. However, the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is transmitted based on the transfer request from the server 214 of each store. ) Will be described.

The manager of the server 214 of each store sends the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) from the server to the head office and headquarters.
When a transfer request is made, a transfer request signal is sent to the specific image information management device 211 at the head office and the headquarters by the mutual information transfer means (212, 213) described above, and the head office and the head office are specified in response to the request signal. The image information management device 211 transfers specific image information (advertisement image and the like) data stored and managed to the server 214 of each store. The transferred specific image information data is temporarily stored in an image memory (a hard disk or the like) of the server 214. Since the head office transfers the advertisement image information in response to the advertisement image request from the server 214 of each store, the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) can be obtained from the head office and the headquarters at a convenient date and time of each store. Further, since the specific image information (advertisement image or the like) is transferred to the server 214, no trouble occurs even when the digital copying machine is in use.

When a request for transfer of specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is made from the server 214 of each store to the head office and the headquarters, the server 214 sends the machine information (color image) of the digital copying machine 1 connected to the server 214. Copy machine / black and white digital copy machine, copyable size, installation area information,
Language correspondence information) is transferred together with a transfer request signal to the specific image information management device 211 at the head office or headquarters. The mutual information transfer means (212, 213) described above sends the machine information and the transfer request signal to the specific image information management device 211 at the head office and the headquarters, and in response to the request signal, the specific image information management device at the head office and the head office. 211 transfers only specific image information (advertisement image and the like) data matching the machine information from the specific image information (advertisement image and the like) data stored and managed to the server 214 of each store. When the server of each store sends a request to transfer the advertisement image to the headquarters or headquarters, it transmits information (regional information, color image, black and white image, image size, etc.) that specifies the image to be transferred. , The transfer time of specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) can be greatly reduced,
The cost for transferring specific image information (advertisement image and the like) can be reduced. Further, the image memory of the digital copying machine can be significantly reduced.

In the description so far, the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) is transferred from the head office or headquarters to the server 214 of each store. However, a plurality of digital copying machines managed by the server 214 of each store will be described below. A description will be given of a feedback system that totalizes the usage status of the advertisement image in the machine and transfers the totalization result to the head office and the head office.

The specific image information (advertisement image and the like) connected to the server 214 of each store and stored and managed in the digital copying machine 1 is used from various genres as described in (Explanation of operation screen flow). Is selectable,
Ordinary copying is also possible without selecting specific image information (such as an advertisement image). Therefore, knowing how many copies with specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) are used at each store, and which specific image information (advertisement images, etc.) are well selected, are important for the head office and headquarters. For the Lord (sponsor), it is one of the ways to measure the effect, and how effective it is is a very important issue.

An embodiment of counting specific image information (such as an advertisement image) will be described below. FIG. 85 shows an example in which the number of outputs of a normal copy and the number of copies of a copy with specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) are compared on a monthly basis. The specific image information management unit 48 performs total management. FIG. 86 shows, as an example, how much specific image information (advertisement image etc.) from A to J was output last month and this month as a copy with specific image information (advertisement image etc.). Specific image information (such as advertisement images)
The specific image information management unit 48 of the digital copying machine 1 manages the total number of outputs for each attached copy.

As described above, the counting result is managed in the specific image information management unit 48 for each digital copying machine.
The server 214 to which a plurality of digital copying machines are connected further collectively manages the counting results of the respective digital copying machines, and periodically collects the counting management data of the copy output with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.), or the head office and the head office. When requested
The information is transferred to the specific image information management device at the headquarters and headquarters (headquarters and headquarters side management device) via the mutual information transfer means described above. The headquarters and headquarters collect the totaling result data transferred from each store, further perform totaling for each area or each area, and analyze each specific image information (advertisement image, etc.).

In another embodiment, each digital copier 1 does not perform tabulation management, and each digital copier 1 outputs a copy with specific image information (such as an advertisement image).
Can directly transfer the data to the server 214, and the server can perform the total management. The server at each store tallies the usage status of the advertising images on the multiple digital copiers it manages, and forwards the totaling results to the head office and headquarters. Gather, and each store can analyze the specific image information (advertisement image), which can be used as a basis for determining the selection of the specific image information from the next time. In addition, the head office and the headquarters can further compile and analyze the information to determine the continuation of the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) and the creation of a new image, thereby creating better specific image information (advertisement image, etc.). Know-how can be accumulated. In addition, aggregated data and analytical data can be used to develop advertisers (sponsors) at headquarters and headquarters.

The total management data of the copy output with the specific image information (advertisement image, etc.) gathered from each store in the specific image information management device at the head office and headquarters (head office and head office management device)
The headquarters and headquarters also perform tabulation and analysis by country or region. These total management information and analysis information are useful information for each store. The information management device at each store (server at each store) sends a tally information transfer request signal requesting the transfer of tally management information (national, regional tally information, other store tally information, etc.) to the headquarters and headquarters specific image information management device (headquarters). To the headquarters side management device).

In response to the request for the tally management information, the specific image information management device (the head office, headquarters side management device) stores the tally management information being managed (nationwide, regional tally information, other store tally information, etc.) as information. The information is transferred to the information management device (server in each store) via the transfer means. If there is specific image information (advertisement image or the like) that is considered necessary based on the transferred total management information, the specific image information of the head office or the headquarters is transmitted using the specific image information transfer request means described above. Request to the management device (head office, headquarters side management device).

[0291]

According to the present invention, specific image information registered in advance in a copying machine and original image information of an original set in the copying machine for copying are recorded on the same sheet. Accordingly, from the viewpoint of the person who installs the image editing and recording apparatus, it is possible to record information desired to be transmitted to an unspecified number of people as an advertisement image together with a copy image. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of a user using the image editing and recording apparatus, a copy to which a specific image is added is output without losing image information of a manuscript required by the user. Not even. Conversely, various information different from the document image information can be obtained, and if the specific image is, for example, an advertisement image, an advertisement fee can be collected, so that there is an advantage that the copy fee is reduced.

In particular, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a process for maintaining the characteristics of the original image information and for bringing the characteristics of the specific image information into a predetermined state is performed. Can be expressed and transmitted as intended by each piece of image information without directly affecting each other even if they are combined into one image.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a process of synthesizing a boundary image that clarifies the boundary between the original image information and the specific image information is performed, so that the boundary between the original image information and the specific image information becomes clear. The original image information and the specific image information are not confused.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first processing determination means and the second processing determination means grasp the processing contents of each other and determine the processing contents. However, when combined into one image, processing that does not directly affect each other is possible, and the information content intended by each piece of image information can be expressed and transmitted more clearly.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the other processing content is determined based on one of the processing content, the priority is given to either the document image information or the specific image information, but it is determined that each of the original image information and the specific image information has a priority. Processing that does not affect the image information can be performed, and information contents intended by each piece of image information can be more clearly expressed and transmitted.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the original image information and the position information of the specific image are extracted, and based on the position information, the direction of the original image information and the direction of the specific image information are matched and synthesized. For example, even if the image information is turned upside down, the directions are matched, so that a synthesized image that is easy to see can be obtained.

Further, according to the inventions of claims 6 to 8, since processing is determined or specific image information is selected based on color and size characteristic information, it is effective for information transmission when combined. Processing and selection.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the specific image information management unit manages a plurality of specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit. The storage area of the image storage unit can be effectively used, and necessary specific image information can be selected.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the processing for outputting only the specific image information is determined, it is possible to check the specific image information, and to check whether an appropriate specific image is stored. It can also respond to a user's request to know only specific image information.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the specific image information is output from the specific image storage unit to the selection input unit and displayed based on the management information. Can be confirmed, and the selection operation can be simplified by performing processing such as not displaying unnecessary specific image information.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since it is possible to combine the specific image information with the management information and synthesize it, the user can confirm whether or not the specific image information is the specific image information to be selected.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the specific image information to be synthesized based on the management information is automatically selected from the specific image storage unit, so that the operation is simplified.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, since the fee is determined for the selected specific image information, the user can know the combined fee for the selected specific image information, and The user can select specific image information that matches the fee of the user.

According to the fifteenth aspect, since the number of image outputs output from the image synthesis output unit can be managed in total, various analyzes on the output of specific image information are facilitated.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the specific image information to be selected is changed according to the information on the time, so that the specific image information suitable for the time zone, month, day of the week, season, etc. can be selected. More effective specific image information can be transmitted.

According to the seventeenth aspect, the total management information of the image output managed by the specific image information management unit is periodically transferred to the specific image information recording device via the information transfer device. Since the image information management device further manages the aggregation management information transferred from the plurality of image editing devices, the analysis of the specific image information at each store can be performed as a whole, and the user can operate at low cost. Specific image information that can be recognized as having added value can be created.
By creating even better specific image information, it is possible to increase the utilization rate of the composite copy with specific image information, and this feature enables companies such as convenience stores and gas stations to operate chain stores. Introduce and expand color digital copiers.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the invention, the specific image information stored in the image storage unit and its management information are periodically transferred to the specific image information recording device via the information transfer device. Since the information management device stores and manages the specific image information and the management information transferred from the plurality of image editing devices, the specific image information used in each image editing and recording device can be used in the entire system. In addition, there is an advantage that the use scale is widened and the price is also advantageous.

According to the nineteenth aspect, the specific image information management device periodically transfers the specific image information stored and managed to the image editing / recording device via the information transfer device. By creating and distributing specific image information collectively by a specific image information management device rather than by creating specific image information on its own by the editing and recording device, efficiency can be improved in all aspects of people, time, and money. In addition, by using a variety of information communication infrastructures that are developing rapidly, a system that transfers collectively created specific image information to each image editing and recording device is provided, so that it can be specified in a wide range of places immediately. Image information can be distributed.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the image editing / recording apparatus transfers machine information enabling device identification to the specific image information management apparatus, and the specific image information management apparatus performs processing based on the transferred machine information. Since specific image information suitable for each image editing and recording device is transferred, the specific image management device creates specific image information for each region, language, color, black and white, etc. Can provide useful information for

[0310] According to the twenty-first aspect, the image editing and recording apparatus requests the transfer of the specific image information selected from the specific image information managed by the specific image information management apparatus. However, since only the specific image information requested to be transferred is transferred to the image editing and recording device, the specific image information is not stored and managed in each image editing and recording device, and the specific image information management device at the head office or the headquarters or each information transfer is not performed. The storage is managed in the device (server). Therefore, by transferring the specific image information each time only when necessary, the memory of the image editing and recording apparatus can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[0311] According to the invention of claim 22, the specific image information management means totalizes the transferred specific image information and stores and manages the total information. Therefore, the specific image information management means performs total management of the specific image information simultaneously with the transfer. This makes it possible to analyze the data totaled in real time and create even better specific image information. In this way, by creating better specific image information, it is possible to increase the usage rate of the copy with specific image information, and with these features, it is possible to use such stores for companies that operate chain stores such as convenience stores and gas stations. Introduce and expand color digital copiers.

According to the tenth aspect, the specific image information management device transfers the specific image information to be managed to the information management device, and the information management device (server) stores and manages the transferred specific image information. Then, specific image information suitable for each image editing and recording device is selected and transferred, so the specific image information created collectively by the specific image information management device is transferred to each server, and the specific image information is By determining and transferring the image according to the characteristics of each image editing and recording apparatus, an appropriate advertisement image can be efficiently input to each image editing and recording apparatus.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect, the output number of the specific image information is totalized and managed for each image editing and recording apparatus, and the totalized management information is transferred to the specific image information managing apparatus.
It is efficient to collectively manage the aggregation result data of a plurality of image editing and recording devices. By transferring the aggregation management information to the specific image information management device, the aggregation result information collected from each information management device (server) is further aggregated, and by analyzing them, specific image information with high added value is created. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of a color digital copying machine which is an embodiment of an image editing and recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a network system with a color digital copying machine as a core;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image processing portion included in the color digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing operation management of each part of the entire digital copying machine by a central control device.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an operation panel in the color digital copying machine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for a copy service shop sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for a copy service shop sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display device, following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a color digital copying machine which is an image editing and recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where a black-and-white document and color advertisement information are combined.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for synthesizing a boundary line as a boundary image.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram in which a background color of an advertisement image is a constant density solid pattern as a boundary image.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram using a hatched pattern of a specific color as a boundary image so that an advertisement image is more conspicuous.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the image editing and recording apparatus.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a combining process for combining a color original and a color advertisement to make the original black and white.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a combining process in which a document is colored when a monochrome document and a monochrome advertisement are combined.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing another example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a combining process in which a color original is combined with a color advertisement to make the advertisement black and white.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing another example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing another example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a combination process when a B5 document image is enlarged by a factor of 1.2.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a combination process when a document image is reduced by a factor of 0.9.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a combination process when a predetermined vertical reduction ratio is set for each size of document image information.

FIG. 23: A second process is determined prior to the first process,
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process of determining the first processing in accordance with the area of the area secured as the rest and emphasizing the advertisement image.

FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 illustrates a first process and a second process based on an output paper size.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a combining process when the process of FIG.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing a combining process when original image information and advertisement image information are processed at the same magnification.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen for a copy service shop sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a partial block diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a color copying machine.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a management table relating to term information of advertisement image information.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen from which an advertisement genre can be selected.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram of recording an advertisement image and expiration date information together when a document image and an advertisement image are combined.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displaying a selectable advertisement.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen after an advertisement is selected.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a storage management process of an advertisement image by a specific image information management unit.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating another storage management process of the advertisement image by the specific image information management unit.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing another storage management process of the advertisement image by the specific image information management unit 48;

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displaying an advertisement when an advertisement image is checked.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image in which an advertisement is output from an image information output unit when an advertisement image is confirmed.

FIG. 39 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen displaying an advertisement together with additional information on the advertisement image when checking the advertisement image.

FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image in which an advertisement is output from an image information output unit together with additional information on the advertisement image when the advertisement image is confirmed.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image output from an image information output unit for each field together with an advertisement together with additional information on the advertisement image when checking the advertisement image.

FIG. 42 is a liquid crystal display device 6 with a touch panel disposed substantially at the center of the operation panel 60 in the fourth embodiment.
1 shows an example of an operation screen for copy service which is sequentially displayed in FIG.

FIG. 43 is a table showing a price ratio of each advertisement image information to a normal copy fee.

FIG. 44 is a table showing a price ratio of each advertisement image to a normal copy fee for each paper size.

FIG. 45 is a table showing the total of the number of outputs in the first output mode and the number of outputs in the second output mode on a monthly basis.

FIG. 46 is a table showing totals for each advertisement image on a monthly basis and showing the last month and the current month.

FIG. 47 is a table showing, for each advertisement image, a total of months for each advertisement image for each paper size;

FIG. 48 is a table showing totals for the last month and the current month, and the total number of advertiser-incorporated composite copies for each month, for each ad image and for each cutout paper size for each advertiser.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram showing a tabulation management table for managing an advertisement image for each document size in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 50 shows a first output mode and a second output mode in the fifth embodiment.
It is a block diagram of an output mode.

FIG. 51 shows a block diagram of another second output mode in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 52 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen in which a field of a selection area changes according to a time zone.

FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram showing a management table for switching contents displayed as selectable information on the display unit based on time information.

FIG. 54 is an explanatory diagram showing a management table for switching contents to be displayed as selectable information on the display unit in calendar information.

FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram showing an original type using an A4 size as an example.

FIG. 56 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for confirming the position of an advertisement image.

FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram of setting an original upside down and performing composite copying with an advertisement image without performing a correction process;

FIG. 58 is an explanatory diagram of setting a document upside down, processing input document image data, and performing composite copying with an advertisement image.

FIG. 59 is an explanatory diagram of setting a document upside down, processing selected advertisement image data, and performing composite copying with a document image.

FIG. 60 is an explanatory diagram of various A4 advertisement images corresponding to advertisement image positions.

FIG. 61 is an explanatory diagram of selecting an image from FIG. 66 based on FIG. 55 and performing composite copying.

FIG. 62 is an explanatory diagram showing an advertisement image position management table for automatically determining an advertisement image position.

FIG. 63 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for displaying a document image and an advertisement-containing composite image from which an advertisement position can be selected.

FIG. 64 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for displaying an original image upside down and a composite image with an advertisement for selecting an advertisement position.

FIG. 65 is a block diagram of a color digital copying machine according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 66 is an explanatory diagram of a digital image information processing system in which specific image information is transferred by mutual information transfer means using a convenience store of a chain store organization in the seventh embodiment as an example.

FIG. 67 is an explanatory diagram of a total management table in which the number of normal copies output per month and the number of copy outputs with advertisement images can be compared.

FIG. 68 is an explanatory diagram of a tally management table showing the number of outputs for each type of advertisement image on a monthly basis.

FIG. 69 is an explanatory diagram of a total management table showing the total number of outputs for each advertiser on a monthly basis.

FIG. 70 is an explanatory diagram of a specific image information management table of a specific image information management device of a headquarters and a headquarters in the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 71 is an explanatory diagram of a management table of the color digital copying machine.

FIG. 72 is an explanatory diagram of a management table of a color digital copying machine for separately managing an advertisement image created independently at each store and an advertisement image created at a head office and a headquarters.

FIG. 73 is an explanatory diagram of the management table of the head office and the head office and the management table of the color digital copying machine when the management number of the advertisement image selected by the head office and the head office is stored in the color digital copying machine;

FIG. 74 is an explanatory diagram of a management table of the head office, the head office, and a management table of the color digital copying machine when the management number and update information of the advertisement image selected by the head office and the head office are stored in the color digital copying machine; .

FIG. 75 is an explanatory diagram in which chain stores are divided into regions and assigned to region codes.

FIG. 76 is a machine information table of the color digital copying machine.

FIG. 77 is an explanatory diagram of a digital image information processing system in which specific image information (advertisement image and the like) is transferred via a server of each store by a mutual information transfer unit as an example of a convenience store of a chain store organization in the ninth embodiment is there.

FIG. 78 is an explanatory diagram of a management table managed by the headquarters, headquarters side specific image information management device, or a server at each store.

FIG. 79 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen for determining specific image information (such as an advertisement image) from general information.

FIG. 80 is an explanatory diagram of a management table that is totalized and managed for each advertisement image in the specific image information management device at the head office and the head office.

FIG. 81 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a server of each store for checking and selecting an advertisement image in the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 82 is an explanatory diagram in which one advertisement image is printed on one sheet for checking the advertisement image.

FIG. 83 is an explanatory diagram in which a plurality of advertisement images are printed on one sheet for checking the advertisement images.

FIG. 84 is an explanatory diagram of a general information management table relating to general information of characteristics of an advertisement image transferred from a head office and a headquarters.

FIG. 85 is an explanatory diagram of a total management table in which the number of normal copy outputs per month and the number of copy outputs with advertisement images can be compared.

FIG. 86 is an explanatory diagram of a tally management table showing the number of outputs for each type of advertisement image information on a monthly basis.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 40 image data input unit 41 image processing unit 42 image data output unit 43 image memory 43a to 43d hard disk 43e synthesis memory 43f delay memory 44 central processing unit 45 image editing unit 46, 47 external interface unit 48 specific image information management unit 101 Image input means 102 Specific image information memory 103 First processing unit 104 Second processing unit 105 Image information synthesis unit 106 Black image recording unit 107 Color image recording unit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tamotsu Fukushima 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Koji Katamoto 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Kenichi Gomi 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Sharp Corporation

Claims (24)

[Claims] An image editing and recording apparatus for synthesizing original image information and specific image information that is image information different from the original, an image information input unit for inputting image information, and storing the input specific image. A specific image storage unit; an image information editing unit that issues an instruction to process specific image information selected from input document image information and specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit; An image processing unit that performs image processing according to the instruction of the above, an image combining unit that combines the processed document image information and the specific image information into one image, and an image information output unit that outputs and records the combined image information as an image The image information editing unit comprises: a document image feature extraction unit that extracts feature information from the document image information; and a specific image feature extraction unit that extracts feature information from the specific image information. A first processing determining unit that determines a first process, which is image processing of document image information, and issues an instruction to the image processing unit in accordance with the feature information of the document image information; and a feature of the specific image information. A second processing deciding unit for deciding a second processing which is an image processing of the specific image information according to the information and issuing an instruction to the image processing unit; And a synthesizing processing deciding unit for deciding the above and issuing an instruction to the image synthesizing unit. 2. The image information editing unit according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a process of synthesizing a boundary image that clarifies a boundary between the document image information and the specific image information.
The image editing and recording apparatus according to the above. 3. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first processing deciding unit and the second processing deciding unit grasp each other's processing contents and decide the processing contents. 4. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first processing deciding means and said second processing deciding means decide the other processing contents based on one of the processing contents. 5. The document image feature extracting unit extracts position information of document image information, the specific image feature extracting unit extracts position information of a specific image, and the combining process deciding unit includes 2. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the original image information and the direction of the specific image information are combined and combined. 6. A specific image selecting means for selecting specific image information to be synthesized from specific image information stored in a specific image storage unit based on characteristic information obtained by a document image characteristic extracting means. 6. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information is color information, and the image information editing unit determines the processing contents so that the original image information and the specific image information can transmit the respective information. Image editing and recording device. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic information is size information, and the image information editing unit adjusts the size balance between the original document image information and the specific image information, and determines the processing contents so that the respective information can be transmitted. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 1. 9. An image editing and recording apparatus for synthesizing original image information and specific image information that is image information different from the original, wherein an image information input section for inputting image information, and the input specific image are stored. A specific image storage unit, a specific image information management unit that manages specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit based on management information, and input document image information and the specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit. An image information editing unit that issues an instruction to process the specific image information selected from the specific image information; an image processing unit that performs image processing in accordance with the instruction of the image information editing unit; An image editing and recording apparatus, comprising: an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes image information; and an image output unit that outputs and records the synthesized image information as an image. 10. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image information editing unit determines a process for outputting only the specific image information. 11. An image editing and recording apparatus for synthesizing original image information and specific image information that is image information different from the original, wherein an image information input section for inputting image information, and the input specific image are stored. A specific image storage unit; a specific image information management unit that manages specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit based on management information; and a specific image information managed by the specific image information management unit. A selection input unit that can be selected by the operator; and image information editing for issuing an instruction to process specific image information selected from the input document image information and the specific image information stored in the specific image storage unit. An image processing unit that performs image processing in accordance with an instruction from the image information editing unit; an image combining unit that combines the processed document image information with the specific image information; An image output unit for force-recording, wherein the specific image management unit outputs specific image information from the specific image storage unit to the selection input unit based on the management information and causes the specific image information to be displayed. Recording device. 12. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image information editing unit determines a process of combining the specific image information with the management information. 13. The specific image management unit further includes a specific image automatic selection unit that selectively outputs specific image information to be combined based on the management information from the specific image storage unit to the image editing unit. 11. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein 14. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the specific image information management unit includes a charge determining unit that determines a charge for the selected specific image information. 15. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the specific image management unit includes an output totalizing unit that totalizes and manages the number of image outputs output from the image synthesis output unit. . 16. The image editing and recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said specific image automatic selection means of said specific image management section changes specific image information to be selected according to time information. 17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the original image information is combined with specific image information that is image information different from that of the original.
6. The image editing and recording apparatus according to 6, a specific image information managing apparatus for managing the specific image information to be stored or output to the image editing and recording apparatus, and a mutual information transfer between the image editing and recording apparatus and the specific image information managing apparatus. The image editing and recording device, the image editing and recording device, the total management information of the image output managed by the specific image information management unit, periodically transferred to the specific image information recording device via the information transfer device The image information management system according to claim 1, wherein the specific image information management device further performs total management of total management information transferred from the plurality of image editing devices. 18. The method according to claim 9, wherein the original image information is combined with specific image information which is image information different from the original.
6. The image editing and recording apparatus according to 6, a specific image information managing apparatus for managing the specific image information to be stored or output to the image editing and recording apparatus, and a mutual information transfer between the image editing and recording apparatus and the specific image information managing apparatus. The image editing and recording apparatus, the image editing and recording apparatus, the specific image information stored in the image storage unit and its management information periodically transferred to the specific image information recording apparatus via the information transfer apparatus, An image information processing management system, wherein the specific image information management device stores and manages specific image information transferred from a plurality of the image editing devices and the management information. 19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the original image information is combined with specific image information that is image information different from that of the original.
6. The image editing and recording apparatus according to 6, a specific image information managing apparatus for managing the specific image information to be stored or output to the image editing and recording apparatus, and a mutual information transfer between the image editing and recording apparatus and the specific image information managing apparatus. The specific image information management device, wherein the specific image information management device periodically transfers the specific image information stored and managed to the image editing and recording device via the information transfer device. Management system. 20. The method according to claim 9, wherein the document image information is combined with specific image information which is image information different from the document.
6. The image editing and recording apparatus according to 6, a specific image information managing apparatus for managing the specific image information to be stored or output to the image editing and recording apparatus, and a mutual information transfer between the image editing and recording apparatus and the specific image information managing apparatus. The image editing and recording apparatus, the image editing and recording apparatus has a transfer unit for transferring machine information that enables device identification to the specific image information management apparatus, and the specific image information management apparatus An image information management system, wherein specific image information suitable for each image editing and recording device is transferred based on the transferred machine information. 21. The method according to claim 9, wherein the original image information is combined with specific image information which is image information different from the original.
6. The image editing and recording apparatus according to 6, a specific image information managing apparatus for managing the specific image information to be stored or output to the image editing and recording apparatus, and a mutual information transfer between the image editing and recording apparatus and the specific image information managing apparatus. The image editing and recording apparatus has a transfer request unit for requesting transfer of specific image information selected from the specific image information managed by the specific image information management apparatus; An image information management system, wherein the image information management device transfers only specific image information requested by the transfer request unit to the image editing and recording device. 22. The image information management system according to claim 21, wherein said specific image information management means totals the transferred specific image information and stores and manages the total information. 23. An image editing / recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said original image information is combined with specific image information which is image information different from that of said original. A specific image information management device that manages, and an information management device that manages mutual information transfer between the plurality of image editing / recording devices and the specific image information management device, wherein the specific image information management device manages specific image information. Transferring to the information management apparatus, the information management apparatus stores and manages the transferred specific image information, and selects and transfers specific image information suitable for each image editing and recording apparatus; system. 24. The information management apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the total number of output of the specific image information is managed for each image editing and recording apparatus, and the total management information is transferred to the specific image information management apparatus. The image information management system described in the above.