JP5428677B2 - Image processing apparatus and password confirmation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a password confirmation method, and more particularly to a technique for confirming a password added to each page of a document composed of a plurality of pages.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus called a multifunction peripheral or MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) can output a password embedded in a document in order to prevent unauthorized copying. Therefore, when the image processing apparatus reads a document with a password added during document copy, a copy of the read document is copied unless a password that matches the password attached to the document is entered. There is no such thing.

  Conventionally, in such an image processing apparatus, when a document composed of a plurality of pages is read, a unique password is added to each page document, or the same common password is used for each page document. A technique for discriminating whether or not is added is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In this technology, when a common password is added to the originals of each page, if the user inputs a password that matches the common password, copying of all originals with the common password is permitted. Is done. In addition, when an individual password is added to each page of the document, when the user inputs a password that matches the individual password, a copy of the document for one page with the individual password added is output. Allowed.

JP 2008-109525 A

  However, the above conventional technique has the following problems when a user who has performed an operation of embedding a password in each page of a document composed of a plurality of pages wants to check the password added to each page.

  For example, when an image processing apparatus is made to read a document with a password, the image processing apparatus prompts the user to input a password. Therefore, the user can confirm whether or not a predetermined password is correctly added to the document by performing a password input operation and matching the password of the document. However, if the password entered by the user matches the password added to the document, there is a problem that unnecessary copy output is performed. On the other hand, if a function (for example, “Scan to Box”) that outputs an image read from a document to a predetermined storage unit is used, unnecessary copy output is not performed. However, even in this case, if the password entered by the user matches the password of the document, unnecessary data is output to the storage means. Therefore, the user needs to delete unnecessary data from the storage means later. The operability is bad.

  Further, for example, when a document consisting of 100 pages and a document of 1 to 50 pages is added with a common password, and a password is not added to documents after 51 pages, the user can add a password. Even if you only want to check the page of the original document and the page of the original document with no password added, the password entered by the user when the first page of the document is scanned matches the document's common password. If this happens, all the originals for 100 pages are copied and output. For this reason, there is a problem that the user cannot check a document page to which a password is added and a document page to which a password is not added.

  It is also conceivable to display the password added to the original on the operation panel without performing copy output after reading the original. However, in this case, the password displayed on the operation panel may be seen by a third party, which is not preferable in terms of security.

  It is also conceivable to display on the operation panel whether the password added to the document is a common password or an individual password. However, in this case, for example, after the user sets sequential passwords in order from the first page for a document consisting of 100 pages, it is checked whether the serial number password is correctly added to the document. In this case, since all the passwords are displayed, there is a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether the serial number password is correctly added.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and is intended to impose a copy restriction without imposing a useless copy output or causing a security problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and a password confirmation method that allow a user to easily confirm a password added to the password.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus, comprising: an image reading unit that reads a document consisting of a plurality of pages to generate image data; and image data obtained by the image reading unit. , A password extracting means for extracting a password added to a document on each page and a regularity of the password added to the document on each page, and classifying the password added to the document on each page according to the regularity At the same time, if multiple individual passwords uniquely added to each page of the document are detected, the individual passwords are serialized passwords, forward matching passwords, or backward matching by further detecting the regularity of the multiple individual passwords. and password classification means for classifying the password, the original of each page on the basis of the classified password A construction which is characterized in that it comprises a display means for displaying by grouping the image corresponding to.

According to this configuration, based on the regularity of the password added to the document of each page, the images corresponding to the document of each page are grouped, and the grouped image is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, by confirming the grouped image displayed on the display means, the user can easily confirm the regularity of the password added to each page of the document. Further, it is possible to easily confirm that the individual password added to each page of the document is a serial number password, a forward match password, or a backward match password.

The invention according to claim 2, in the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said password classifying means classifying further and the individual password, a common password is added in common to the document of a plurality of pages It is the structure characterized by these.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily confirm whether the password added to each page of the document is an individual password or a common password.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the display unit performs a classification result by the password classification unit every time the image reading unit generates image data of each page. It is the structure characterized by adding the image displayed based on this.

  According to such a configuration, the regularity of the password can be confirmed in parallel with the reading operation of the document.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the image processing apparatus further includes an input unit that receives an operation input by a user, and the display unit is an image corresponding to a document on each page. When a selection operation of one image is performed from the input unit in a state in which the password input screen is displayed, the password input screen is displayed, and the input unit is displayed in the state in which the password input screen is displayed. If a password is entered, a screen indicating that the password matches is displayed on condition that the entered password matches the password added to the document corresponding to the one image. This is a characteristic configuration.

  With this configuration, the contents of each classified password can be confirmed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect , the display unit selects one image from the input unit even when reading of all pages by the image reading unit is not completed. The password input screen is displayed when an operation is performed.

  According to such a configuration, the contents of the classified passwords can be confirmed while the document reading operation is performed in parallel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a password confirmation method, comprising: a step of reading a document consisting of a plurality of pages to generate image data; and image data obtained by reading a document on each page, to a document on each page. The step of extracting the added password, the regularity of the password added to the document of each page are detected, the password added to the document of each page is classified according to the regularity, and the document of each page is A plurality of individually added individual passwords, and further classifying each individual password into a serial number password, a forward match password or a backward match password by further detecting the regularity of the individual passwords, and Group the images corresponding to the originals on each page based on the classified password. And Shimesuru step, a structure which is characterized in that it comprises.

  According to the present invention, a user can easily confirm a password added to a document to impose a copy restriction without performing unnecessary copy output or causing a security problem. Will be able to.

It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the original document with a password. It is the figure which looked at the operation panel from the front side. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the main sequence by an image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a password classification | category process. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a grouping process. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of a panel control process. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen displayed on a display part in password confirmation mode. It is a figure which shows an example of the password input screen displayed on a display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the password confirmation result screen displayed on a display part.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, members that are common to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 1 is an apparatus called a multifunction peripheral or an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral), for example. The image processing apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 2 that reads a document image from a document to be read, a printer unit 3 that forms an image on a print sheet based on the document image read by the scanner unit 2, and a user Is provided with an operation panel 4 serving as a user interface when using the image processing apparatus 1, and has at least a copy function for reading a document and outputting a duplicate document.

  The scanner unit 2 includes an image reading unit 10 that reads a document and generates image data, and an automatic document transport device (ADF) 11 that transports the document one by one to the image reading unit 10. When the user presses a start key provided on the operation panel 4 in a state where a document consisting of a plurality of pages is set on the ADF 11, the ADF 11 and the image reading unit 10 start operating in the scanner unit 2. The ADF 11 conveys a document consisting of a plurality of pages page by page to the image reading unit 10, and the image reading unit 10 reads an image from the document conveyed by the ADF 11.

  The printer unit 3 includes a paper feeding unit 12 that feeds printing paper and the like one by one, and an image forming unit 13 that forms an image on the printing paper fed by the paper feeding unit 12 and the like. For example, when copy output is performed in the image processing apparatus 1, the paper feeding unit 12 and the image forming unit 13 function and image formation based on image data generated by the scanner unit 2 is performed.

  The operation panel 4 includes a display unit 14 for displaying various information to the user, and an input unit 15 for performing an operation input so that the user gives various instructions to the image processing apparatus 1. The display unit 14 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display capable of color display. The input unit 15 includes a touch panel key arranged on the surface of the display unit 14 and push button keys including a numeric keypad and a start key arranged around the display unit 14.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 1 is input by a user when forming an image on a print sheet or the like based on a document image, for example, as a kind of copy function, in order to prevent unauthorized copying of a confidential document or the like. A password-added document in which the password to be embedded is embedded in the output image can be output. In the case of a document composed of a plurality of pages, a password can be added to the document of each page. In this case, a different unique password can be added as an individual password for each page, and the same password can be added as a common password for a plurality of pages. In a multi-page manuscript, pages with individual passwords may be mixed with pages with common passwords, and pages with passwords and pages without passwords may be mixed. You may do it. That is, when adding a password to each page of a document composed of a plurality of pages, the user can freely set the password.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the document 100 with password. For example, a specific pattern 102 such as a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is added as the background of the image 101 to the document 100 with a password, and information regarding a password for imposing copy restrictions on the specific pattern 102 is embedded in an invisible state. ing.

  FIG. 3 is a view of the operation panel 4 as viewed from the front side, and shows a state in which an initial screen is displayed on the display unit 14. On this initial screen, a plurality of operation keys corresponding to functions that can be selected by the user are displayed. One of the plurality of operation keys is an operation key 41 for selecting a password confirmation mode as shown in FIG. The password confirmation mode is an operation mode for confirming a password added to each page by performing an original reading operation. In this password confirmation mode, a duplicate original of the read original or image data is not output. For this reason, after adding a password to each page of a document consisting of a plurality of pages, the user operates each operation key 41 corresponding to the password confirmation mode to perform each page without unnecessary copy output. You can check whether the password is correctly added to the password. Hereinafter, the image processing apparatus 1 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 has various functional configurations in addition to the functional configuration shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 shows a part that functions in the password confirmation mode.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus 1 includes an image memory 21, a password extraction unit 22, a CPU 23, and a memory 24 in addition to the image reading unit 10 and the operation panel 4 described above. The image reading unit 10 outputs the image data read from the document to the image memory 21 and the password extracting unit 22. In the case of continuous automatic reading of a document consisting of a plurality of pages, the image reading unit 10 outputs image data corresponding to one page each time reading of one page of the document is completed.

  The image memory 21 temporarily stores the image data output from the image reading unit 10 until an instruction from the CPU 23 is received. The CPU 23 can refer to the image data stored in the image memory 21. If there is an output instruction from the CPU 23, the image memory 21 outputs the stored image data to a subsequent processing unit (not shown) (for example, the above-described image forming unit 13). Is not given, and the stored image data is erased based on a command from the CPU 23 at the end of the password confirmation mode. Therefore, when continuous reading of a document composed of a plurality of pages is performed in the password confirmation mode, image data for each page output from the image reading unit 10 is sequentially stored in the image memory 21.

  The password extraction unit 22 is a processing unit that extracts a specific pattern such as a background pattern from the image data output from the image reading unit 10 and extracts a password embedded in the specific pattern. When the password extraction unit 22 extracts a password from the image data, the password extraction unit 22 outputs the password to the CPU 23. As described above, when the image reading unit 10 continuously reads a document composed of a plurality of pages, the image reading unit 10 sequentially outputs image data for one page. Each time image data for one page is input, password extraction processing is executed, and if the password can be extracted, the password is output to the CPU 23. On the other hand, when the password cannot be extracted, the password is not output to the CPU 23. In this case, information indicating that no password is added may be output to the CPU 23.

  The CPU 23 is a processing unit that performs overall control of the entire image processing apparatus 1 by executing a program stored in a storage medium such as a ROM (not shown). The memory 24 stores temporary data and the like as the CPU 23 executes the program.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the password confirmation mode, the CPU 23 functions as a password classification unit 31, a thumbnail generation unit 32, a grouping unit 33, and a panel control unit 34.

  The password classifying unit 31 temporarily stores the password extracted by the password extracting unit 22 in the memory 24 in association with the page number of the document. The password classifying unit 31 reads all passwords stored in the memory 24 and detects whether or not the password added to each page of the document has a predetermined regularity. If the regularity of the password can be detected, the password added to each page is classified according to the detected regularity.

  The regularity of the password detected by the password classifying unit 31 is set in advance in the program. For example, when the same password is added to a plurality of pages, the password classifying unit 31 detects it and classifies the same password into a common password. If the password added to each page is a unique password, the password is classified as an individual password. For the individual password, it is detected whether the individual password added to another page has a serial number relationship, a front matching relationship, or a rear matching relationship. And the password classification | category part 31 classify | categorizes those passwords into a serial number password, when a some separate password has a serial number relationship. Further, when a plurality of individual passwords have a forward matching relationship, the passwords are classified as a forward matching password, and when a plurality of individual passwords have a backward matching relationship, the passwords are classified as a backward matching password. Individual passwords that are not classified as any of the serial number password, the forward match password, and the backward match password are classified as a single individual password.

  That is, the password classification unit 31 classifies the password added to each page roughly into a common password and an individual password, and the individual password is further classified into a serial number password, a forward match password, a backward match password, or a single password. Classify into individual passwords.

  Such a password classification unit 31 functions every time a password is extracted by the password extraction unit 22, and is extracted based on the relationship between the extracted password and all other passwords stored in the memory 24. Detect password regularity and classify extracted passwords. At this time, another password already classified may be reclassified.

  The thumbnail generation unit 32 is a processing unit that reads out image data stored in the image memory 21 and generates the thumbnail. Here, the thumbnail is a reduced image of the image data, and is an image to be displayed on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4 in the present embodiment. The thumbnail generation unit 32 reads the image data at the timing when the image data for one page is stored in the image memory 21, and generates a thumbnail corresponding to the one page.

  The grouping unit 33 is a processing unit that groups thumbnails generated by the thumbnail generation unit 32 based on the password classification result by the password classification unit 31. Here, thumbnails of pages classified as a common password are grouped together to generate a thumbnail group of common passwords. In addition, for individual passwords, thumbnails of page numbers classified as sequential passwords are grouped to generate a group of thumbnails of sequential number passwords, and forward matching is achieved by grouping thumbnails of pages classified as forward matching passwords. Generate password thumbnails. Also, thumbnails of backward matching passwords are generated by grouping thumbnails of pages classified as backward matching passwords, and thumbnails of single individual passwords are grouped by grouping thumbnails of pages classified as single individual passwords. Is generated. Then, the grouping unit 33 outputs the grouped thumbnail group to the panel control unit 34.

  The panel control unit 34 is a processing unit that controls the operation panel 4. The panel control unit 34 displays the read thumbnail of the document on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4 based on the thumbnail grouping performed by the grouping unit 33. Therefore, by checking the grouping of thumbnails displayed on the operation panel 4, the user can grasp the regularity of the password added to the document consisting of a plurality of pages. The panel control unit 34 changes the display screen of the display unit 14 based on a user input operation performed on the input unit 15. For example, when the user selects one thumbnail displayed on the display unit 14, a password input screen for confirming the password added to the document corresponding to the thumbnail is displayed. If the password entered by the user matches the password added to the document, a password match screen is displayed, whereas if it does not match, a password mismatch screen is displayed. As a result, the user can check whether or not the password added to each page of the document is correctly added.

  The CPU 23 is configured to operate each of the processing units described above in conjunction with the document reading operation in the image reading unit 10. That is, the processing by each processing unit described above is performed in parallel with the document reading operation in the image reading unit 10. Therefore, when the image reading unit 10 reads a document consisting of a plurality of pages page by page, the thumbnail grouping displayed on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4 is updated each time the image reading unit 10 reads one page of the document. Therefore, the user can grasp the regularity of the password added to the original at almost the same timing as when the original is read. Therefore, for example, even when the password added to each page of a 100-page document is confirmed, the password can be confirmed in parallel with the document reading operation. There is no need to wait until the operation is completed, and there is an advantage that the confirmation work can be performed efficiently.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described. 5 to 8 are flowcharts showing a processing sequence in the image processing apparatus 1, and show a processing procedure mainly performed by the CPU 23. FIG. 9 to 11 are diagrams showing examples of front screens displayed on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4 in the password confirmation mode. Hereinafter, it demonstrates, referring these.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main sequence by the image processing apparatus 1, and particularly shows a sequence in the password confirmation mode. When the user performs an operation input while the initial screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether the password confirmation mode is selected (step S10). If an operation key other than the password confirmation mode is operated (NO in step S10), another mode process corresponding to the operated operation key is performed and the process is terminated (step S11).

  On the other hand, when the password confirmation mode is selected (YES in step S10), the image processing apparatus 1 waits until the start key included in the input unit 15 of the operation panel 4 is operated (step S12). During this standby, the user sets a document consisting of a plurality of pages, which is a password confirmation target, on the ADF 11. When the document setting is completed, the user operates the start key. When the operation of the start key is detected (YES in step S12), the image processing apparatus 1 drives the ADF 11 and the image reading unit 10 of the scanner unit 2 and starts a continuous automatic reading operation of the document set on the ADF 11 ( Step S13). As a result, the image reading unit 10 starts a document reading operation for each page until reading of all pages set in the ADF 11 is completed, and outputs image data each time reading of one page is completed. It becomes like this.

  Then, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not image data is output from the image reading unit 10 (step S14). When the image data is output (YES in step S14), the image processing apparatus 1 is based on the output image data. A thumbnail is generated (step S15). The thumbnails generated here are stored in the memory 24 in association with, for example, the page number of the read document. Further, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the image data output from the image reading unit 10 includes a specific pattern such as a tint block (step S16). If the specific pattern is included (YES in step S16). Further, it is determined whether or not a password is extracted from the specific pattern (step S17).

  When the password is extracted (YES in step S17), the image processing apparatus 1 executes password classification processing (step S18) and grouping processing (step S19). Details of the password classification process (step S18) and the grouping process (step S19) will be described later. Thereafter, the process proceeds to a panel control process (step S20) for controlling the operation panel 4. In the panel control process (step S20), a process of displaying thumbnails on the display unit 14 based on the grouping result in the grouping process or updating the display screen based on a user input operation is performed. Details of the panel control process will be described later.

  On the other hand, when no image data is output from the image reading unit 10 (NO in step S14), a specific pattern is not included in the image data output from the image reading unit 10 (NO in step S16), or an image Panel control for controlling the operation panel 4 without performing password classification processing (step S18) and grouping processing (step S19) when the password is not extracted from the specific pattern included in the data (in step S17). It progresses to a process (step S20).

  When the panel control process is completed, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not all pages of the original have been read (step S21). If document reading is not yet completed (NO in step S21), the process returns to step S14 and the above-described processing is repeatedly executed. If all pages of the original have been read (YES in step S21), it is further determined whether or not a mode end operation has been performed by the user (step S22). If the mode end operation has not been performed (NO in step S22), the process returns to step S20, and the panel control process is repeatedly executed. If the mode end operation is performed by the user (YES in step S22), the password confirmation mode is ended.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the password classification process (step S18). When this process is started, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether another password is already stored in the memory 24 (step S31). For example, if the password is extracted by reading the first page of the document, no other password is stored in the memory 24, so the answer is NO. Further, when the password is extracted by reading the second and subsequent pages, the memory 24 may already store the password extracted before that, so that the answer is YES.

  When other passwords are stored in the memory 24 (YES in step S31), the image processing apparatus 1 reads all passwords stored in the memory 24 (step S32), and the password extracted from the image data; All passwords read from the memory 24 are compared (step S33).

  Then, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the password read from the memory 24 has the same password as the password extracted from the image data (step S34). In step S34, YES), these same passwords are classified as common passwords (step S35). At this time, the classification of the password read from the memory 24 may be changed.

  If there is no identical password (NO in step S34), the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not there is a password that has a serial number relationship with the password extracted from the image data in the password read from the memory 24. (Step S36), and if there are passwords that are serial numbers (YES in step S36), they are classified as serial number individual passwords (serial number passwords) (step S37). Also at this time, the classification of the password read from the memory 24 may be changed.

  If there is no serial number password (NO in step S36), the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether the password read from the memory 24 has a password that matches the password extracted from the image data. If there is a password that matches the front (YES in step S38), the password is classified as a forward matching individual password (forward matching password) (step S39). Also at this time, the classification of the password read from the memory 24 may be changed.

  If there is no forward matching password (NO in step S38), the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether the password read from the memory 24 has a password having a backward matching relationship with the password extracted from the image data. If there are passwords that match backward (YES in step S40), they are classified as backward matching individual passwords (backward match passwords) (step S41). Also at this time, the classification of the password read from the memory 24 may be changed.

  Further, when there is no backward matching password (NO in step S40), there is no regularity between the password read from the memory 24 and the password extracted from the image data. Are extracted as single individual passwords (step S42). On the other hand, even if no other password is stored in the memory 24 (NO in step S31), the image processing apparatus 1 classifies the password extracted from the image data as a single individual password (step S42).

  Then, the image processing apparatus 1 stores the password extracted from the image data in the memory 24 in correspondence with the classification result in any of steps S35, S37, S39, S41, and S42 (step S43).

  According to this password classification process, the password classification state can be updated in real time each time a password is extracted from a document. Also, according to this password classification process, when passwords are classified, common passwords are classified first, followed by sequential passwords, forward matching passwords, and backward matching passwords in this order. The password that was not classified at the end is classified into a single individual password. Such priority determination is not limited to the above, and may be set freely when the user selects the password confirmation mode, for example.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of the grouping process (step S19). When this process is started, the image processing apparatus 1 synthesizes a predetermined image indicating that a password is added to the thumbnail generated in step S15 (FIG. 5) (step S51). As a result, a predetermined image is added to the thumbnail of the document to which the password is added, whereas a predetermined image is not added to the thumbnail of the document to which the password is not added, so that the thumbnail displayed on the operation panel 4 is displayed. At first glance, it becomes possible to grasp whether or not a password is added to the document. Next, the image processing apparatus 1 associates a thumbnail with a password (step S52). Here, a process of associating the thumbnail generated in step S15 (FIG. 5) with the password extracted in step S17 (FIG. 5) on a one-to-one basis is performed.

  Then, the image processing apparatus 1 reads out the classification result by the above-described password classification processing (step S18) from the memory 24 (step S53), and performs thumbnail grouping based on the password classification (step S54). By this grouping, thumbnails of a plurality of documents to which a common password is added are collected into one group. The thumbnails of the originals to which the individual passwords are added are grouped into a serial number password group, a front matching password group, a rear matching password group, and a single individual password group. Then, when the grouping of all thumbnails generated at the present time is finished, this process is finished.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the panel control process (step S20). When this process is started, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the thumbnail grouping has been updated by the above-described grouping process (step S19) (step S61). If the grouping has been updated (YES in step S61), the image processing apparatus 1 updates the display screen displayed on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4 based on the updated grouping (step S62).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the display unit 14 in the password confirmation mode. As shown in FIG. 9, a message display field R1 provided at the top of the screen, a thumbnail display field R2 provided at the left side of the screen, and a grouping display field R3 provided at the right side of the screen are displayed on this display screen. .

  In the example shown in the figure, the message display field R1 displays “reading document”, indicating that reading of the document set on the ADF 11 is not completed. Therefore, the user can grasp whether or not the document reading is finished by looking at the message display field R1.

  In the thumbnail display field R2, the thumbnail G1 of the latest document that has been read or the thumbnail G1 of the document designated to be displayed by the user is displayed. Note that operation keys 51 and 52 for changing the display target page are displayed below the thumbnail display field R2 in order for the user to select a thumbnail to be displayed in the thumbnail display field R2. Here, when a password is added to the document, a predetermined image G2 indicating that the password is added is combined with the thumbnail G1 displayed in the thumbnail display field R2. Therefore, the user can grasp whether or not a password is added to the read document by checking whether or not the image G2 is combined with the thumbnail G1.

  In the grouping display field R3, reduced thumbnail images G3 of a plurality of thumbnails grouped by the grouping process are displayed. In this grouping display column R3, all thumbnail thumbnail images G3 belonging to one group are displayed. On the right side of the grouping display field R3, tags 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57 for the user to select a group to be displayed in the grouping display field R3 are displayed as operation keys. In the example shown in the figure, the tag 53 corresponding to the common password is selected, and a plurality of reduced images G3 corresponding to the originals to which the common password is added are displayed in the grouping display field R3. Therefore, in this state, the user can grasp to which page of the read original the common password is added.

  A mode end key 58 for ending the password confirmation mode is displayed at the bottom of the display screen of FIG.

  In step S62 of FIG. 8, the display screen shown in FIG. 9 is updated to the latest state. For example, a new reduced image G3 is added to the grouping display field R3. Further, when the grouping process is changed by the grouping process (step S19), the reduced image G3 displayed in the grouping display field R3 may be changed accordingly.

  After updating the display screen as described above, the image processing apparatus 1 proceeds to step S63. On the other hand, if the grouping has not been updated (NO in step S61), step S62 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S63.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not an operation for selecting a group to be displayed in the grouping display field R3 on the display screen of FIG. 9 (that is, an operation for selecting any one of the tags 53 to 57) has been performed. Judgment is made (step S63). If a group selection operation is performed by the user (YES in step S63), the display content of the grouping display column R3 is updated based on the selected group (step S64). For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a plurality of reduced images G3 corresponding to a common password are displayed and a tag 54 corresponding to a serial number password is selected, a grouping display field R3 is displayed accordingly. Displays a plurality of reduced images G3 corresponding to the original document to which the serial number password is added. Therefore, the user can grasp to which page of the read document the serial number password is added. Similarly, when the user wants to confirm the forward matching password, the tag 55 is selected. When the user wants to confirm the backward matching password, the tag 56 is selected. By selecting each, the display content of the grouping display field R3 can be changed. Then, the process proceeds to step S65. If the user has not performed a group selection operation (NO in step S63), the process skips step S64 and proceeds to step S65.

  Next, the image processing apparatus 1 determines whether or not the user has performed an operation of selecting one thumbnail on the display screen of FIG. 9 (step S65). Here, for example, in the display screen shown in FIG. 9, when the thumbnail G1 displayed in the thumbnail display field R2 is pressed, or one reduced image among the plurality of reduced images G3 displayed in the grouping display field R3. YES is pressed when is pressed. That is, one thumbnail is selected by such an operation. When one thumbnail is selected by the user (YES in step S65), the image processing apparatus 1 performs processing for confirming the password added to the document corresponding to the selected one thumbnail (steps S66 to S66). Go to S71). This will be described in detail below.

  The image processing apparatus 1 displays a password input screen on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4 (step S66). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a password input screen displayed on the display unit 14. In the message display field R1 of the password input screen, a display prompting the user to input the password added to the selected one-thumbnail document is performed. A password input field 61 is displayed below the message display field R1. The user inputs a password in the password input field 61 by operating, for example, a numeric keypad included in the input unit 15. At this time, the password input field 61 does not display the input character string, but displays only the number of input characters, thereby preventing the password to be input from leaking to a third party. When the password includes characters other than numerals, the keyboard image is displayed in the screen by pressing the keyboard display key 62 displayed at the bottom of the screen, so the user can use any character string as the password. Can be entered. When the password input operation is completed, the user confirms the password in the image processing apparatus 1 by pressing the confirmation start key 63 at the bottom of the screen.

  The image processing apparatus 1 accepts the password input operation by the user as described above (step S67), and when the confirmation start key 63 is pressed, the password input by the user and the password associated with the selected thumbnail. Is matched (step S68). If the passwords match (YES in step S68), the image processing apparatus 1 displays a password matching screen on the display unit 14 (step S69). FIG. 11A shows an example of this password matching screen. When the passwords match, the user can confirm that the password is correctly added to the document corresponding to the selected thumbnail by displaying a screen as shown in FIG.

  If the passwords do not match (NO in step S68), the image processing apparatus 1 displays a password mismatch screen on the display unit 14 (step S70). FIG. 11B shows an example of the password mismatch screen. When the passwords do not match, the user can confirm that the password is not correctly added to the document corresponding to the selected thumbnail by displaying a screen as shown in FIG. it can.

  When the screen shown in FIG. 11A or 11B is displayed and the user confirms the password confirmation result, the user presses the return key 65 displayed at the bottom of the screen. Then, the image processing apparatus 1 returns the display screen of the display unit 14 from the password confirmation result screen to the display screen shown in FIG. 9 and ends the process.

  On the other hand, when the selection operation of one thumbnail by the user is not performed (NO in step S65), the image processing apparatus 1 does not perform the process for confirming the password as described above (steps S66 to S71). The process is terminated.

  Such panel control processing (step S20) is executed in sequence even when the reading operation for all pages of the document is not completed as shown in FIG. However, it is possible to check the password added to each page. Further, since the panel control process (step S20) is repeatedly executed even when reading of all pages is completed, unless the user performs the mode end operation, the user has completed the document reading operation. Later, the work of confirming the password added to each page can be continued.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment reads a document composed of a plurality of pages without performing copy output or image data output in the password confirmation mode, and displays the document on the display unit 14 of the operation panel 4. Thumbnails grouped based on the password classification result added to each page. Therefore, the user can confirm with what regularity the password is added to each page.

  Therefore, for example, for a manuscript consisting of 100 pages, a common password is added to the manuscripts of pages 1 to 50, and the user is wasted even if no manuscript is added to the manuscripts after 51 pages. It is possible to confirm that a common password has been added to the first to 50th pages of the document without performing a simple copy output. If you want to check the contents of the common password, select any page from 1 to 50 and enter the password to check whether the desired password is correctly added as the common password. can do. At this time, the password is also prevented from leaking to a third party.

  In addition, the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment not only classifies the password into a common password and an individual password. Since the classification is performed in any way, thumbnails grouped based on the classification of the passwords are displayed, so that the user can check the password setting state set individually for each page. Therefore, for example, it is possible to confirm whether or not the serial number password is correctly added to the original after the user sets the serial number password sequentially from the first page to the original consisting of 100 pages. Become.

  Therefore, the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is added to a document composed of a plurality of pages in order to impose copy restrictions without performing useless copy output and without causing a security problem. The user can easily confirm the password for each page.

  Although one embodiment related to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. That is, various modifications other than the above-described embodiment can be applied to the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the same password (common password), serial number password, forward match password, and backward match password are exemplified as the regularity of the password detected in the password confirmation mode. However, the regularity of the password detected in the password confirmation mode is not necessarily limited to that described above. For example, things other than the regularity described above may be further detected, and unnecessary ones among the regularities described above may not be detected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Scanner part 3 Printer part 4 Operation panel 10 Image reading part (image reading means)
14 Display section (display means)
15 Input section (input means)
22 Password extractor (password extractor)
23 CPU
31 Password classification part (password classification means)
32 Thumbnail generation unit 33 Grouping unit 34 Panel control unit

Claims (6)

Image reading means for reading a document consisting of a plurality of pages and generating image data;
Password extracting means for extracting a password added to the document of each page from the image data obtained by the image reading means;
Detects the regularity of the password added to the original on each page, classifies the password added to the original on each page according to the regularity, and sets multiple individual passwords added to the original on each page. If detected, password classification means for classifying each individual password into a serial number password, a forward match password, or a backward match password by further detecting the regularity of the plurality of individual passwords ;
Display means for grouping and displaying images corresponding to the originals of each page based on the classified passwords;
An image processing apparatus comprising: It said password classifying means further the individual passwords and, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the classifying commonly added to common password for multiple-page documents. The display means, every time the image reading means generates image data of each page to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that continue to add an image to be displayed based on the classification result by said password classifying means The image processing apparatus described. It further comprises an input means for accepting an operation input by the user,
The display means displays a password input screen when a selection operation of one image is performed by the input means in a state where the images corresponding to the originals of each page are grouped and displayed. If a password is input from the input means while the password input screen is displayed, the input password matches the password added to the document corresponding to the one image. the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a screen indicating that the password matches. The display means displays the password input screen by selecting one image from the input means even when reading of all pages by the image reading means is not completed. Item 5. The image processing apparatus according to Item 4 . Scanning a document consisting of a plurality of pages to generate image data;
Extracting a password attached to the original of each page from image data obtained by reading the original of each page;
Detects the regularity of the password added to the original on each page, classifies the password added to the original on each page according to the regularity, and sets multiple individual passwords added to the original on each page. If detected, further classifying each individual password into a serial number password, a forward match password, or a backward match password by further detecting the regularity of the plurality of individual passwords ;
Grouping and displaying images corresponding to the originals of each page based on the classified passwords;
A password confirmation method comprising:

Images