JP2006352284A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus for supporting document management. <P>SOLUTION: An embedded information acquisition section 422 acquires document information embedded in a design pattern of an original from original image data stored in a memory unit 45 and selects succeeding processes on the basis of version information of a document included in the document information. Concretely, when the version information indicates a newest version, an image processing section 42 acquires document data externally, expanded data are fed to a print control section 46, wherein an image is formed. When the version is not the newest version, an image data edit section 424 carries out composite processing between a stamp image denoting an "old version" or the like and an original image to form an image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having a function of acquiring information embedded in a background pattern formed on a recording sheet.

  In the field of image processing apparatuses such as image forming apparatuses in recent years, many digital watermarking techniques for embedding information in the background pattern of a recording sheet such as recording paper have been devised (see Non-Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 2, etc.). These have been widely put into practical use in order to embed information in a tint block image to an extent that cannot be easily determined by human perception and to prevent unauthorized use and tampering.

"Technical Information-[Papers] Binary Digital Watermarking Technology to Prevent Document Forgery-", [online], [Search June 5, 2005], Internet, <URL: http://capg.c4t.jp/ technology / watermark / binary.html>

Hiroyuki Yasuda, Toshio Hikima, “Outline of Digital Watermark Technology Val-Code (Registered Trademark) for Printed Documents and Its Application Solution”, Oki Technical Review, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., April 2004, Volume 71, 198, p. 20-23

  Document management rules such as ISO9001 and ISO14001 stipulate that old versions of documents that are no longer used should be clearly displayed as documents that should be discarded. However, in the conventional image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, even an old version document is only copied as it is, and there is a possibility that a large amount of documents that should be discarded may be copied. Had.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image processing apparatus that can support appropriate document management.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a recording sheet to obtain original image data, and a tint block formed on the recording sheet from the obtained original image data. Embedded information acquisition means for acquiring information embedded in the document, extraction means for extracting information indicating the version of the document from the acquired information, and processing control for switching subsequent processing contents based on the information indicating the version of the document Means.

  In the above configuration, since the subsequent processing is switched based on the information indicating the version of the document embedded in the background pattern, the subsequent processing is performed depending on whether the document is the latest version or the old version to be discarded. Can be switched, so that proper document management can be supported.

  The image processing apparatus further includes authority information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to the authority of the operating user, and the processing control means includes information indicating a document version and information relating to the user authority. Based on the configuration, the processing contents can be switched according to the user authority, for example, the document manager, the manager in charge of each department, or other users. Can support efficient document management.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a creator information acquisition unit that acquires information about a document creator, and the authority information acquisition unit is operated from information on a user who is operating and information on a document creator. The information regarding the user's authority is acquired, and the processing control means switches the processing contents thereafter based on the information indicating the version of the document and the information regarding the user's authority. It is also possible to cope with the case where the authority can change depending on the relationship with the operating user.

  The image processing apparatus further includes document attribute information acquisition means for acquiring information relating to document attributes, and the processing control means relates to information indicating a version of the document, information relating to the authority of the user, and attributes relating to the document. If the configuration is such that subsequent processing content is switched based on information, the processing content can be switched based on various factors such as document content, confidentiality, importance, etc., and more flexible document management is possible. Become.

  As an example of processing after switching, the processing control means indicates that the transmission / reception means for acquiring document data from an external device via a network and the information indicating the version of the document indicate that the document is the latest version. If it is, the document data acquisition means for acquiring the latest version of the document data from the outside via the transmission / reception means can be provided as the subsequent processing. If an image is formed using the acquired document data, a document with better image quality can be obtained.

  When the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is an old version, the processing control means, as the subsequent processing, obtains the original image data and the document is an old version If it is configured to include an image data editing means that synthesizes an image that clearly indicates that the document is an old version, it is possible to clearly display that the document is an old version, and the document that should be discarded is used by mistake Can be prevented. As an example of an image to be combined, for example, a stamp image of characters such as “old version” can be considered.

  When the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is an old version, the processing control means causes the hidden character formed by the ground pattern to be displayed as a subsequent process. As described above, the image data editing means for editing the document image data may be provided.

  The process control means includes a print stop means for controlling not to perform image formation as the subsequent process when the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is an old version. If the configuration is provided, it is possible to prevent an old version of the document from being printed. In addition, the process after switching can also be considered in other ways, and a plurality of processes can be combined.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to support appropriate document management.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings when applied to a digital copying machine as an example of the apparatus.
(Embodiment 1)
(1) Overall configuration of document management system

  First, a document management system including a digital copying machine according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the document management system. A document management system is a digital copying machine that forms an image based on image data generated by reading a document or data transferred from an external personal computer (PC) or the like (eg, print data in a PDL format or the like). (Hereinafter, simply referred to as “copier”) 100, configured by an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer (PC), and configured by connecting to a LAN 500 such as a document management server 200 that manages the latest version of each document. . The LAN 500 can be connected to the Internet 600 via the router 400, and the copying machine 100 can acquire document data from the external document storage server 300.

(2) Configuration of Copying Machine 100 Next, the configuration of the copying machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the overall configuration of the copying machine 100. The copying machine 100 includes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as “ADF”) 10, a scanner unit 30, a control unit 40, an image forming unit 50, and a paper feeding unit 70. An operation panel unit 150 as a user interface is disposed on the upper part of the housing of the copying machine 100. The operation panel 150 is provided with a liquid crystal touch panel 160 that displays information and allows the user to input information (not shown in FIG. 2).

  The ADF 10 automatically conveys the document to the scanner unit 30. First, the document placed on the document tray 11 is conveyed to the document reading position on the platen glass 31. The original transported to the original reading position is scanned by the scanner 32, and then again sent to the right in the figure by the transport belt 12, and finally discharged onto the original discharge tray 13.

  The scanner unit 30 optically reads an image of a document conveyed to a document reading position on the platen glass 31. The scanner unit 30 includes a scanner 32, a CCD sensor 38, a scanner motor M2, and the like. The scanner 32 is provided with an exposure lamp 33 and a mirror 34 for changing the optical path of light reflected from the original by irradiation of the exposure lamp 33 in a direction parallel to the platen glass 31, and the arrow a in the figure is driven by the scanner motor M2. The original on the platen glass 31 is scanned by moving in the direction. Reflected light from the document is reflected by the mirror 34 and then guided to the CCD sensor 38 via the mirrors 35 and 36 and the lens 37, where it is converted into an electrical signal to generate an image signal.

  The generated image signal is A / D converted by the image signal processing unit 39 to become a digital signal, and further subjected to known image processing such as shading correction and density conversion processing, and then as original image data as a memory unit. 45. The document image data stored in the memory unit 45 is sent to the print processing unit 46 as needed by the image data processing unit 42 by acquiring information embedded in the background pattern of the document and subsequent processing. The print processing unit 46 generates a drive signal for the laser diode (LD) 51. The image forming unit 50 forms an image based on the generated drive signal.

  The control unit 40 includes a transmission / reception unit 41 that performs transmission / reception control of a network such as the LAN 500, and RIP expansion that expands the received print data into image data in bitmap format when print data in PDL format or the like is received from the outside. And an image data processing unit 42 for performing processing for acquiring information embedded in the background pattern from the document image data obtained by the scanner unit 30 as necessary. In the image data processing unit 42, the image data obtained by developing the print data is sent to the print processing unit 46 and used for image formation.

  The image forming unit 50 forms an image on a recording sheet by a known electrophotographic method. The print processing unit 46 generates a drive signal for the LD 51, drives the LD 51 based on the drive signal, and emits laser light. The laser beam is reflected by the mirror surface on the side of the polygon mirror 52 that rotates at a predetermined angular velocity, and exposure scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 that is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow b via the fθ lens 53 and the mirrors 54 and 55. To do.

  A cleaning unit 57, an eraser lamp (not shown), a charging charger 58, and a developing device 59 are provided around the photosensitive drum 56, and detailed description of these operations is omitted. The paper feed unit 70 is provided with two cassettes 71 and 72, and a recording sheet having a required size is stored in either one of the cassettes 71 and 72 in synchronization with the exposure and development operations of the photosensitive drum 56. Paper is fed from. The fed recording sheet is conveyed below the photosensitive drum 56, and the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 is transferred to the surface of the recording sheet.

  Thereafter, the recording sheet is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 and conveyed to the fixing unit 63 by the conveying belt 62. In the fixing unit 63, the toner image transferred on the surface of the recording sheet is fixed. The recording sheet after fixing is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 66. Note that the paper conveyance and the driving of the photosensitive drum 56 as described above are controlled by the main motor M1.

(2) Configuration of Image Data Processing Unit 42 The processing content of the image data processing unit 42 will be described next. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image data processing unit 42. The image data processing unit 42 is mainly configured by a processor such as a CPU, a memory used for image data development, and the like, and operates according to a program stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) not shown.

  The image data processing unit 42 performs RIP (raster image processing) development processing on PDL (page description language) format data included in a print job transmitted from the outside via the LAN 500 to image data. 421, an embedded information acquisition unit 422 that acquires information embedded in a background pattern from image data acquired from the memory unit 45, and a document management server 200, a document storage server 300, and the like via the LAN 500 based on the acquired information A document data acquisition instruction unit 423 for exchanging information about the document, and an image data editing unit 424 for editing image data to be sent to the print processing unit 46 to be actually formed based on the acquired information.

  A document ID and a version number are embedded in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern of the original read by the scanner unit 30 as a processing target in the present embodiment. The details of the document management processing (processing performed by acquiring the document version from the document image data obtained by reading the document by the scanner unit 30) executed by the image data processing unit 42 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed contents of the document management process.

  The embedded information acquisition unit 422 acquires information embedded in the background pattern from the document image data stored in the memory unit 45 (S101). Many techniques for embedding information in a background pattern have been devised, but in this embodiment, for example, a background pattern can be formed as a halftone dot image, and information can be embedded by changing the size of the halftone dot. The embedded information acquisition unit 422 detects the size of halftone dots and acquires embedded information. When the document management information is acquired from the background pattern (S102: YES), the document management server 200 is inquired using the document ID included in the information as a key to confirm the latest version of the document (S103). If there is no copy-forgery-inhibited pattern or document management information cannot be obtained (S102: NO), the print processing is performed as it is (S106).

  The document management server 200 manages the latest version number for each document ID, and it is possible to determine whether or not the document image data version is the latest by exchanging with the document management server 200. If it is the latest version (S104: YES), the latest version of the document file is downloaded from the document storage server (S105), and the printing process is performed (S106). By downloading and printing the document file in this way, it is possible to realize a print process with higher image quality. However, a print process based on document image data may be performed in the same manner as a normal copy process.

  If the document image data is not the latest version (S104: NO), the image data is edited (S107), and the printing process is performed (S106). The image data editing process here is a combining process with a stamp image that makes it clear that the document is not the latest version, for example, a stamp image such as “old version” or “not managed”. Of course, it is also possible to put characters such as “old version” and “out of management” in the background pattern as hidden characters, and perform print processing so that these hidden characters appear.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, in addition to the document version, the processing content in the image data processing unit 42 is changed based on the authority of the operating user.

  The user authority is set through the operation panel unit 150 and the like, and is stored in a storage unit such as a hard disk drive (HDD) (not shown). FIG. 5 shows an example of the contents of the user authentication table when the document management authority is held in the user authentication table, in which the user name, password, and document management authority are registered. The document management authority is set by numbers, and the smaller the number, the higher the authority.

  In the present embodiment, a user who operates the copier logs in after performing user authentication by inputting a user name and password from a liquid crystal touch panel 160 (see FIG. 7) provided on the operation panel unit 150. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user authentication screen. The user inputs a user name in the user name input box 161 and inputs a password in the password input box 162. The user authentication is performed by pressing an “OK” button 164. When canceling user authentication, a cancel button 163 is pressed.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the image data processing unit 42 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a user authentication unit 425 and a print stop control unit 426 are provided in addition to the units described in the first embodiment.

  The user authentication unit 425 collates the user name and password input on the screen of FIG. 6 with the contents of the user authentication table of FIG. 5, and acquires document management authority if they match. If there is no user authentication, the lowest document management authority is assumed. The print stop control unit 426 performs print stop control when the document is not printed according to the document version or the user's document management authority (hereinafter simply referred to as “user authority”).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing contents of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, when the embedded information acquisition unit 422 acquires information embedded in the background pattern (S201), and information for document management is acquired from the background pattern (S202: YES), information on the user authority is displayed. Obtain (S203). When there is no copy-forgery-inhibited pattern or when document management information cannot be acquired (S202: NO), the printing process is performed as it is (S210), which is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Next, as in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the document version of the document image data is the latest by exchanging with the document management server 200 (S204). When it is the latest version (S205: YES), the process of the latest version is searched with reference to the user authority (S206), and the searched process is executed (S207). FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the process search table. If the document is not the latest version (S205: NO), the user authority is referenced to search for the old version process (S208), and the searched process is executed (S207).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, for each document management authority, the processing contents for the latest version and the processing contents for the old version are defined, and the latest version of the image is determined according to the search result. Executes file acquisition processing and image data editing processing. When the print process is necessary (S209: YES), the print process is executed using the edited image data or the like (S210).

An example of processing contents for each document management authority is shown below. Of course, the content is not limited to this.
(Processing A) Document Management Authority 1 (Highest) + Latest Version As in the first embodiment, the latest version of the document file is acquired from the document storage server 300, and print processing is performed.

(Processing B) Document management authority 2 (medium, for example, manager in charge of each department) + latest version The stamp image of the stamp of the person in charge and the original image are combined and “unmanaged” arranged as hidden characters The character of

  Here, hidden characters will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a document P used in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, information such as document ID, version information, document creator, etc. in a halftone dot pattern is normally not perceivable by humans by changing the size of the halftone dot. Embedded with a hidden character of “not controlled”. This hidden character can be placed so that it can be perceived to some extent even by changing the size of the halftone dots and the interval between the halftone dots, for example. Can emerge in a more clearly perceivable form.

In the process B, the image data editing unit 424 combines the document image and the stamp image and performs a process of raising hidden characters to be used for the printing process.
(Processing C) Document management authority 3 (minimum) + latest version For example, a stamp image of a character “reference distribution” and a document image are combined, and a character “unmanaged” arranged as a hidden character is highlighted.

(Process D) Document management authority 1 + old version Obtains the latest version of the document file from the document storage server 300 and performs print processing.
(Processing E) Document management authority 2+ old version The “old version” character stamp image and the original image are combined, and the “unmanaged” character arranged as a hidden character is highlighted.

(Process F) Document management authority 3 + old version The print process is stopped by controlling the print stop control unit 426 not to perform the print process (S209: NO in FIG. 8). In this case, a message indicating that printing cannot be performed may be displayed on the liquid crystal touch panel 160.

  As described above, more appropriate document management support can be realized by referring to the document version information and the user authority and switching the subsequent processing. Note that the processing contents are not necessarily defined in the table, and the processing may be directly executed according to the user authority and the document version.

(Modification)
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the content of the present invention is not limited to the specific examples described in the embodiment, and for example, the following modifications may be implemented. it can.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the document management server 200 and the document storage server 300 are separated from each other. However, both can be the same. Further, it is not always necessary to access the server to the outside via the Internet 600.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the user authentication authority is held in the user authentication table and the user authority is acquired at the time of user authentication. However, the user authority (document management authority) is not necessarily the user authentication table. There is no need to hold on. For example, it is possible to have a configuration in which authority information is stored in the document management server 200 or the like as well as determination of user authority within the copying machine 100. Further, it is possible to use another user authority (such as administrator authority) instead of the document management authority.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the process is switched according to the user authority and the version of the document. However, the relationship between the user authority of the operating user and the preferred process may be different for each document creator. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the authority search table used in such a case. In the example in the figure, document management authority is defined for each relationship between the document creator and the authenticated user who is operating, and document management is performed by referring to the authenticated user and the document creator included in the embedded information. Set permissions. The document management authority may be managed by the document management server 200 for each document ID, for example.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the document management authority defined in the table for user authentication is used as the user authority, and the process is switched according to the version of the document. It may be different for each attribute such as contents, confidentiality, and importance. For this reason, for example, it is possible to embed document attribute information in the background pattern and retain the correspondence between the document attribute, user authority, version, and the like and the processing content. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a document management table provided in such a case.

  In the example shown in the figure, the correspondence between the document attributes set for each document, the user authority, the document version, and the processing content to be executed is defined in a table. For example, the personal information-containing document is set so that only a user with administrator authority can print it, and the externally published document is set so that it can be printed freely by general users if it is the latest version. The contents can be set arbitrarily.

  (5) Although not described in the above embodiment, a background pattern may be formed in an image output as a result of print processing, and information such as a document ID and a document version may be embedded. In that case, it is preferable to use a full-color image forming apparatus so that the color and density of the tint block can be adjusted.

  The present invention can be applied to an image processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of a document management system. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an overall configuration of a copying machine 100. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image data process part 42 of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed content of the document management process of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the user authentication table in the case of hold | maintaining document management authority in the table for user authentication. It is a figure which shows an example of a user authentication screen. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image data process part 42 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed content of the document management process of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of a process search table. It is a figure which shows an example of the original P used in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the authority search table in the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the document management table in the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 Control part 41 Transmission / reception part 42 Image data processing part 421 Image data expansion | deployment part 422 Embedding information acquisition part 423 Document data acquisition instruction | indication part 424 Image data editing part 425 User authentication part 426 Print stop control part 45 Memory unit 46 Print processing part 50 Image forming unit 100 Copier 150 Operation panel 160 LCD touch panel 200 Document management server 300 Document storage server 400 Router 500 LAN
600 Internet

Claims (8)

Reading means for reading a recording sheet and obtaining document image data;
Embedded information acquisition means for acquiring information embedded in a tint block formed on the recording sheet from the obtained document image data;
Extraction means for extracting information indicating the version of the document from the acquired information;
An image processing apparatus comprising: processing control means for switching processing contents thereafter based on information indicating a document version. The image processing apparatus further includes:
Provided with authority information acquisition means for acquiring information on the authority of the operating user,
The processing control means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein subsequent processing contents are switched based on information indicating a document version and information on the authority of the user. The image processing apparatus further includes:
A creator information acquisition means for acquiring information about the creator of the document;
The authority information acquisition means includes
Obtain information about the authority of the operating user from the information about the operating user and the document creator,
The processing control means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein subsequent processing contents are switched based on information indicating a document version and information on the authority of the user. The image processing apparatus further includes:
Document attribute information acquisition means for acquiring information related to document attributes,
The processing control means includes
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein subsequent processing contents are switched based on information indicating a version of the document, information on the authority of the user, and information on the attribute of the document. The processing control means includes
A transmission / reception means for acquiring document data from an external device via a network;
Document data acquisition that acquires the latest version of document data from the outside via the transmission / reception means as the subsequent processing when the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is the latest version The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means. The processing control means includes
When the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is an old version, as the subsequent processing, the obtained document image data and clearly that the document is the old version An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising image data editing means for synthesizing the image to be performed. The processing control means includes
When the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is an old version, as the subsequent processing, the document image data is displayed so that the hidden characters formed by the background pattern are raised and displayed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image data editing unit that edits the image. The processing control means includes
When the information indicating the version of the document indicates that the document is an old version, as the subsequent processing, there is provided a printing stop unit that controls not to perform image formation. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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