JP2004291290A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method in which image data is made difficult to be restored or reprinted with only a specific image forming apparatus by storing the image data while distributing to a plurality of image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises a first image forming means A provided with a storing means 13 for storing image data for printing an image, and a second image forming means B performing bidirectional communication with the first image forming means A via lines wherein the image data is divided into a plurality of division data and different division data are stored, respectively, in the storage means 13 and 13 of the first and second image forming means A and B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method using an electrophotographic method, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method having a function of storing image data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method includes a black-and-white or color copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine in which a plurality of these functions are combined. In recent years, most of such image forming apparatuses are of a digital type, and various functions can be used.
[0003]
For example, when an image is formed and printed based on image data read by a document reading unit of these image forming apparatuses or image data received from a connected personal computer, when the image needs to be reprinted, Some devices provide a function of storing image data in a storage device such as a hard disk in the forming apparatus.
[0004]
However, when an unspecified number of users use such an image forming apparatus, there is a possibility that image data of confidential documents or important documents of other users stored in the storage device may be accessed, and Will be printed. Similarly, there is a possibility that information on a company or the like may be easily leaked to a third party who has entered from the outside.
[0005]
In order to ensure security against this, according to Patent Document 1, according to the related art, when print data is transmitted from a personal computer or the like to a printer, a user's password is also transmitted at the same time, and is saved on the hard disk along with the print data. . When performing printing based on the stored print data, the user goes to the installation location of the printer, inputs his / her password, and then performs printing. However, if a user other than the owner of the password changes the password and tries again and again, the password may match. It is disclosed that if the processing is performed beyond the limit, the security is further improved by transmitting a warning message to the personal computer which is the transmission source.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2003-19848 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method proposed in Patent Literature 1 is not a method for preventing passwords from being matched within the limited number of trial entry of passwords. Further, if the personal computer as the transmission source is not operating, no warning message is displayed, and if the user is away from the machine even while operating, the user cannot immediately see the warning message. Therefore, it is possible to repeatedly input the password on the printer. Furthermore, if the printer is discarded or stolen, there is a possibility that the image data stored in the hard disk can be restored and reprinted if a third party takes sufficient time.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to address such a problem, and it is difficult to restore image data and reprint the image data only by a specific image forming apparatus by storing the image data in a plurality of image forming apparatuses. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first image forming unit having a storage unit for storing image data for printing an image, and a bidirectional communication with the first image forming unit via a line. In an image forming apparatus including a second image forming unit that performs communication, image data is divided into a plurality of divided data, and different divided data are stored in storage units provided in the first and second image forming units, respectively. It is configured to
[0010]
Further, according to the present invention, a first image forming means having a storage means for storing image data for printing an image, and a plurality of first image forming means for performing bidirectional communication with the first image forming means via a line. A plurality of second image forming units each include a storage unit, divide the image data into a plurality of divided data, and use different combinations and a part of the entire image data. Are stored in the respective storage means in such a manner that each divided data is included in at least two combinations.
[0011]
The storage means is a hard disk.
[0012]
The divided data is compressed data.
[0013]
Further, when storing the divided data, a storage history including information on which storage means each divided data is stored is created and stored.
[0014]
When saving the divided data, a password to be collated for reprinting the image data is set and input, and is stored together with the saving history.
[0015]
Alternatively, when storing the divided data, a password to be collated for reprinting the image data is set and input, and the password is divided and stored together with at least the first two divided data.
[0016]
Further, in the image forming method of the present invention, the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatuses performing bidirectional communication with the first image forming apparatus via a line each include a storage unit, The image data input to the image forming apparatus is divided, and different divided data are stored in the storage units of the first and second image forming apparatuses, respectively, and can be restored as image data via the first image forming apparatus. Thus, the divided data is collected from the storage means, and an image is formed and printed based on the restored image data.
[0017]
Further, in the image forming method according to the present invention, the first image forming apparatus and the plurality of second image forming apparatuses performing bidirectional communication with the first image forming apparatus via a line each include a storage unit. Image data input to one image forming apparatus is divided into a plurality of divided data, and each divided data is included in at least two combinations in a different combination and in a form forming part of the entire image data. The divided data is stored in each storage unit, and the divided data is collected from the storage unit so that the divided data can be restored as image data via the first image forming apparatus, and an image is formed and printed based on the restored image data.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus A forms a display unit 2, an operation input unit 3, an original reading unit 4 including a CCD, a paper feeding unit 5 for storing and feeding paper P, and forming an image on a photoconductor. The image forming unit 6 includes an image forming unit 6 for transferring the image onto the sheet P, and a fixing unit 7 for fixing an image to the sheet P. The printing unit 8 includes a control unit 9 for controlling all of these units.
[0019]
The above configuration will be specifically described with reference to a block diagram. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of the image forming apparatus A according to the present invention. The display unit 2, the operation input unit 3, the document reading unit 4, and the printing unit 8 described with reference to FIG. 1 are connected to the main control unit 11, which forms part of the control unit 9 in FIG. ing. The main control unit 11 also includes a primary storage device 12 such as a semiconductor memory, a secondary storage device 13 such as a hard disk capable of storing contents even when the power is turned off, a password collation unit 14, A compression division unit 15 for compressing and dividing data; a decompression unit 16 for decompressing and coupling the compressed and divided image data; and external personal computers PC1, 2 and other image forming apparatuses B connected via a line 18. , C, etc., are also connected. In this case, the line 18 may be a dedicated line, a network such as a LAN, or a network such as a WAN via a gateway or a router, or may be connected to the Internet via the gateway or a router. May be used.
[0020]
The image forming apparatus B or C having the above configuration has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus A, and therefore includes the secondary storage device 13 that stores the image data, and is connected to the image forming apparatus A and the line 18. Communication with the other image forming apparatus C or B or the personal computers PC1 and PC2.
[0021]
When operating as a printer, the image forming apparatus A temporarily stores the image data transmitted from the personal computers PC1 and PC2 in the primary storage device 12 and, based on the print control data transmitted at the same time, prints the image data. Print out at 8 and output. When operating as a copying machine, the image data of the document read by the document reading unit 4 is temporarily stored in the primary storage device 12 and converted into print control data set by the user via the operation input unit 3. Based on the output, the printing unit 8 prints and outputs. Further, the image data once stored in the primary storage device 12 is automatically deleted after the printing is completed. However, if it is necessary to reprint the image data later, the secondary storage device 13 or the secondary storage device is used. 13 and are separately stored in the secondary storage devices of the other image forming apparatuses B and C, and then deleted.
[0022]
As described above, the image forming apparatus A according to the present embodiment divides the printed image data into other image forming apparatuses B and C that have similar functions and are connected to a line. For storage, for example, the entire image data cannot be restored only by the image data stored in the secondary storage device 13 of one image forming apparatus A. Therefore, the possibility of information leakage is greatly reduced.
[0023]
Next, how the image forming apparatuses A, B, and C distribute and store image data related to one printing operation (print job) will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a method for dispersing and storing image data in which a print job is composed of two pages. FIG. 3A illustrates an example in which one page is divided and stored according to the number of image forming apparatuses that perform distributed storage. , (B) shows an example in which one page is divided according to the number of image forming apparatuses to be distributed and stored, and the divided data is further stored in two image forming apparatuses.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the page 1 of the compressed image data is stored in the form of 1-1 (divided data 1 of page 1), 1-2 so that the image forming apparatuses A, B, and C can store the page 1 respectively. 2-1 (divided data 1 of page 2), 2-2 so that image forming apparatuses A, B, and C can store compressed page 2 And is divided into three as shown in 2-3. Accordingly, 1-1 and 2-1 are stored in the image forming apparatus A, 1-2 and 2-2 are stored in the image forming apparatus B, and 1-3 and 2-3 are stored in the image forming apparatus C. Will be saved.
[0025]
In the above-described storage method, one page is compressed and divided and stored in a plurality of (three in the example) devices. Therefore, even if image data stored in one device can be restored, Restoration of all image data is difficult. Further, the selection of the image forming apparatus for storing the divided image data may be set in advance from the operation input unit 3 of the image forming apparatus A, or the set image forming apparatus may be connected to the line 18 due to a failure or the like. When not operating, the image forming apparatus can be detached and the image data can be distributed and stored in another image forming apparatus.
[0026]
When reprinting an image, although the possibility is low, if the image forming apparatus responsible for distributed storage is out of order, it is temporarily impossible to reprint the image. In such a case, the image forming apparatus A may periodically check the state of another image forming apparatus, and may reprint the image when the failed image forming apparatus is restored. The next modified example of the present embodiment is a method capable of collecting divided data for reprinting an image even if the above-described failure occurs. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, reprinting is possible even if one of the three image forming apparatuses fails.
[0027]
In this method, as shown in FIG. 3B, page 1 of the compressed image data is 1-1 (divided data 1 of page 1) so that image forming apparatuses A, B, and C can store the image. The page 2 of the compressed image data is divided into three like 1-2 and 1-3, and the compressed image data is divided into two like 2-1 (divided data 1 of page 2) and 2-2 and 2-3. Divide into three. Further, the same divided data of each page is stored in two image forming apparatuses. Therefore, 1-1, 1-3, 2-1 and 2-3 are stored in the image forming apparatus A, and 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 are stored in the image forming apparatus B. Then, 1-2, 1-3, 2-2, and 2-3 are stored in the image forming apparatus C. That is, the image data is divided into a plurality of divided data and stored in each of the image forming apparatuses A, B, and C in a different combination and in a form forming part of the entire image data. It may be included in the combination of the three.
[0028]
With this storage, even if the image forming apparatus B is out of order at the time of reprinting, the image data 1-1, 1-3, 2-1 and 2-3 are taken out of the image forming apparatus A. , The image data 1-2 and 2-2 are collected from the image forming apparatus C, and the divided data 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1 and 2-2 and 2-3 are combined. Then, it is possible to restore all the images composed of page 1 and page 2, and it is possible to build data redundancy as well as security. In the above example, the same divided data is stored in two image forming apparatuses. However, when there are a large number of image forming apparatuses that can store image data in a distributed manner, the same divided data is stored in two or more image forming apparatuses. Is saved, the redundancy can be further improved.
[0029]
Next, the procedure in the case of FIG. 3A will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart in the case where image data is divided and stored in a plurality of image forming apparatuses. In S1 (step 1), print control data (not shown) is set via the operation input unit 3, and a document is read by the document reading unit 4 of the image forming apparatus A. Alternatively, when the image forming apparatus A operates as a printer, the image data is transmitted together with the print control data from the personal computer PC1 or PC2 in S2.
[0030]
Next, in S3, the image data is stored in the primary storage device 12 of the image forming apparatus A. In S4, printout is performed based on the print control data and the image data. In S5, the setting of whether to save the image data is made on the operation input unit 3 or the display screen of the personal computer PC1 or PC2 and on the operation unit (not shown). ). If the image data is not to be stored, the process proceeds to S14, where the image data stored in the primary storage device 12 is deleted, and the print job ends. If the image data is to be saved in S5, a request for a password is displayed on the display unit 2 or the display screen of the personal computer PC1 or PC2 in S6, and the password for the image data to be saved is entered and registered. .
[0031]
In S7, the information of each of the other image forming apparatuses that is pre-set and registered in the image forming apparatus A and that stores the image data in a distributed manner is read. In this example, it is assumed that the image forming apparatuses A, B,... In S8, the division size of each page of the image data is calculated based on the n units. In S9, each page of the image data is compressed and divided for each division size. In S10, one divided data of the image data is stored in the image forming apparatus. In S11, it is determined whether or not the last divided data to be stored is determined. If the storage is continued, the process proceeds to S12, and the process returns to S10 after selecting the next divided data and the next image forming apparatus, and returns to S10. The process of storing the divided data in the next image forming apparatus is repeated. In S11, when the storage of all the image data is completed, the process proceeds to S13, where a storage history such as which image forming apparatus each of the divided data is stored is created, and the image forming apparatus A is stored together with the password input in S6. Is stored in the primary storage device 12 or the secondary storage device 13. Thereafter, in S14, the image data in the primary storage device 12 is erased, and the printing and saving operation is completed.
[0032]
Next, a procedure for recovering and restoring the divided data stored as shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for restoring and reprinting image data divided and stored in a plurality of image forming apparatuses. In step S21 (step 21), specific image data stored is selected from the operation input unit 3 or the operation unit (not shown) of the personal computer PC1 or PC2 via the image forming apparatus A, and is reprinted. The settings are made.
[0033]
When the image data to be reprinted is selected, the storage history when the image data was stored is read in S22. Next, since the input of the password is requested in S23, the password registered at the time of saving the image data is input. In S23, the entered password is compared with the password written in the storage history. If the password is different, the process returns to S23, and a re-input of the password is requested. In this case, an upper limit number of password input may be set, and a warning message may be issued when the upper limit is exceeded.
[0034]
In S24, if the passwords match as determined by the password collating unit 14 (see FIG. 2), the process proceeds to S25, where the image forming apparatus involved in the storage from the storage history and the divided data stored in the image forming apparatus are stored. Identify information. In S26, the divided data is received from the image forming apparatus. Next, in S27, if the divided data is the second or subsequent divided data, the data is combined with the preceding data, decompressed, and stored in the primary storage device 12. If it is the first divided data, it is expanded and stored in the primary storage device 12. In S28, it is determined whether or not all of the divided data has been collected. If the collection is still continued, in order to read the next divided data in S29, after the next image forming apparatus is selected based on the storage history, , Returning to S26.
[0035]
In S28, when all the divided data are read and combined and decompressed, the preparation for printing the image data on the primary storage device 12 is completed. In S30, the printing unit 8 prints out based on the image data. I do. Thereafter, in S31, it is determined whether or not the reprinted image data (divided data) stored in the image forming apparatus A or the other image forming apparatuses B and C is to be deleted. In this case, the process proceeds to S32, and after the reprinted image data stored in the image forming apparatuses A, B, and C is deleted, the process proceeds to S33. If the image data for which reprinting has been completed is to be left intact without being erased in S31, the process proceeds to S33, where the image data restored on the primary storage device 12 for reprinting is erased, and the process ends.
[0036]
In the case of the example in which the same divided data described in FIG. 3B is stored in two image forming apparatuses, the first loop does not advance the divided data in S12 of the flowchart of FIG. The next image forming apparatus may be selected only for the forming apparatus. Further, in the case of the flowchart of FIG. 5, if all the image forming apparatuses registered in the storage history can be accessed, all the divided data can be taken in the procedure according to the flowchart. If one image forming apparatus is out of order, all the divided data is fetched by operating while selecting the image forming apparatus having the next divided data to be fetched while referring to the storage history in S12. Can be.
[0037]
In the description so far according to the present embodiment, each page of the image data is compressed and divided according to the number of image forming apparatuses to be distributed and stored. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this example. Instead, for example, image data including one or more page breaks may be treated as one data, and the image data may be compressed and divided according to the number of image forming apparatuses. Further, if the image data or each page of the image data is further subdivided, the security can be further improved, so that the page is divided into a multiple of the number of image forming apparatuses or a desired plural number irrespective of the number of image forming apparatuses, It is preferable to create a storage history so that the correspondence between each divided data and the image forming apparatus storing the divided data can be understood. Further, when the storage capacity of the secondary storage device 13 is large, the image data can be divided and stored without compression. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the time required to compress and decompress the image data when storing or reprinting.
[0038]
Further, in the present embodiment, the procedure has been described in which the password set at the time of saving the image data is included in one save history, saved, and collated with the password entered at the time of reprinting. However, in order to further improve the security of the password, the password is divided into two or three parts, and each of the password division parts is first divided into image data division data and the second or third division data. Data is stored in different image forming devices, and when reprinting, regardless of the password input, two or three divided data are read from the beginning, and the registered password is restored. Alternatively, the process of restoring the image data may be continued.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when image data for reprinting is stored in a hard disk or the like, the image data is divided and stored in another image forming apparatus connected to a line. Therefore, since only a part of the image data is stored in a specific image forming apparatus, unauthorized users or intruders from outside, or if a specific image forming apparatus is discarded, all third parties It is difficult to restore the image data. Therefore, the confidentiality of the image data of the document handled by the image forming apparatus and the image data transmitted for printing is protected, the contents are prevented from being leaked, and the security of the information handled by the image forming apparatus is improved. Can be achieved.
[0040]
When the image data is divided and stored, the same divided data is stored in a plurality of image forming apparatuses, so that the security of the image data is improved and one or a plurality of the image data is reprinted when the image data is reprinted. Even if a state in which the image forming apparatus cannot be accessed occurs, the image data can be restored and printed, so that there is an excellent effect that redundancy of image formation can be established.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of an image forming apparatus A according to the present invention.
3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a method for dispersing and storing image data in which a print job includes two pages. FIG. 3A illustrates a method of dividing and storing one page according to the number of image forming apparatuses that store and distribute one page. In the example shown in (b), one page is divided according to the number of image forming apparatuses that store the data in a distributed manner, and the divided data is further stored in two image forming apparatuses.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart in a case where image data is divided and stored in a plurality of image forming apparatuses.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart in a case where image data divided and stored in a plurality of image forming apparatuses is restored and reprinted.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 display unit 3 operation input unit 4 document reading unit 5 paper feeding unit 6 image forming unit 7 fixing unit 8 printing unit 9 control unit 11 main control unit 12 primary storage unit 13 secondary storage unit 14 password collation unit 15 compression division unit 16 Expansion coupling unit 17 Communication I / F (interface)
18 Lines A to C Image forming apparatus P Paper PC1, PC2 Personal computer

Claims (9)

The first image forming unit includes a storage unit that stores image data for printing an image, and the second image forming unit performs two-way communication with the first image forming unit via a line. In the image forming apparatus,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image data is divided into a plurality of divided data, and different divided data are respectively stored in storage units provided in the first and second image forming units. A first image forming unit including a storage unit that stores image data for printing an image, and a plurality of second image forming units that perform bidirectional communication with the first image forming unit via a line. An image forming apparatus comprising
The plurality of second image forming units each include a storage unit,
Dividing the image data into a plurality of divided data, storing the divided data in a different combination and in a form forming part of the entire image data in each of the storage units, wherein each divided data is included in at least two of the combinations; Characteristic image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a hard disk. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the divided data is compressed data. 5. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein when storing the divided data, a storage history including information on which storage unit each divided data is stored is created and stored. 6. Image forming apparatus. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the divided data is stored, a password to be collated for reprinting the image data is set and input, and is stored together with the storage history. When storing the divided data, a password to be collated for reprinting the image data is set and input, and the password is divided and stored together with at least the first two divided data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatuses that perform two-way communication with the first image forming apparatus via a line each include a storage unit,
Dividing the image data input to the first image forming apparatus and storing different divided data respectively in the storage means of the first and second image forming apparatuses;
An image forming method in which the divided data is collected from the storage unit so that the divided data can be restored as the image data via the first image forming apparatus, and an image is formed and printed based on the restored image data. A first image forming apparatus and a plurality of second image forming apparatuses that perform two-way communication with the first image forming apparatus via a line each include a storage unit;
Dividing the image data input to the first image forming apparatus into a plurality of divided data;
In different combinations and in a form forming part of the entire image data, each divided data is stored in each of the storage means so as to be included in at least two of the combinations,
An image forming method in which the divided data is collected from the storage unit so that the divided data can be restored as the image data via the first image forming apparatus, and an image is formed and printed based on the restored image data.

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