JP4612792B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that manages image data obtained by reading a document and generates a copy of the printed material using a printed material generated based on the image data, a control method thereof, and a program. is there.

  Conventionally, there is a technique called “digital watermark”. In the field of images, this is a technique for embedding specific information (digital watermark information) with little effect on image quality and sound quality. For example, it is often used for embedding copyright information.

  The image data in which the “digital watermark information” is embedded appears to be the same as the original image data at first glance, but in reality, information such as the author name and the number of copies is embedded in the image data. By using this digital watermark information, unauthorized copying, falsification of image data, and the like can be prevented.

Further, as an applied technique, an identifier for uniquely specifying the original image is embedded as digital watermark information in the copy output result (paper output), and the original image is separately managed as electronic data, for example, in a server. And when copying the output result at another timing, the original image and the server where it is stored can be specified by analyzing the digital watermark information at the time of reading with the scanner, It is considered that the original image on the specified server is acquired and printed to print it as a copy of the output result. The effect of this technique is that a copy of the output result is generated by printing the original image, so that deterioration in image quality can be prevented.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143414

  In the copy environment as described above, the printing of the original image corresponding to the output result to be copied can be basically executed unconditionally for any user.

  However, depending on the purpose and purpose, the contents of the original image to be processed, or the user, there is a demand to prohibit printing of the original image or to limit the print contents. In other words, it has been possible to perform fine print permission restrictions such as permitting printing of image data managed by the server, permitting only printing of images read from the scanner, or not permitting printing at all. is needed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an image forming apparatus capable of realizing fine print control for printing on the image data according to the image data to be processed, and a control method therefor, The purpose is to provide a program.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
An image forming apparatus that manages first image data and generates a copy of a printed matter generated based on the first image data.
Reading means for reading the printed matter and generating second image data;
Management means for managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated by the reading unit in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Obtaining means for obtaining the access level;
When the access level acquired by the acquisition means is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed on the printing means, and the acquisition means Control means for causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired by the second access level is a second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading unit, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing unit . And switching means for switching based on the number of times.

Preferably, when the access level acquired by the acquisition unit is a third access level, the control unit prohibits execution of printing of image data corresponding to the identification information.

  Preferably, the access level is set for each user or user group.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes authentication means for authenticating a user who performs the copy operation of the printed matter.

Preferably, the information processing apparatus further includes generating means for generating the identification information as digital watermark information.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that manages first image data and generates a copy of a printed matter generated based on the first image data.
A reading step of reading the printed matter to generate second image data;
A management step of managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated in the reading process in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Acquisition process for acquiring the access level;
When the access level acquired in the acquisition step is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed by a printing unit, and the acquisition step A control step of causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired in step 2 is the second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading step, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing step . And a switching step of switching based on the number of times.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is,
A program that manages the first image data and controls the image forming apparatus to generate a copy of the printed matter generated based on the first image data,
A reading step of reading the printed matter to generate second image data;
A management step of managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated in the reading process in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Acquisition process for acquiring the access level;
When the access level acquired in the acquisition step is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed by a printing unit, and the acquisition step A control step of causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired in step 2 is the second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading step, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing step . The computer executes a switching step of switching based on the number of times.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program capable of realizing fine print control for printing on the image data according to the image data to be processed.

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

<< Embodiment 1 >>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a digital multi-function peripheral, which includes a controller 12, a scanner engine 13, and a printer engine 14. The controller 12 is connected to the network 17. Although not shown in the drawing, the digital multi-function peripheral 11 has a document feeder (DF) for reading a document, a paper discharge tray for discharging the printing result, and the like.

  A host computer 15 is used when a print job is input to the digital multifunction peripheral 11. Reference numeral 16 denotes a server connected to the network 17, which registers an image read by the scanner engine 13 of the digital multi-function peripheral 11, generates identifier information for uniquely identifying the image, and manages it. The identifier information is added as digital watermark information to the print result output to the printer engine 14.

  The network 17 is typically the Internet, LAN, WAN, telephone line, dedicated digital line, ATM, frame relay line, communication satellite line, cable TV line, data broadcasting radio line, or the like. It is a so-called communication network realized by a combination, and it is sufficient if data can be transmitted and received.

  Further, the host computer 15 and the server 16 have standard components (for example, a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, an external storage device, a network interface, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.) mounted on a general-purpose computer. The above functions are realized by these components.

  Next, the configuration of the controller 12 of the digital multifunction peripheral 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the controller of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a CPU, that is, a central processing unit, which controls the entire apparatus, performs arithmetic processing, and the like. Reference numeral 22 denotes a ROM, that is, a read-only memory, which is a storage area for a system activation program, a program for controlling the printer engine, character data, character code information, and the like.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a RAM, that is, a random access memory, which is a data storage area with no usage restrictions, in which font data additionally registered by downloading is stored, and programs and data are loaded and executed for each of various processes. It can also be used as a data storage area.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image memory, which stores image data read from the scanner engine 13 and image data drawn and generated by the image development unit 26. Reference numeral 25 denotes an external storage device such as a hard disk, which spools image data, stores programs and information files, and is used as a work area.

  An image development unit 26 interprets image data (for example, vector data such as PDL data) transmitted from the host computer 15 to the controller 12 via the external interface 211 and develops and renders the image data in the image memory 24. Reference numeral 27 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal, which is used to display the setting state of the apparatus, the current internal processing of the apparatus, and the error state.

  An operation unit 28 is used for various operations for changing or resetting settings, and includes a numeric keypad, buttons, switches, a touch panel, and the like for performing the various operations. Reference numeral 29 denotes a scanner engine interface (I / F), which is an interface for actually transmitting and receiving commands and image data for controlling the scan engine 13.

  A printer engine interface (I / F) 210 is an interface for transmitting and receiving commands and image data for controlling the printer engine 14. An external interface (I / F) 211 is connected to the host computer 15 via an interface such as a parallel (or serial) interface. Further, a fax modem is connected to the end of the external interface 211, and it is also possible to transmit to an external facsimile apparatus connected to a public line.

  A network interface (I / F) 212 is connected to the network 17 via the network I / F 212. Then, data can be transmitted / received to / from an external device on the network 17 using a communication protocol such as HTTP or FTP. A system bus 213 connects the above-described components to each other and functions as a data communication line between the components.

  Next, an outline of a copy operation in the image forming system according to the first embodiment will be described focusing on the digital copying machine 11.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the copy operation in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, as a copy operation using the digital multifunction peripheral 11, when a user inputs a copy job to the digital multifunction peripheral 11 via the operation unit 28, the digital multifunction peripheral 11 is, for example, an original document (Ori-Doc). 31 is read by the scanner engine 13. The read image data is taken into the controller 12. The image data is transmitted to the server 16 and stored on the server 16 as image data (Doc-Data-1) 33.

  On the other hand, the image data is subjected to “digital watermark processing” by software processing (program) in the controller 12. The digital watermark information embedded in the image data in the course of the digital watermark processing includes identifier information for uniquely identifying the image data. The identifier information embedded as the digital watermark information and the user information of the user who submitted the copy job are also transmitted to the server 16 and stored in the server 16 as management data (Mng-Data-1) 34.

  The server 16 uses the management table as shown in FIG. 4 to manage the image data 33 received from the digital multifunction peripheral 11 and the management data 16 in association with each other.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a management table relating to image data. Reference numeral 42 denotes an identification ID (identifier information) given by the controller 12 in order to uniquely identify image data. The image data 33 is associated with the identification ID 42 as an image file (ImageFile) 43.

  Reference numeral 44 denotes a registered user name (Creator) of the image data 33, which is linked to the image data 33. Reference numeral 45 denotes an access level relating to the image data 33. There are three levels of access levels: HQ (High Quality), LQ (Low Quality), and NP (Not Print). The meanings of these are “high-quality printing permission”, “low-quality printing permission”, and “no printing”. It is.

  The access level is divided into user categories based on user information. The owner indicates the person who created the image data of the original document 31, the group indicates a specific pre-registered user group, and other user groups. There are three types of Others. An access level can be set for each user category.

  Reference numeral 46 denotes a Group ID for specifying the group when an access level is set for the Group.

  47 is a group management table for managing users belonging to the group specified by GroupID. 48 is a GroupID for identifying the group. 49 shows how many users are registered in the corresponding group. Reference numeral 410 denotes a user registered for each group.

  More specifically, the image data (file name Doc-Data-3) whose ID is 3 is “yamada”. If the image data copy operation attempt is “yamada”, the user category is Owner, and the access level is HQ. When the user is “matsuda”, the access level is LQ because “matsuda” belongs to the group (GroupID = 102) that can access the image data. Furthermore, when a user who is not registered in the management table 41 tries to copy this image data, the Others access level NP is applied.

  Returning to the description of FIG.

  The image data subjected to the digital watermark processing is transmitted from the image memory 24 to the printer engine 14 via the printer engine I / F 210, and is visualized on the print medium as a print result (WM-DOC (ID = 1)) 32. The As described above, the copy of the original document 31 subjected to the digital watermark process is printed, and the image data of the original document 31 is registered in the server 16.

  Next, a copy operation for copying the print result 32 again will be described.

  As described above, digital watermark information is embedded in the print result 32. Therefore, in the digital multifunction peripheral 11, the print result 32 is read by the scanner engine 13, and the read image data is taken into the image memory 24 on the controller 12. When the digital watermark decryption process is performed on the image data, identifier information that uniquely identifies the image data can be extracted.

  Then, the controller 12 inquires of the server 16 using the identifier information as a parameter, specifies the original image 33, loads it into the controller 12 from the server 16, and prints the original image data itself. As a result, an output result 35 can be obtained.

  As a result, a copy of the print result 32 is generated by the original image 33, not a copy of the copy (so-called child copy, grandchild copy), and it is possible to prevent deterioration of the image quality.

  However, the printing of this copy operation is controlled according to the access level of the user who performs the copy operation.

  Specifically, in a copy operation by a user having an access level of “high-quality printing permission”, the image data 33 corresponding to the printing result 32 set in the digital multifunction peripheral 11 is acquired from the server 16 and is obtained from the printer 16. Printing to generate a copy of the print result 32 is performed by printing with the engine 14.

  In a copy operation by a user having an access level of “permit low-quality printing”, an image obtained by reading the print result 32 by the scanner engine 13 is printed as it is by the printer engine 14 of the digital multi-function peripheral 11, so that the original document 31 is printed. Printing to produce a copy of is made.

  Further, in a copy operation by a user having an access level of “not printable”, printing itself that generates a copy of the output result 32 is prohibited.

  Next, details of copy processing by the digital multi-function peripheral 11 of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of copy processing by the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates page processing for performing page-by-page copying when a single document is set in the digital multifunction peripheral 11.

  First, the start of this page processing is executed by a user's copy start instruction (copy job) from the operation unit 28.

  Next, in step S502, the scanner engine 13 is activated to read a document, and image data read from the scanner engine 13 is transferred to the image memory 24 by DMA transfer via the scanner engine interface 29. As a result, the image data is stored in the image memory 24.

  In step S503, a digital watermark determination process for determining whether digital watermark information exists in the image data is executed. In step S504, it is determined whether there is digital watermark information in the image data. If there is no digital watermark information (YES in step S504), the process proceeds to step S505. On the other hand, if there is digital watermark information (NO in step S504), the process proceeds to step S512.

  In step S 505, the registration request and registration target image data are transmitted to the server 16 in order to register the image data in the server 16. When the size of the image data is relatively large, the data may be appropriately compressed and transmitted in consideration of the load on the network 17.

  In step S506, user information (for example, user name, group ID, etc.) of the user who has input the copy job set in the operation unit 28 and information about image data (for example, the number of copies, print size, access level, etc.) are displayed. get. In step S507, an identification ID for uniquely identifying the image data is generated. In step S508, the information acquired in step S506 and the generated identification ID are transmitted to the server 16 as management data.

  Thereafter, in step S509, digital watermark processing using management data is executed on the image data. Thereby, digital watermark information is embedded in the management data in the image data.

  In step S510, the printer engine 14 is activated, and the image data is DMA-output via the printer engine I / F 210. As a result, the image data read by the scanner engine 13 is printed from the printer engine 14 after being subjected to digital watermark processing. Then, the page processing ends.

  On the other hand, if there is digital watermark information in the image data in step S504, in step S512, the identification ID indicated by the digital watermark information read in the digital watermark determination process is transmitted to the server 16 as a parameter to access the image data. Queries the level. As a result, the access level of the image data is acquired from the server 16.

  Next, in step S513, it is determined whether or not the acquired access level is HQ (High Quality). When the access level is HQ (YES in step S513), the process proceeds to step S514, and the image data transferred from the server 16 is taken into the image memory 24. Here, the image data is DMA-transferred to the image memory 24 via the network interface 212. At this time, the image data on the image memory 24 read from the scanner engine 13 is overwritten in step S502.

  After this processing, management data corresponding to the image data is acquired from the server 16 in step S515. Thereafter, if digital watermark processing is necessary, digital watermark processing is executed in step S509. In this case, since the image data to be processed is not image data for newly registering image data in the server 16, the identification ID indicated by the digital watermark information in the image data is not rewritten. Here, if there is a case where digital watermark processing is required, it is conceivable to add information such as the number of copies and the history of the copy job submitter as digital watermark information.

  Thereafter, in step S510, the image data on the image memory 24 is DMA-output via the printer engine I / F 210. As a result, the image data acquired from the server 16 from the printer engine 14 is printed as a copy of the image data read by the scanner engine 13. Then, the page processing ends.

  On the other hand, if the access level is not HQ in step S513 (NO in step S513), the process proceeds to step S516, and it is determined whether or not the access level is LQ (Low Quality). If the access level is LQ (YES in step S516), the process proceeds to step S509. Here, the access level is LQ means that the user who has submitted the copy job is not authorized to print high-quality image data with little image deterioration from the server 16.

  Accordingly, when executing the digital watermark processing in step S509, the image data to be processed is not image data for newly registering image data in the server 16, and therefore the identification indicated by the digital watermark information in the image data. The ID is not rewritten. Here, if digital watermark processing may be required, it is conceivable to add information such as the number of copies and the history of the copy job submitter as digital watermark information.

  Thereafter, in step S510, the image data stored in the image memory 24 is DMA output via the printer engine I / F 210. Here, since the image data read from the scanner engine 13 is stored in the image memory 24, a print result having a slightly deteriorated image quality compared to the image data acquired from the server 16 can be obtained. That is, a copy of the image data is printed from the printer engine 14 using the image data read by the scanner engine 13 as it is. Then, the page processing ends.

  On the other hand, if the access level is not LQ in step S516 (NO in step S516), that is, if there is no access right (NP), the user is not permitted to print, so the process proceeds to step S516 and the display unit 27 Displays information indicating that you do not have access rights. Then, the page processing ends. As a result, printing of image data read from the scanner engine 13 is prohibited.

  In FIG. 5, the page processing for copying a document in units of one page has been described. In FIG. 6, document processing for copying a document including a plurality of pages will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing document processing by the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step S <b> 602, it is determined whether the document to be read is placed on the DF of the digital multifunction device 11 or placed on the pressure plate of the digital multifunction device 11. If the document is on the pressure plate (NO in step S602), the process proceeds to step S607, and the above-described page processing of FIG. 5 is performed on the document. On the other hand, if the document is on the DF (YES in step S602), the process proceeds to step S603.

  In step S603, the scanner engine 13 is instructed to feed the first document on the DF. As a result, the document is conveyed to a position where it can be optically read from the DF.

  In step S604, the above-described page processing of FIG. 5 is performed on the document. In step S605, it is determined whether or not the remaining document to be read is on the DF. If there is a document (NO in step S605), the process returns to step S603 again, and the processes in steps S603 and S604 are performed on the next document. On the other hand, if there is no document (YES in step S605), the document processing is terminated.

  Next, image data and management data registration processing executed by the server 16 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing registration processing executed by the server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The trigger for starting the registration process is a registration request from the digital multifunction machine 11.

  First, in step S <b> 702, image data corresponding to a registration request is received from the digital multifunction peripheral 11. In step S703, the received image data is stored in an image storage area (for example, a file system) of the server 16. In step S704, management data for the image data is received.

  In step S705, the management table (FIG. 4) is updated based on the received image data and its management data, and the registration process is terminated.

  A specific example will be described with reference to FIG. 4. First, the file name of the stored image data 33 is written in the file name column 43 of the management table. Next, the identification ID in the management data 34 of the image data is written in the ID column 42. Further, the user information of the user who is the copy job submitter in the management data 34 is written in the user name column 44. If the access level of the image data is specified in the management data 34, the access level column 45 and the group ID column 46 are updated.

  The access level can be set by the user who operates the digital multi-function peripheral 11 at the time of image data registration operation via the operation unit 28, but the administrator of the server 16 assigns it to each user or group. On the other hand, an access level can be set as appropriate.

  In this way, the server 16 can manage the image data 33 in association with various information for controlling printing.

  Next, the access level determination process by the server 16 of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated using FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing access level determination processing by the server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S802, the management data received from the digital multi-function peripheral 11 is analyzed to analyze “user information of a user who has submitted a copy job” and “identification ID of image data to be processed”. In this analysis, first, the registered user name information and access level information of the image data specified by the identification ID are acquired from the management table 41.

  Next, in step S803, the user information of the user who inquired the access level (the user who is going to download the image data from the server 16 and print the image data) is the owner of the image data. It is determined whether or not. This is determined by comparing user information in the management data with registered user information (Creator) of the image data.

  If the user information matches the registered user information (Creator) (YES in step S803), the process advances to step S804 to refer to the management table 41 and determine the owner access level (HQ, LQ, or NP). get. In step S805, the digital MFP 11 is notified of the access level, and the access level determination process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the user information does not match the registered user information (Creator) (YES in step S803), the process advances to step S807 to determine whether the user information belongs to the Group. This determination is made by first referring to the management table 41 to obtain a GroupID that can access the image data, and then comparing it with the user information belonging to the group of the group management table 47 specified by the GroupID. I do.

  If the user information belongs to the group (YES in step S807), the process advances to step S808, and the access level of the group is acquired with reference to the management table 41. In step S805, the digital MFP 11 is notified of the access level, and the access level determination process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the user information does not belong to a group (NO in step S807), the process proceeds to step S809 to process as Others, and the accelerator level of Others is acquired with reference to the management table 41. In step S805, the digital MFP 11 is notified of the access level, and the access level determination process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, by setting an access level for each user category for image data managed by the server 16, a copy operation is performed by the digital multifunction peripheral 11 using the image data. In this case, print control according to the access level can be realized.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
In the second embodiment, a configuration for managing a password for each user in addition to the management table 41 and the group management table 47 described in the first embodiment will be described in order to further improve security. In order to manage this password, the server 16 includes a password management table 91 for managing passwords for each user as shown in FIG. Here, 92 indicates a user name, and 93 indicates a password for each user.

  As with the access level, the password may be set by the user who operates the digital multi-function peripheral 11 through the operation unit 28 at the time of image data registration operation, or the administrator of the server 16 may set each user. However, a password may be set as appropriate.

  Next, access level determination processing by the server 16 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing access level determination processing by the server according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In addition, the same step number is added to the same step as the access level determination process of FIG. 8 of Embodiment 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In step S1003, the user is authenticated based on the user information obtained by analyzing the management data in step S802. If the user authentication is successful (YES in step S1003), the processes in and after step S803 are performed. On the other hand, if user authentication fails (NO in step S1003), the process advances to step S1011 to set the access level to FA (Failed Authentication). In step S805, the digital multi-function peripheral 11 is notified that authentication has failed.

  In the authentication in step S1003, first, user information in the management data is acquired, and it is determined whether or not the user information exists in the password management table 91. If the user information does not exist, the authentication fails. Then, the process proceeds to step S1011.

  On the other hand, if user information exists, a password input request is transmitted to the digital multi-function peripheral 11. Upon receiving a password input request from the server 16, the digital multi-function peripheral 11 displays a screen for prompting password input on the display unit 27, and accepts password input from the operation unit 28. When a password is input via the operation unit 28, the password is transmitted to the server 16, and the server 16 collates the received password with the password registered in the password management table 91. As a result of the collation, if the passwords match, the authentication is successful and the process proceeds to step S802. On the other hand, if the passwords do not match, it is determined that the authentication has failed and the process proceeds to step S1011.

  However, since this authentication also assumes a password input error, for example, the password may be input up to three times.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, user authentication is performed, so that it is possible to realize print control with higher security.

<< Embodiment 3 >>
In the first and second embodiments, identifier information for specifying image data is embedded in the image data as digital watermark information. For example, one-dimensional / two-dimensional barcodes, symbols, numbers, and the like are used as identifier information. The image data may be printed together with a print medium for printing.

  The access level described in the first embodiment is an example, and various access levels can be set according to the application and purpose. For example, the access level is switched according to the number of copy operations, the expiration date is set in the image data, the access level is switched before and after the expiration date, and the access level is changed according to the print mode (for example, monochrome / color). It is also possible to set the access level according to various printing conditions that can be set, such as the print size and the number of prints, which can be set by the digital multi-function peripheral 11.

  In the first embodiment, the digital multi-function peripheral 11 and the management server 16 are configured separately. However, these devices may be configured as a single device to execute the above processing.

  In the first to third embodiments, the case where a copy of the document is generated based on the image data of the document read by the digital multifunction machine 11 has been described as an example. For example, based on the image data, The same control according to the access level can be realized for processing such as transferring image data to another terminal on the network 17 or attaching it to an e-mail.

  Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention can take an embodiment as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system that is configured, or may be applied to an apparatus that includes a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller of a digital multifunction peripheral according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a copy operation in the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the table which the server of Embodiment 1 of this invention manages. 5 is a flowchart illustrating details of copy processing by the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating document processing by the digital multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the registration process which the server of Embodiment 1 of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the access level determination process by the server of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the table which the server of Embodiment 2 of this invention manages. It is a flowchart which shows the access level determination process by the server of Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11 Digital MFP 12 Controller 13 Scanner Engine 14 Printer Engine 15 Host Computer 16 Server 17 Network 21 CPU
22 ROM
23 RAM
24 Image memory 25 External storage device 26 Image development unit 27 Display unit 28 Operation unit 29 Scanner engine interface 210 Printer engine interface 211 External interface 212 Network interface

Claims (8)

An image forming apparatus that manages first image data and generates a copy of a printed matter generated based on the first image data.
Reading means for reading the printed matter and generating second image data;
Management means for managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated by the reading unit in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Obtaining means for obtaining the access level;
When the access level acquired by the acquisition means is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed on the printing means, and the acquisition means Control means for causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired by the second access level is a second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading unit, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing unit . An image forming apparatus comprising: switching means for switching based on the number of times. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein when the access level acquired by the acquisition unit is a third access level, the control unit prohibits execution of printing of image data corresponding to the identification information. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access level is set in units of users or groups to which the users belong . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit configured to authenticate a user who performs a copy operation of the printed matter. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a generation unit configured to generate the identification information as digital watermark information. A system comprising: a management server that manages first image data; and an image forming apparatus that generates a copy of a printed material generated based on the first image data.
The management server
Management means for managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
The image forming apparatus includes:
Reading means for reading the printed matter and generating second image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated by the reading unit in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Acquisition means for acquiring the access level from the management server;
When the access level acquired by the acquisition means is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed on the printing means, and the acquisition means Control means for causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired by the second access level is a second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading unit, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing unit . An image forming system comprising: switching means for switching based on the number of times. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus that manages first image data and generates a copy of a printed matter generated based on the first image data.
A reading step of reading the printed matter to generate second image data;
A management step of managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated in the reading process in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Acquisition process for acquiring the access level;
When the access level acquired in the acquisition step is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed by a printing unit, and the acquisition step A control step of causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired in step 2 is the second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading step, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing step . And a switching step of switching based on the number of times. A program that manages the first image data and controls the image forming apparatus to generate a copy of the printed matter generated based on the first image data,
A reading step of reading the printed matter to generate second image data;
A management step of managing identification information for identifying the first image data and an access level set for the first image data;
When identification information is added to the second image data generated in the reading process in response to an instruction to copy the printed matter input by the user, the identification information is associated with the first image data corresponding to the identification information. Acquisition process for acquiring the access level;
When the access level acquired in the acquisition step is the first access level, the first image data specified by the identification information added to the second image data is printed by a printing unit, and the acquisition step A control step of causing the printing means to print the second image data when the access level acquired in step 2 is the second access level;
When information indicating the number of times of copying of the printed matter is added to the second image data generated from the printed matter read by the reading step, the copy is executed with the access level managed by the managing step . And a switching step of switching based on the number of times.

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