JP2010092220A - Image processor and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor and an image processing program for more shortening the image processing time of image data than those in a conventional manner. <P>SOLUTION: Only private image data whose private application has been accepted from a user by a private application instruction acceptance part 36 in a private application instruction acceptance processing (step 102) are subject to public/private image data determination processing by a public/private image data determination part 40 (step 108). The image logs are generated by an image log generation 42 in public image data whose private application has not been accepted and the image data determined to be public by the public/private image data determination processing (step 108: N) and stored in an image log storage part 47 (step 118). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for performing a process of determining public / private based on a print history for all documents subjected to image processing.

  Patent Document 2 describes a technique for determining whether or not to store all image data subjected to image processing, and storing the image data in a storage unit when storing the image data.

Patent Document 3 describes a technique for creating a thumbnail image when copying in the private mode, moving to a thumbnail folder, checking the thumbnail image, and changing the charge category.
JP 2003-050691 A JP 2004-192039 A JP 2006-191182 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing program that shorten the image processing time of image data as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is a user who requests the image processing of the image data to indicate whether the image data to be subjected to image processing is public or private. An instruction accepting unit that accepts a private instruction by the instruction accepting unit, a public / private judging unit that determines whether the image data received by the instruction accepting unit is public or private, and a public instruction by the instruction accepting unit Generates image information related to image data instructed as public, and when private instruction is received by the instruction receiving means, it is determined as public by public / private determination means among the image data instructed as private Image information generating means for generating image information relating to the image data.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is in the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information generation unit is instructed to be private when the instruction receiving unit receives a private instruction. Generation of image information related to image data determined to be private by the public / private determination means is prohibited.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the storage means stores public / private determination information indicating whether the image data is public or private. In addition, the public / private determination means includes public / private information depending on whether the public / private information stored in the storage means is included in the image data designated as private or accepted by the instruction accepting means. It is determined which one.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising authentication means for authenticating a user who requests image processing of the image data in the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The instruction accepting unit accepts an instruction as to whether the image data to be subjected to the image processing is public or private only from a user authenticated by the authentication unit.

  The image processing device according to claim 5 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the image data is for public use, the image data for the public charge category is used. Charge processing is further provided for performing charge processing for image processing and charging processing for image processing of the image data for a private charge category when the image data is private.

  An image processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, further comprising processing information generating means for generating processing information relating to image processing of the image data, wherein the billing processing means An accounting process is performed based on the processing information generated by the information generating means.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a user corresponds to the image information based on the image information generated by the image information generation unit. Charge section change accepting means for accepting a change of the charge section for changing the charge section for image processing of image data from the public charge section to the private charge section, wherein the charge processing means receives the charge section change acceptance Charge processing is performed on the image processing of the image data for the changed charge classification received by the means.

  An image processing program according to an eighth aspect is a program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect of shortening the image processing time of the image data as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the leakage of personal information as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the public / private determination can be performed with higher accuracy than when the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the present invention described in claim 4, it is possible to obtain an effect that security can be improved as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an effect can be obtained that the billing process can be performed according to the application as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the present invention described in claim 6, it is possible to obtain an effect that an appropriate billing process can be performed as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the present invention described in claim 7, there is an effect that it is possible to make the charging category for performing the charging process appropriate as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the image processing time of the image data and to prevent the leakage of information related to the image data to be processed.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system including an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a multifunction machine 10, n user terminals 12n (n is an integer of 1 or more), and a network 14 such as a LAN (local area network) or the Internet. .

  The multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment is an apparatus having a copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile function, and includes an image reading unit 20, an image receiving unit 22, an image printing unit 24, an operation / display unit 26, and a control unit. 30 is comprised. Note that the functions of the multifunction machine 10 are not limited to the above, and may be an apparatus having a part of the above functions or an apparatus having other functions.

  The image reading unit 20 is for reading an image such as a document into image data. Specific examples include copying and scanning. The image receiving unit 22 is for receiving image data via the user terminal 12n, an external network (not shown), a telephone line (not shown), or the like. The image printing unit 24 is for printing (outputting) image data, and specific examples include a copy and a printer. The operation / display unit 26 is used by the user to perform an instruction operation related to image processing in the multifunction machine 10 or to display information or the like to the user. Specific examples include a touch panel, a display, a mouse, and a keyboard. The control unit 30 is for controlling the entire multifunction machine 10 (details will be described later).

  The user terminal 12n is for a user requesting image processing of image data to the multifunction device 10 to instruct the image processing, and includes an operation / display unit 28n. Specific examples of the operation / display unit 28n include a touch panel, a display, a mouse, and a keyboard. Specific examples of the user terminal 12n include a computer and a mobile terminal device configured by a CPU, ROM, RAM, HDD, and the like.

  The multifunction machine 10 and the user terminal 12n are connected to each other via the network 14.

  The image processing system 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration, and may be configured to include m multifunction devices 10 (m is an integer of 2 or more), as shown in the dotted line in FIG. Alternatively, the management server 16 may be provided, and the management server 16 may perform user authentication, public / private determination, billing processing, billing category change processing, and the like using the multifunction machine 10m.

  The multifunction device 10 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the MFP 10 according to the present embodiment.

  The multifunction machine 10 according to the present embodiment includes an image reading unit 20, an image receiving unit 22, an image printing unit 24, an operation / display unit 26, a control unit 30, a network I / F 32, a user authentication unit 34, and a private application instruction reception. Unit 36, public / private standard storage unit 38, public / private determination unit 40, image log generation unit 42, image log storage unit 44, job log generation unit 46, job log storage unit 47, and billing processing unit 48. .

  The control unit 30 includes a CPU 50, a ROM 52, a RAM 56, and an HDD 58. The CPU 50 executes image processing and charging category change processing including user authentication, public / private determination, and charging processing, which will be described in detail later. The image processing program 54 and the charge category change processing program 55 for the image processing are stored in the ROM 52 as a recording medium. The image processing program 54 and the charge category change processing program 55 are recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (not shown), a DVD-ROM (not shown), a removable disk (not shown), and the HDD 58. Etc., and may be read and executed by the CPU 50. The ROM 52 stores various programs such as an image processing program 54 and a charge category change processing program 55, parameters, and the like. The RAM 56 is used when the CPU 50 executes various programs such as the image processing program 54 and the charge category change processing program 55. It is used as a work area etc.

  The network I / F 32 is a network interface for connecting to the network 14. In the present embodiment, image data requested by the user for image processing and instructions related to image processing are input from the user terminal 12n or an external network via the network I / F 32, and information about image processing or Image processed image data, billing information, etc. are output.

  The user authentication unit 34 is for authenticating a user who requests image processing based on predetermined authentication information. Specific examples of authentication information include a user ID, a user name, and a password.

  The private application instruction receiving unit 36 is for receiving an instruction (application) from the user as to whether the image data requesting image processing is private or public. A screen (not shown) is transmitted to the user terminal 12n, receives an application instructed by the user based on the application screen, and determines whether the application is private or public based on the received application.

  The public / private reference information storage unit 38 stores information serving as a reference for determining whether the image data requested for image processing is public image data or private image data. Specific examples of the public / private standard information include characters used as keywords and predetermined images. In the present embodiment, characters (for example, company name, department name, business name, and confidential characters) used as keywords indicating public use, and images (eg, company seal, company logo, confidential information) indicating public use are used. Is stored).

  The public / private determination unit 40 is for determining whether the image data is public or private based on the public / private standard information stored in the public / private standard storage unit 38. In the present embodiment, when the information stored in the public / private reference storage unit 38 is included in the image data, the image data is determined to be public.

  The image log generation unit 42 is for generating an image log of public image data. Specific examples of the image log include thumbnail images, images obtained by converting image data to a predetermined resolution, images themselves based on image data, and the like. The image log storage unit 44 is for storing the image log generated by the image log generation unit 42.

  The job log generation unit 46 is for generating a job log that is information relating to image processing performed on image data. Specific examples of job logs include information for identifying the user who requested image processing, functions used for copying, faxing, and scanners, and the output paper size and type, double-sided or single-sided when outputting images. Or color or monochrome. The job log storage unit 47 is for storing the job log generated by the job log generation unit 46.

  The billing processing unit 48 is for performing billing processing according to the processing content of the image processing. In the present embodiment, group-based charging processing is performed when the image data is public, and individual-based charging processing is performed based on the job log generated by the job log generation unit 46 (details will be described later). . In addition, a change in the charge category is accepted from the user, and charge processing is performed for the changed charge category (details will be described later).

  Image reading unit 20, image receiving unit 22, image printing unit 24, operation / display unit 26, control unit 30, network I / F 32, user authentication unit 34, private application instruction receiving unit 36, public / private standard storage unit 38, public / private The determination unit 40, the image log generation unit 42, the image log storage unit 44, the job log generation unit 46, the job log storage unit 47, the accounting processing unit 48, the CPU 50, the ROM 52, the RAM 56, and the HDD 58 include a control bus, a data bus, and the like. They are connected to each other via a bus 60 so as to be able to exchange information.

  Next, image processing including user authentication, public / private determination, billing processing, and the like executed by the multifunction machine 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image processing according to the present embodiment. This process is executed when there is a request for image processing from the user (for example, when there is an image output instruction from the user terminal 12n).

In step 100, the user authentication unit 34 performs user authentication processing for the user who has requested image processing. In the present embodiment, the case where the user is authenticated will be described in detail in the following steps. However, if the user is not authenticated, a predetermined authentication error process such as notifying the user of that fact is performed. In step 102, the private application instruction receiving unit 36 performs a private application instruction receiving process. In the present embodiment, an application screen (not shown) is transmitted to the user terminal 12n of the user who has been authenticated, and the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, a private application is received from the user based on the application screen, and it is determined whether the application is private or public based on the received application. In this embodiment, when a private application is accepted, it is determined that image processing is performed in the private mode. When an application is not accepted, it is determined that image processing is performed in the public mode. Therefore, if a private application is accepted, it is determined as a private mode, affirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 106.

  In step 106, image data is received. When the user uses the multifunction machine 10 as a printer, the image data receiving unit 22 receives image data from the user terminal 12n or the like. When used as a fax (reception), the image data receiving unit 22 receives image data from a telephone line or the like. When used as a copy and scanner, image data such as a document read by the image reading unit 20 is input.

  In the next step 108, the public / private determination unit 40 performs public / private determination processing. A public / private determination process is performed by comparing the image data received in step 106 with the public / private reference information (public / private reference image) stored in the public / private reference information storage unit 38. In the present embodiment, specifically, when the image data is character data, an OCR process (character recognition process) is performed, a keyword search is performed, and when the image data is a photograph or the like, a similar image search is performed. When the public / private information stored in the reference storage unit 38 is included in the image data, the image data is determined to be public. As a result, if the public image data is applied for private use by mistake, and the processing is performed in the private mode, the processing of the image data is changed to the public mode.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the public / private determination process is performed only on the image data applied for private use by the user without performing the public / private determination process on all the image data. Since the processing amount is reduced, the time required for the public / private determination processing is shortened.

  In the next step 110, it is determined whether or not the image data is private based on the processing result of the public / private determination processing in step 108. If the result of the public / private determination process is public, the result is negative and the process proceeds to step 118. On the other hand, if it is for private use, the determination is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, the job log generation unit 46 generates a job log representing information regarding the processing content of the instructed image processing, and stores it in the job log storage unit 47.

  In the next step 114, the charging processing unit 48 performs individual charging processing based on the job log generated and stored in step 112. Here, since it is the user's private mode, a billing process (billing process for each individual) is performed to charge the individual user to be used based on the contents of the image processing. Specific examples of the individual billing process include deduction from a user's salary, or sending a payment invoice to the user terminal 12n. After performing the individual billing process, the process proceeds to step 124, and the image processing requested by the user is performed.

  On the other hand, if the private application is not accepted in step 104, the determination is negative because the image processing is performed in the public mode, and the process proceeds to step 116.

  In step 116, image data is received. This step is the same as step 106.

  In step 118 following step 116 or when the result in step 110 is negative, an image log of image data is generated by the image log generation unit 42, and the generated image log is stored in the image log storage unit 44. That is, in this step, image data of image data that has been applied for public use by the user (not applied for private use) and image data that has been determined to be public by the public / private determination process are generated and stored.

  In the next step 120, the job log generation unit 46 generates a job log representing information related to the processing content of the instructed image processing and stores it in the job log storage unit 47. This step is the same as step 112.

  In the next step 122, the charging processing unit 48 performs group-based charging processing based on the job log generated and stored in step 112. Here, since the mode is the public mode, a billing process (billing process by group) is performed in which a predetermined department such as a group or project to which the user belongs is charged based on the contents of the image processing. Specific examples of the group-specific billing process include subtracting from the group budget or sending a payment invoice to the group. After performing the group-by-group charging process, the process proceeds to step 124, and the image processing requested by the user is performed.

  In step 124, after performing the image processing requested by the user, this processing is terminated. When the user uses the multifunction machine 10 as a printer, a copy, and a fax (reception), the image data received in step 106 or 116 is printed by the image printing unit 24. When used as a scanner, the image data read by the image reading unit 20 is transmitted to the user terminal 12n, or transmitted to a predetermined storage unit such as the HDD 58 of the multifunction machine 10, a place designated by the user, or the like. .

  The public / private determination processing, image log generation, job log generation, and the like may be performed for each requested image processing job in batches of images of multiple pages or for each page of image data. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing (step 124) is performed after performing the billing process (step 114 or step 122). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the billing process may be performed after performing the image processing. Then, the process shown in FIG. 3 may be terminated without performing the charging process, and a separate charging process may be performed at a later date. In addition, when separately charging processing is performed, the charging processing may be performed based on the job log stored in the job log storage unit 47.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the private application instruction receiving unit 36 performs the public / private determination process only on the image data for which the private application has been received from the user, and therefore the processing time is shortened. In addition, since the image log generation unit 46 does not generate an image log of image data for which a private application has been accepted, private image data does not remain, so personal information is passed to a third party such as an administrator of the image processing system 1. Is prevented from leaking.

  Moreover, since image data that has not received a private application from the user (applied for public use) is not subjected to public / private determination processing, public / private determination processing time is not required. Further, even if the image data has been applied for public use and the image data has been applied for private use, the image log determined by the public / private determination process is generated as an image log by the image log generation unit 42, and the image log storage unit 47. Is remembered. The image log stored in the image log storage unit 47 is used for specifying and tracking information leakage paths such as corporate information and confidential information related to image data.

  Furthermore, when the user applies for whether the image data is private or public in step 102 above, it is assumed that the image data is private or public, or the private application is applied even though it is private. In some cases, for example, the user is processed in the wrong mode due to forgetting or the like, and charged in the wrong charging category. In such a case, since the user changes the charging category based on the image log stored in the image log storage unit 44, the charging processing unit 48 accepts the change of the charging category and charges the changed charging category. Process.

  The change of charge category (change from public to private use) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the billing category changing process according to the present embodiment. This process is executed when a request for changing or confirming the charge category is received from the user. Since it is preferable that only a predetermined administrator can perform the charge category changing process, administrator authentication is performed, and this process may be performed only when authenticated.

  In step 200, the image log stored in the image log storage unit 44 is read out, and in the next step 202, the charging terminal change screen (not shown) and the read image log are the user terminal of the user who changes the charging division. Send to 12n etc. In addition, you may make it display on the operation / display part 26 of the multifunction machine 10, without transmitting to the user terminal 12n.

  As a result, the user refers to the displayed image log and instructs the change of the charge category on the charge category change screen. Since all the image data in which the image log is generated and stored is image data that is publicly used by the image processing shown in FIG. 3, the charge category is public. Therefore, if there are mixed image logs corresponding to private image data, the user gives an instruction to change the charge category of the image data from public to private.

  In the next step 204, it is determined whether or not there is a change in charge category. If there is no change, this process is terminated. On the other hand, if the user has accepted a change in the billing category from public use to private use, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 206.

  In step 206, the charge category is changed to individual based on the charge category change instruction received from the user, and individual charge processing is performed. In the present embodiment, the job log corresponding to the image data for which the change of the charge category has been received is read from the job log storage unit 47, and the individual charge process is performed for the user who has requested the image data processing.

  In the next step 208, group-based billing processing for correcting the group-specific budget is performed. In the image processing shown in FIG. 3, the charging process for the image data whose charging category has been changed is performed for the group. Therefore, a process for correcting this is performed. After performing the billing process, this process ends.

  As described above, in the billing category changing process of the present embodiment, the user is processed in the wrong mode, for example, by making a false application for private use or forgetting to make a private application. Even when the billing process is performed in the wrong billing category, the billing process can be appropriately performed because the billing process can be changed to the proper billing category.

It is a schematic structure figure showing an example of a schematic structure of an image processing system concerning an embodiment of the invention. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image processing executed by the multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the charge classification change process performed with the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 34 User authentication part 36 Private application instruction | indication reception part 38 Public / private reference | standard information storage part 40 Public / private determination part 42 Image log generation part 46 Job log generation part 48 Charge processing part 50 Control part

Claims (8)

An instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction from the user requesting image processing of the image data whether the image data to be subjected to image processing is public or private;
A public / private determination means for determining whether the image data for which a private instruction is received by the instruction receiving means is public or private;
When a public instruction is accepted by the instruction accepting means, image information relating to image data designated as public is generated, and when a private instruction is accepted by the instruction accepting means, an image designated as private Image information generating means for generating image information relating to image data determined to be publicly used by the public / private determination means among the data;
An image processing apparatus. The image information generation means generates image information relating to image data determined to be private by the public / private determination means, among the image data specified to be private, when the private instruction is received by the instruction reception means. Ban,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. Storage means for storing public / private determination information indicating whether the image data is public or private,
The public / private determination means is either public or private depending on whether or not the public / private information stored in the storage means is included in the image data designated as private and accepted by the instruction accepting means. To determine,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. An authentication unit for authenticating a user who requests image processing of the image data;
The instruction accepting unit accepts an instruction whether the image data to be subjected to the image processing is public or private only from a user authenticated by the authentication unit.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. If the image data is public, charge for the image processing of the image data for the public charge category, and if the image data is private, for the image processing of the image data for the private charge category Further comprising a billing processing means for billing,
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Processing information generating means for generating processing information relating to image processing of the image data;
The charging processing means performs a charging process based on the processing information generated by the processing information generating means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. Based on the image information generated by the image information generating means, the user changes the charge category for image processing of the image data corresponding to the image information from the public charge category to the private charge category A charge category change accepting means for accepting changes in
The charging processing unit performs a charging process for the image processing of the image data for the changed charging category received by the charging category change receiving unit.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 5.   An image processing program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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