JP2007282026A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of tracing an image processing history with a simple method. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which receives inputs of target image data containing a specific identifier and a processing instruction, processes the target image data in accordance with the instruction and outputs output image data that become a processing result, wherein the specific identifier contained in the target image data is extracted, an identifier specific for the output image is generated and the output image data are output while including the specific identifier therein. The specific identifier extracted from the target image data and the specific identifier of the output image data that are the result of processing to the target image data, are then associated with each other and recorded as processing history information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral.

In recent years, recording of processing performed by an image processing apparatus has been widely performed for the purpose of coping with information leakage. It is also conceivable to record the image data subjected to the processing as a log. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for transmitting read image data to a copy server and storing it.
JP 2004-102549 A

  However, in the above conventional log recording method, it is possible to confirm the contents of the executed processing and the contents of the image. For example, if a document is copied and distributed in-house, even if the document is leaked It was difficult to find out which documents were leaked from which documents were distributed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of tracking an image processing history by a simple method.

  The present invention for solving the problems of the conventional example receives input of target image data including a unique identifier and a processing instruction, and processes the input target image data according to the instruction. An image processing apparatus that outputs output image data that is a processing result, the means for extracting a unique identifier included in the target image data, a unique identifier for the output image data, and a unique identifier for the output image data And a unique identifier extracted from the target image data and a unique identifier of the output image data that is the result of processing on the target image data, and recorded as processing history information And the processing history information is subjected to a predetermined processing relating to tracking of the processing history of the image data.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, the input image data including a unique identifier and a processing instruction are received, the input target image data is processed according to the instruction, and output image data that is a processing result For extracting a unique identifier included in the target image data, generating a unique identifier for the output image data, and including the unique identifier in the output image data And outputting the process, associating the unique identifier extracted from the target image data with the unique identifier of the output image data that is the result of the process on the target image data, and recording the process identifier as process history information. In addition, the processing history information is provided for a predetermined process related to tracking of a processing history of image data.

  Furthermore, another aspect of the present invention is a program that receives input of target image data including a unique identifier and a processing instruction, processes the input target image data according to the instruction, A procedure for extracting a unique identifier included in the target image data, an identifier unique to the output image data, and an identifier unique to the output image data are generated in the image processing apparatus that outputs the resulting output image data. Including a procedure for outputting, a unique identifier extracted from the target image data, and a unique identifier of the output image data that is a result of processing on the target image data, and recording as processing history information; , And the processing history information is subjected to a predetermined process related to the tracking of the processing history of the image data.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be realized as a multifunction machine having a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a scan function, a print output function, and the like. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a scanner unit 10, a controller unit 20, a printer unit 30, and a communication unit 40. The controller unit 20 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit, and a storage unit. A unit 22, an operation unit 23, and an interface unit 24 are included. The communication unit 40 includes a facsimile (FAX) transmission / reception unit 41 and a network interface unit (NIC) 42.

  The multifunction machine 1 is also connected to the server device 2 via a network. The server apparatus 2 includes a storage device, and stores job logs and image logs received from the multifunction machine 1 in the storage.

  The scanner unit 10 is, for example, a flatbed scanner, and optically reads a document placed on a document table in accordance with an instruction input from the controller unit 20 and outputs image data obtained by the reading to the controller unit 20. .

  The control unit 21 of the controller unit 20 includes a program control device such as a CPU. The control unit 21 operates according to a program stored in the storage unit 22, controls each unit based on an instruction given by the user, and processes image data. In addition, the control unit 21 records the content of the instruction given by the user and the processing result of the image data (herein referred to as “job log”) in the storage unit 22, and also performs processing according to the instruction. The resulting image data (hereinafter referred to as “image log”) is recorded in the storage unit 22. Further, the control unit 21 performs processing for transferring the recorded job log and image log to the server device 2. Specific operations of these control units 21 will be described in detail later.

  The storage unit 22 includes a storage element such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The storage unit 22 may be configured to include a disk device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 22 holds a program executed by the control unit 21 and also operates as a work memory of the control unit 21. In addition, the storage unit 22 holds a job log that represents the user's instruction content and the processing result of the image data, and an image log that includes image data that has been processed by the instruction.

  The operation unit 23 includes a keypad and the like. The operation unit 23 receives the instruction operation of the user and outputs the content of the instruction operation to the control unit 21. The interface unit 24 is connected to the scanner unit 10, the printer unit 30, and the communication unit 40, and transmits an instruction output from the control unit 21 to each unit. In addition, data input from each unit is output to the control unit 21.

  The printer unit 30 receives a print instruction and image data input from the controller unit 20 and forms the image data on a recording medium such as paper. The FAX transmission / reception unit 41 of the communication unit 40 is connected to the telephone line network, receives the transmission instruction and the image data input from the controller unit 20, and issues the other party via the telephone line network in accordance with the transmission instruction. Call. When the other party receives a call, the input image data is transmitted to the other party using the FAX protocol.

  The NIC 42 is connected to the network, receives information on the destination (network address) input from the controller unit 20 and data to be transmitted, and transmits the data to the designated destination. Further, the NIC 42 outputs data received via the network to the controller unit 20.

  Here, the operation of the controller unit 20 of the multifunction machine 1 will be described. The controller unit 20 executes image processing in response to an instruction from the user. In the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, “scan processing” in which image data obtained by reading a document with the scanner unit 10 is transmitted to a PC or the like via a network, and obtained by reading the document with the scanner unit 10. “Copy process” for outputting image data to the printer unit 30 for image formation, and “print process” for outputting image data and drawing data received from a PC via the network to the printer unit 30 for image formation. Further, the image data obtained by reading the document with the scanner unit 10 is output to the FAX transmission / reception unit 41 for FAX transmission, and the image data received by the FAX transmission / reception unit 41 is output to the printer unit 30. Then, “FAX reception processing” or the like for printing is performed.

  Here, the image data to be processed may include a unique identifier in advance. As a specific example, barcode information (code image) describing an identifier unique to image data may be included at a predetermined position on the image data using a technique such as digital watermarking. Since the digital watermark technique is widely known, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The control unit 21 of the controller unit 20 extracts a unique identifier from the image data to be processed. As described above, for example, when a unique identifier is described as a code image, the unique identifier is extracted by decoding the code image. In the following description, this unique identifier is referred to as an input identifier. Note that, when a unique identifier cannot be extracted, such as when a unique identifier is not recorded in the image data to be processed, the control unit 21 sets the input identifier to “null”.

  Furthermore, the control unit 21 newly issues a unique identifier for the output image data subjected to image processing. In the following description, the identifier newly issued here is called an output identifier. Then, the control unit 21 removes the described input identifier from the image data to be processed, and executes the instructed process. Then, a code image (barcode or the like) obtained by encoding the output identifier is combined with the processed image data, and the image data after combining the output identifier is output. The control unit 21 acquires information on the date and time when the instruction is received from a time measuring unit (not shown) (implemented including a calendar IC or the like).

  Then, the control unit 21 stores the input identifier, the output identifier, the date / time information, the instruction content, and the image processing result in association with each other as a job log. Also, the image data to be processed (for example, when image data described in a page description language for printing is received, the image data obtained by converting the image data into a bitmap may be used). And recorded as an image log in association with the identifier. Here, the job log may record the contents of the process as a character string such as “scan process”, “copy process”, etc., and the contents of the settings and the image processing results performed in relation to each process May also be recorded as a job log. The contents of this setting include, for example, resolution settings and other settings for color and monochrome for scan processing, and for copying, settings for the number of copies and enlargement / reduction ratio settings, etc. As a result of image processing, there are information such as normal or abnormal end of processing, error information, information of an image processing apparatus that has performed processing, and processing start / end date and time.

  Further, the control unit 21 may acquire information for specifying the user who has instructed the processing and include the information in the job log. If the information specifying the user is an instruction to be performed by the operation unit 23 such as a copy instruction, the user is authenticated by the operation unit 23 (such as requesting input of a user name or password). When the image data is received from the PC via the network, the network address of the PC may be recorded as information for identifying the user. What is necessary is just to record the other party's telephone number etc. as information which identifies a user. In addition, when the information which identifies a user cannot be acquired (when input of a user name is refused etc.), a user name is recorded as unknown.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the input identifier, the output identifier, the information on the date and time when the instruction is received, the information for specifying the user, the contents of the instruction (type of processing), and the contents of the setting are mutually connected. The associated job log is stored in the storage unit 22. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the image log is obtained by associating an input identifier, an output identifier, and image data. As a result, the input identifier and the output identifier are associated and recorded in the storage unit 22. These job logs or image logs are used as the processing history information of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, (1) User X copies material P, (2) Transfers the copied material P to the PC by scanning, (3) Sends the fax again, and (4) User Y transmits to the PC. The operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case where the transferred material P is printed and (5) the printed material P is copied. At this time, it is assumed that the original material P does not include an identifier.

  When the user X sets the material P in the scanner unit 10 and operates the controller unit 20 to instruct copy processing, the controller unit 20 optically reads the material P by the scanner unit 10 and tries to extract an identifier. . Here, since the identifier is not included, extraction is impossible, and the controller unit 20 sets the identifier of this material to “NULL”.

  Then, a new identifier (for example, “ID1”) is issued, and a code image representing this identifier “ID1” is generated. Then, the code image is synthesized at a predetermined position of the image data obtained by reading the material P (for example, it may be synthesized using a digital watermark technique), and the synthesized image data is output to the printer unit 30 and printed. Output.

  On the other hand, the controller unit 20 is instructed in the copy process, the content of the process “copy”, the input identifier “NULL”, the output identifier “ID1”, the information “user X” identifying the user, and the like. The setting information (such as “full color”) is associated and stored as a job log.

  Further, the user X sets the copied image on the scanner unit 10. Then, the scanner unit 10 reads the image, and issues an instruction to transfer the image data obtained thereby to the PC connected via the network. Then, the controller unit 20 instructs the scanner unit 10 to read, and extracts an identifier from the obtained image data. Since “ID1” is described here, “ID1” is extracted as an input identifier.

  The controller unit 20 removes the extracted identifier description from the image data. For example, the code image representing the identifier is “A Method of Digital Watermarking for Images Using Fourier Transform” by Yoshihide Fukuoka and Koko Matsui (1998 Symposium on Cryptography and Information Security (SCIS'98), (January 28-31, 1998) ), Embedded in high frequency noise for image data as in the digital watermark technology shown in the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers), a low pass filter is applied to the corresponding part and included as high frequency noise. Information can be removed.

  The controller unit 20 further issues a new identifier “ID2”, synthesizes the code image representing this identifier “ID2” at a predetermined position of the image data from which the input identifier is removed, and outputs it to the communication unit 40 for specification. The combined image data is transmitted and output to a destination on the network.

  Further, the controller unit 20 is instructed in the scanning process, “scan”, the input identifier “ID1”, the output identifier “ID2”, the information “user X” identifying the user, and the like. The information is stored as a job log in association with setting information (such as a destination address).

  Thereafter, the same processing is performed at the time of FAX transmission, printing and copying by the user Y, and the controller unit 20 holds a record as shown in FIG. 4 as a job log.

  Here, it is assumed that the image data with the identifier “ID4” is leaked. In this case, the job log related to the output identifier “ID4” is searched from the storage unit 22 of the controller unit 20. Then, the image data with the identifier “ID2” is searched as the job log, the user who generated the copy is known as Y, and the leakage source can be specified. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the history of image processing can be traced by a simple method.

  In the present embodiment, the unique identifier may include information for specifying the image processing apparatus that issued the identifier. Such information can be, for example, a MAC address or an IP address assigned to the NIC 42. As a result, the image processing apparatus that issued the identifier is identified from the identifier, and the information leakage source can be identified more easily.

  For example, when a plurality of copies of an output are obtained in a print instruction or a copy instruction, the controller unit 20 issues an identifier unique to each part, which is each output image data, and includes it in each part. For example, when it is instructed to output three parts of image data of two pages, a unique identifier is included in each set.

  Furthermore, the job log and the image log recorded in the present embodiment may be transmitted to the server device 2 via a network. The server apparatus 2 stores job logs and image logs received from the multifunction machine 1 as the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment in a storage. As a result, the server device 2 can centrally manage job logs and image logs in a plurality of multifunction devices 1.

  Further, in the description so far, the identifier is embedded in the image data. Instead, for example, if the image is output in the state of the image data (such as that transmitted via the network), the image is displayed. An identifier may be included in the header information of the data. In this case, the identifier is not embedded in the image data itself (the image itself to be displayed or the like), but the identifier is included in the image data. In addition, when forming on a sheet or the like, a wireless tag or the like may be included in the sheet and the identifier information may be held in the wireless tag. In this case, the scanner unit 10 is provided with a reader for reading the identifier recorded on the wireless tag. The scanner unit 10 optically reads the set original when it is instructed to read an image, acquires the identifier information from the wireless tag included in the original by the reader, and outputs the information to the controller unit 20. It will be.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multifunction peripheral as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the content of the job log which the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of the content of the image log which the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is explanatory drawing showing the example of a job log accumulation | storage at the time of operation | movement of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 MFP, 2 server device, 10 scanner unit, 20 controller unit, 21 control unit, 22 storage unit, 23 operation unit, 24 interface unit, 30 printer unit, 40 communication unit, 41 FAX transmission / reception unit, 42 NIC.

Claims (3)

An image processing apparatus that receives input of target image data including a unique identifier and a processing instruction, processes the input target image data according to the instruction, and outputs output image data as a processing result. And
Means for extracting a unique identifier included in the target image data;
Means for generating a unique identifier for the output image data and outputting the output image data including the unique identifier;
Means for associating a unique identifier extracted from the target image data with a unique identifier of output image data that is a result of processing on the target image data, and recording it as processing history information;
Including
The image processing apparatus, wherein the processing history information is subjected to a predetermined process relating to tracking of a processing history of image data. Control of an image processing apparatus that receives input of target image data including a unique identifier and a processing instruction, processes the input target image data according to the instruction, and outputs output image data as a processing result A method,
Extracting a unique identifier included in the target image data;
Generating a unique identifier for the output image data and outputting the output image data including the unique identifier; and
Associating a unique identifier extracted from the target image data with a unique identifier of output image data that is a result of processing on the target image data, and recording as process history information;
Including
A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, wherein the processing history information is subjected to a predetermined process relating to tracking of a processing history of image data. An image processing apparatus that receives input of target image data including a unique identifier and a processing instruction, processes the input target image data according to the instruction, and outputs output image data as a processing result.
A procedure for extracting a unique identifier included in the target image data;
A procedure for generating a unique identifier for the output image data and outputting the output image data including the unique identifier;
A procedure for associating a unique identifier extracted from the target image data with a unique identifier of output image data that is a result of processing on the target image data, and recording it as processing history information;
And execute
A program characterized in that the processing history information is subjected to a predetermined process relating to tracking of a processing history of image data.

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