JP2000217006A - Digital photo processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To ensure security when digital image data from a photographic film is deposited in a DP shop in order to make ordering of additional prints convenient. In a digital photographic processing system for creating a visible image on an image recording medium using digital image data from a photographic film, an encryption key issuing unit for issuing an encryption key, and using the encryption key, An encryption unit 62 for encrypting digital image data, an encryption key output unit 9 for providing the encryption key to the customer, an encryption key input unit 10 for receiving the encryption key from the customer, and the encrypted image data And a decryption unit 63 for decrypting the encrypted image data using the encryption key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing a visible image by printing out digital image data converted from a frame image formed on a photographic film using a film scanner or the like on photographic paper or plain paper. Related to the digital photo processing system that is created.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such a digital photographic processing system, digital image data converted from a frame image formed on a photographic film using a film scanner or the like is transmitted to anywhere and instantaneously using a communication line. Since it can be stored together in a large-capacity storage medium such as a magnetic disk, its handling is completely different from that of conventional photographic film, and convenience and danger coexist.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-269286, a customer converts a frame image formed on a photographic film into digital image data, and the converted image data is printed out on photographic paper at a DP shop. Therefore, in order to cope with a risk that image data being transmitted is leaked to a third party when transmitting the image data using the Internet, a technique of encrypting the transmitted image data has been disclosed.

[0004]

However, the danger of eavesdropping on networked DP systems further simplifies reordering of photographic prints.
This becomes more apparent in a system in which a digital image data converted from a frame image formed on a photographic film is stored in a DP shop or a third sector. Such a system is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-55834, and converts a plurality of frame images formed on a photographic film into digital image data, and uniquely converts the digital image data. To specify, date, DP shop ID, storage device code, film I
D, assigning image search information including a frame number to each digital image data, storing the digital image data in a storage medium, and searching and reading digital image data corresponding to a desired image based on the image search information; By outputting a finished print by a digital printer based on the image data, it is possible to respond to an order for additional printing at any time.

[0005] The danger is that a third party takes out the storage medium storing a large amount of image data of a photograph. In particular, if this storage medium is installed in a remote DP center and is accessed using a communication line such as the Internet, it is also protected from criminal acts such as malicious hackers. Must-have. In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to ensure security when digital image data from a photographic film is deposited in a DP shop in order to make it easy to order additional prints.

[0006]

According to the present invention, a digital image data converted from a frame image formed on a photographic film received from a customer is processed based on predetermined print processing conditions. In a digital photographic processing system comprising an image processing unit for creating print data and a digital print unit for creating a visible image on an image recording medium using the print data, an image data identification code for identifying the image data A cryptographic key issuing unit that issues an encryption key; an encryption unit that encrypts the digital image data using the encryption key; and an encryption key output unit that provides the customer with the encryption key. An encryption key input unit for receiving the encryption key from the customer; and encrypting the image data specifying code as a search key. A data storage unit for storing the image data, are solved image data extracted from the data storage unit by providing a decoding unit to decode using the encryption key received the.

In this configuration, when digital image data converted from a frame image of a photographic film received from a customer is stored in a data storage unit in a searchable manner, the digital image data is stored in an encryption key issued by an encryption key issuing unit. , And the encryption key is recorded in a form convenient for the customer by the encryption key output unit, and given to the customer together with the finished print. When the customer orders a reprint, the customer presents the frame number of the desired photographic film and the encryption key passed to the DP shop, and the DP shop issues an image data identification code indicating the frame number of the desired photographic film. Is used as a search key to extract the corresponding digital image data from the data storage unit, decrypt the encrypted digital image data with the encryption key given by the customer, and then use the digital print unit to convert the visible image to an image recording medium. Create it and give it to customers as a finished print. The used digital image data needs to be encrypted again, but the same encryption key may be used repeatedly. However, if security is important, it is preferable to issue a new encryption key and use it. .

As described above, in the digital photographic processing system according to the present invention, since the digital image data deposited in the DP shop is encrypted to enable a reprint order without a film, the digital image data is illegally extracted from the data storage unit. Even if you do, you will not be able to view the image unless you know the encryption key, which increases security and protects customer privacy.

As a convenient form of the encryption key for the customer output by the encryption key output unit, magnetic writing on an IC card, a magnetic card, or a magnetic strap provided on a DP bag can be considered. However, since there is a risk of loss due to storage separately from the finished print, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the encryption key output unit is used as a printer that additionally records an encryption key on an image recording medium. Make up. For example, when the image recording medium is photographic paper, if the encryption key is printed on the back of the photographic paper, the finished print and the encryption key are always integrated, so that the encryption key will not be lost when ordering additional prints.

[0010] More preferably, if the printer that records the encryption key on the image recording medium additionally records the image data specifying code on the image recording medium, the image recording medium (when the image recording medium is photographic paper). Just bring the finished print to the DP shop and you can place an additional order.

Further, the printer for recording the encryption key on the image recording medium is provided with print processing conditions for printing,
If the density correction, gradation correction, color tone correction, etc. are additionally recorded on the image recording medium, the printing work is performed under the same conditions as the previously performed printing, so that a visualized image having the same image quality can be obtained. Can be

As described above, when the encryption key is additionally recorded on the image recording medium, if the encryption key input unit is configured as a reading device that automatically reads the encryption key recorded on the image recording medium. In addition, it is possible to avoid an undesired security operation such as a customer writing an encryption key on an order form or giving a verbal message when ordering additional copies.

[0013] In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
The data storage unit is built in a server system, and the digital print unit and the image processing unit are distributed and arranged as clients to the server system, respectively, and the server system and the clients are connected by a computer network. There are things that are. Such a structure is a chain store DP
Convenient in shops. Since the data storage unit is provided in the server system provided in the headquarters, even if a customer places an order for additional prints at any DP shop under the affiliated company without a film, the customer simply presents the encryption key and the image data identification code. In a preferred mode, the digital image data is printed on an image recording medium, for example, an index sheet or each print, so that the corresponding encrypted digital image data is transmitted via a communication line and is transmitted with an encryption key. By decoding, a visualized image can be created by the digital print unit. That is, since the image data is encrypted at the time of storage in the server system and at the time of data transfer to the DP shop as a client, the security is high. Other features and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A silver halide photographic digital printer as an example of a digital photographic processing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the digital printer for silver halide photography.
The digital camera is a film scanner 3 that acquires a frame image of a photographic film (hereinafter simply referred to as a film) 1 developed by a film developing machine (not shown) as digital image data.
A controller 5 for processing the obtained digital image data to generate print data, a digital print unit 4 for exposing an image corresponding to a frame image to photographic paper 2 based on the print data, and an exposed print And a development processing unit 6 for developing the paper 2. Development processing section 6
The photographic paper 2 developed in the above is discharged as a finished print through a drying process.

The film scanner 3 includes, as main components, an illumination optical system 31, an imaging optical system 32, and a photoelectric conversion unit 33 using a CCD sensor. The controller 5 is connected with a monitor 5a for displaying various processing information and an operation console 5b for inputting various processing instructions.
As the engine of the digital printing unit 4, a liquid crystal shutter system, a laser exposure system, a CRT system, a fluorescent beam system, and the like are known. Here, a line exposure fluorescent print head 40 using a fluorescent beam system is used. ing. Reference numeral 30 denotes a film transport mechanism that transports the film 1 to the film scanner 3, and reference numeral 40 denotes a photographic paper transport mechanism that pulls out the photographic paper 2 from the paper magazine 2a and sends it to the digital print unit 4 or the development processing unit 6. In addition, both transport mechanisms are controlled by the controller 5. The photographic paper 2 pulled out from the paper magazine 2a is cut by a cutter (not shown) before or after the development processing, and is in a finished print form in which one frame image is output. FIG. 9 shows the photographic paper 2
Is a print printer that prints, on the back surface of the image data, an image data specifying code, print processing information, and an encryption key used when encrypting digital image data obtained from the frame image.

Next, the structure of the film scanner 3 and the digital print unit 4 will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2; first, the film scanner 3 will be described. Halogen lamp 31a, dimming filter 31b, mirror tunnel 3
1c, etc., and irradiates a frame image of the film 1 by adjusting the color distribution and intensity distribution of the light beam from the light source. Imaging optical system 32 for processing the transmitted light beam from film 2
Is a swing mirror 32a for sub-scanning, a lens unit 32
b, a prism 32c for dispersing the light beam passing through the lens unit in three directions. The oscillating mirror 32a has its reflecting surface supported so as to be tiltable. The tilting of the reflecting surface by the oscillating motor 32d causes the frame image of the film 1 to move in the sub-scanning direction at a predetermined scanning speed, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the film. Scanned. A photoelectric conversion unit 33 that photoelectrically converts the light beam guided by the imaging optical system 32 into a charge image as a slit image includes a CCD sensor unit 33a, a sample / hold (S / H) circuit 33b, an A / D converter 33c, and a sensor. It is composed of a drive circuit 33d and the like. CCD
Since the sensor unit 33a receives three light beams separated by the prism 32c separately,
It consists of a CD sensor. Each CCD sensor has a large number (for example, 5000) of CCD elements in the main scanning direction.
In other words, the line sensors are arranged in the width direction of the film 1, and the charge storage operation and the charge storage time are controlled by the sensor drive circuit 33d during the main scanning. On the imaging surface of each CCD sensor, a color filter that passes only the blue, red, and green components of the light beam is provided, and photoelectrically converts only the blue, red, and green components, respectively. Sample hold circuit 33b
Is to sample and hold each pixel signal output from each CCD sensor to generate an image signal in which each pixel signal is continuous. The A / D converter 33c converts each pixel signal constituting the image signal A predetermined number of bits (for example, 1
(2 bits) digital signal.

The film transport mechanism 30 sends the frame image of the film 1 to be scanned to the scanning position. For the positioning at that time, a punch hole corresponding to the center of the screen provided in advance is usually used. If there is no such punch hole, the center of the screen can be obtained using a screen detection sensor (not shown). Such a screen detection technique is well known in the field of photographic printing, and a description thereof will be omitted here. The film transport mechanism 30 is controlled by a film transport controller 51 (see FIG. 4) built in the controller.

When the frame image of the film 1 is positioned at a predetermined scanning position, a reading process of the frame image is started. The projected light image of the frame image is sequentially read by the CCD sensor unit 33a in a form divided into a plurality of slit images by changing the tilt angle of the swing mirror 32a from the start position by the swing motor 32d at a predetermined timing. Can be That is, each CCD sensor is provided with a sensor driving circuit 33 based on a control signal from a film scanner control unit 52 (see FIG. 4) built in the controller 5.
By the action of d, the imaging operation and the reading operation of the image signal are performed in synchronization with the timing of the sub-scanning, whereby the frame image is photoelectrically converted into image signals of R, G, and B color components,
It is sent to the controller 5 as raw digital image data.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fluorescent print head 40 of the digital print unit 4 has a lens and a color filter mounted on a phosphor whose light emission is controlled by adjusting the grid voltage. A red light emitting block 41 (with a red filter), a green light emitting block 42 (with a green filter), and a blue light emitting block 43 in which phosphor elements are arranged in a linear array by arranging them in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the photographic paper). (With a blue filter). Furthermore, this fluorescent print head 4
A reciprocating mechanism 44 is also provided for scanning 0 in the transport direction of the printing paper 2.

The reciprocating mechanism 44 is mounted on a base 45 which is only partially shown in FIG. 3, and its basic components are guides provided on both side ends of the fluorescent print head 40. A member 44a, a guide rail 44b inserted into a guide hole provided in the guide member 44a,
Wire fastener 44 provided on one guide member 44a
c, a wire 44d whose end is fixed to a wire fastener 44c, a sprocket 44e around which the wire 44d is wound and arranged at both ends of the base 45, and one sprocket 44e rotated under the control of the controller 5 And a pulse motor 44f. The rotation of the pulse motor 44f moves the fluorescent print head 40 along the guide rail 44b through the movement of the wire 44d. The image is exposed to the photographic paper 2 transported to the exposure position by the photographic paper transport mechanism 40 by the coordinated control of the fluorescent print head 40 and the reciprocating mechanism 44. These controls are established in the controller 5. This is performed by the photographic paper transport control unit 53 and the digital print control unit 54 (see FIG. 4).

The controller 5 includes a CPU, ROM, RA
A microcomputer system including an M and an I / F circuit is configured as a core member, and various functions required for the silver halide photographic printer are realized by hardware and / or software. In order to perform functions related to the present invention, the controller 5 includes the film transport controller 51 and the film scanner controller 5 described above.
2, photographic paper transport control unit 53, digital print control unit 5
4, an image processing unit 55, a working memory 55a, a code generation unit 56, a print processing condition determination unit 57, a print processing information generation unit 58, a print print control unit 59, and an encryption key issuing unit 61, as shown in FIG. , The encryption unit 62,
A decoding unit 63, a data management unit 71, and a data storage unit 72 are configured. An optical sensor 7 for detecting a film number attached to the film 1, a bar code reader 8 for detecting a bar code representing a DX code or a frame number recorded on the film 1, A detection signal from the OCR reader 10 that reads the printed image data identification code, the print processing information, and the encryption key is sent to a predetermined processing function unit via the input / output interface 50.

The image processing section 55 includes a film scanner 3
The digital image data sent from the photoelectric conversion unit 33 to the working memory 55a is converted to the optimum density, gradation, color balance, and the like for the mounted digital print unit 4 under the conditions determined by the print processing condition determination unit 57. Processing is performed based on an image processing algorithm so as to obtain a sharp value, and print data to be provided to the digital print control unit 54 is generated. Normally, the print processing conditions are automatically determined. However, a simulated image of the print output is displayed on the monitor 5a from the acquired digital image data, and the operator can operate the console 5 on the monitor 5a.
Various corrections can be made manually using b.

The code generation unit 56 generates an image consisting of a customer ID + DP shop ID + film ID + frame ID from the detection signal sent from the optical sensor 7 and the bar code reader 8 and the customer number obtained via the reception unit 5c. Generate a data identification code. As is clear from the components, the image data identification code is uniquely linked to digital image data based on the frame image of the film 1 obtained via the film scanner 3, and each frame image Is encrypted, and stored in the data storage unit 72 under the management of the data management unit 71 using the image data specifying code as a search key.

The image data specifying code is sent to the print / print control unit 59 so that the printer 9
Accordingly, the corresponding frame image is printed on the back surface of the printing paper 2 on which the image is printed. Thus, if an additional print of a certain print is required later, the print need only be taken to the DP shop. When the OCR reader 10 of the accepting machine 5c reads the image data specifying code printed on the DP shop,
From the read image data identification code, the data management unit 7
1 extracts desired image data.

The print processing information generating section 58 combines the print processing conditions determined by the above-described print processing condition determining section 57 with the model ID of the digital output section 4 for performing a print output as necessary, and print processing information. By using this information, it can be understood that when there are a plurality of models, the digital image data of the frame image has been visualized under what kind of printing conditions and under what printing conditions. It has become. This print processing information can also be stored in the data storage unit 72 using the above-described image data specifying code as a search key.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a link relationship between digital image data and print processing information using such a data specifying code. This print processing information is stored in the data storage unit 72.
May be printed on the back side of the photographic paper 2 on which the corresponding frame image is printed together with the image data specifying code.

The encryption key issuing section 61 creates an encryption key for encrypting the image data sent to the working memory 55a before storing it in the data storage section 72. This encryption key is issued for each order.
Although various encryption methods are known, DES (Data Encryption Standard) and F
A common key cryptosystem such as EAL (Fast Encipherment Algolithm) is suitable, but other image encryption algorithms may be used. The invention is not limited to a particular encryption algorithm.

When the encrypting section 62 encrypts the image data using the issued encryption key, the encrypted
The image data specifying code is stored in the data storage unit 72 as a search key. In this embodiment, a print printer 9 is assigned as an encryption key output unit that records the encryption key used for encrypting the image data on some medium in order to provide the customer with the encryption key. That is, the encryption key used for the encryption is sent to the print controller 59, and is printed on the back surface of the photographic paper 2 together with the image data specifying code and, in some cases, the print processing information. FIG. 6 shows an example of an encryption key, an image data specifying code, and print processing information printed on the back side of the finished print. This printed symbol is used when the OCR reader 10
Read by. Therefore, in this embodiment, the OCR reader 10 is assigned as the encryption key input unit.

The decryption unit 63 uses the encryption key read by the OCR reader 10 as an encryption key input unit at the time of ordering additional prints to convert the encrypted image data extracted from the data storage unit 72 by the image data identification code. The data is decrypted and expanded in the work memory 55a. Using this image data and print processing information, a print substantially the same as the presented print can be created.

Referring to FIG. 7, the simultaneous printing and the additional printing in the digital photo processing system according to the present invention will be described together with the flow of the encryption key. In addition, the digital photo processing system here is not a stand-alone form as described above, but a silver halide photo digital printer as described above is arranged in each DP shop converted into a chain store, and the headquarters of the chain store is arranged. A server / client system in which each of the installed servers is provided with a data storage unit 72 as a database managed by an image data identification code is connected to a network.

First, the customer goes to a nearby DP shop with the photographed film 1 and requests simultaneous printing. In the DP shop, after the film is developed, each frame image formed on the film is scanned by the film scanner 3 to obtain digital image data. The obtained digital image data is subjected to appropriate image processing for printing, and the digital printing unit 4
Is exposed, a frame image visualized on the photographic paper 2 is obtained, and a finished print is obtained. At the same time, the digital image data is encrypted by the encryption key issued for the
Under the management of 1, the data is transmitted from the communication port to a server installed at the head office of the chain store using a communication line such as the Internet. The encrypted image data sent to this server is managed by the data management unit 71,
It is stored in a data storage unit 72 as a large-capacity storage medium. Since the image data is encrypted, even if it is illegally taken out during transmission or during storage, the image data cannot be visualized unless the encryption key is known. If the customer who has received the simultaneous print reprints a specific print at a later date, the customer may bring the print to be reprinted to the DP shop. In the DP shop that receives the reprint order, the OCR reader 10 reads the back side of the print to be reprinted, so that the controller 5 can obtain the print processing information, the image data identification code as a search key, and the encryption key. it can. Using the acquired image data specifying code, the data management unit 71 accesses the server at the remote headquarters, searches the data storage unit 72, extracts the target image data, and sends it. The transmitted encrypted image data is decrypted using the obtained encryption key, and the digital printing unit 4 exposes the photographic paper 2 based on the obtained print processing information. To create a finished print on which the visualized frame image is formed.

Here, when the configuration in which the print processing information is stored in the data storage section 72 together with the image data is adopted, it is not necessary to print the print processing information on the back side of the print. Also, in consideration of the loss of the print having the frame image to be reprinted, the encryption key and the image data identification code should be recorded on a magnetic card or an IC card to be given to the customer, except for printing on the back of the print. Or an index print,
It may be recorded on a negative sheet containing a film. In this case, the form of the encryption key input section and the encryption key output section naturally changes according to the recording form, such as a magnetic writer or a magnetic reader. An important point of the present invention is that the digital image data obtained from the film is encrypted with an encryption key handed only to the customer, thereby achieving a DP.
Even on the shop side, it is possible to safely deposit image data without making it visible. Within the framework of the invention, the above-described embodiment can be changed to various forms.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a silver halide photographic digital printer as an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a film scanner and a digital print unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fluorescent print head.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing functions of a controller.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a link among an image data specifying code, print processing information, and digital image data.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an image data identification code, print processing information, and an encryption key printed on the back side of a finished print.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the flow of image encryption during simultaneous printing and additional printing in a networked digital photo processing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 film 2 photographic paper (image recording medium) 3 film scanner 4 digital print unit 5 controller 5 a monitor 5 b console 6 development processing unit 9 printer (encryption key output unit) 10 OCR reader (encryption key input unit) 40 fluorescent print head 31 Illumination optical system 32 Imaging optical system 33 Photoelectric conversion unit 55 Image processing unit 56 Code generation unit 57 Print processing condition determination unit 58 Print processing information generation unit 59 Print print control unit 61 Encryption key issuing unit 62 Encryption unit 63 Decryption unit 72 Data storage

Claims (6)

[Claims] An image processing section for processing digital image data converted from a frame image formed on a photographic film received from a customer based on predetermined print processing conditions to create print data; A digital photograph processing system comprising: a digital print unit that creates a visible image on an image recording medium by using the code generation unit that generates an image data identification code for identifying the image data; and an encryption that issues an encryption key. A key issuing unit; an encryption unit that encrypts the digital image data using the encryption key; an encryption key output unit that provides the encryption key to the customer; and an encryption key input unit that receives the encryption key from the customer. A data storage unit that stores the encrypted image data using the image data specifying code as a search key; Digital photographic processing system comprising a decoding unit which decodes using the encryption key received the image data extracted from the data storage unit. 2. The digital photographic processing system according to claim 1, wherein said encryption key output unit is a printer that additionally records an encryption key on said image recording medium. 3. The digital photographic processing system according to claim 2, wherein said printer additionally records said image data specifying code on said image recording medium. 4. The digital photographic processing system according to claim 3, wherein said printer additionally records said print processing conditions on said image recording medium. 5. The digital photographic processing system according to claim 2, wherein said encryption key input unit is a reading device for reading an encryption key recorded on said image recording medium. 6. The data storage unit is constructed in a server system, and the digital print unit and the image processing unit are distributed and arranged as clients for the server system, respectively. The digital photographic processing system according to claim 1, wherein the digital photographic processing system is connected by a computer network.