JP2960432B2 - Image processing system - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image transfer and image input / output control in an image processing system, and more particularly to a registration method for preventing image tampering and maintaining image confidentiality. .

[Conventional technology]

In a conventional image processing system, in order to prevent leakage of confidential images, a code for authenticating an operator, i.e., an ID code, is set for each document or an image of a file which is a set of documents. Unless the ID code is input from the keyboard, the document or file image cannot be output.

It is determined whether a document can be displayed or not on a page basis (image unit or display screen unit). For an operator who does not know the ID code, this image can be displayed on the display or printed by the printer. It cannot be output.

In addition, in the conventional image registration system, when the confidential image stored in the storage unit, that is, the image with the ID code is corrected, or when an approval mark for approving the content of the image is pressed, the image has the ID code. An operation is performed in which the confidential image is output to paper by a printer in accordance with an instruction of an operator, and a stamp is applied to the output paper, and then input to the image registration system again by the scanner. In this case, two images, that is, an image before correction, that is, an original image and an image after correction, are managed by the image registration system, which causes a problem. In order to prevent this double management, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-155256 discloses that an image stored in a storage means is to be electronically corrected and approved without being output to paper. According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-155256, an image to be corrected or the like is displayed on a display, and a correction area on the image is designated by a mouse or the like. By inputting an image for correction and combining it with the original image before correction, the image is corrected and approved.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above prior art, since a partial area of one image cannot be kept confidential, when multiple persons electronically modify and approve the image, if they know the ID code, their own approval, Not only the correction area but also the other approval and correction area in the same image can be corrected, which causes a problem.
In addition, the above prior art does not give sufficient consideration to approval, prevention of falsification of a corrected image, and prevention of double management of an image before approval and an image after approval.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, the inventors of the present invention arbitrarily set a partial area in one image in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-152289 filed on June 22, 1988. ,
Input an ID code to output this partial area,
It made it possible to keep a partial area of one image confidential.

Further, the present inventors of the present invention have found that if it is possible to keep a partial area of one image confidential, a plurality of persons can electronically correct and approve the image without problems.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of protecting the confidentiality of a partial area of an image and preventing tampering.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system that enables electronic correction and approval of an image.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system capable of accurately managing an original image.

[Means, actions, and effects for achieving the object]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets a partial area of an image as a confidential area, and
A code is added to the storage means and registered, and the ID code input from the input means and the ID code are displayed in a predetermined relationship, for example, unless the ID code matches, the image is displayed on the display means, printed by a printer, or displayed on the screen. In addition, additional writing, correction, clipping, etc. are selectively prohibited. As a result, it is possible to restrict the output of a highly confidential part of an image or the modification of the image. Images that require security and those that do not need security can be managed separately. Further, even an operator who does not know the ID code can see a non-confidential portion of one image, and can know the contents of the image.

Also, an original image flag is added to the first input image to manage the image, and when the original image is transferred to another workstation, the image of the transfer source is erased. Is transferred to another workstation, this image is stored in the storage means of the other workstation and replaced.

Therefore, when a network is formed by connecting a plurality of workstations, one original image is displayed on the network.
There will be only one. Therefore, even if the image transfer is repeated on a network having a plurality of workstations, it is possible to prevent the image to be approved from being erroneously grasped. Can be done electronically.

Also, when copying the original image, the image flag of the copied image is set to off, and the image registration system outputs the image with the original image flag set to off with a “copy” mark when displaying the image. did. Thereby, the operator can determine the copied image at a glance. Further, with respect to the copy image, additional writing, correction, and clipping are prohibited for the image of the entire area. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous approval of the copy image.

Furthermore, when a specific image indicating electronic approval, for example, an imprint or signature of an approver is attached to the image to be approved, a regular dot pattern such as diagonal lines or hatching is combined with the specific image. did. Thus, when a specific image such as an imprint is output to paper and input to the workstation again, the regular dot pattern after input is disturbed and loses regularity, so that it can be determined at a glance that the image is reinput. Yes, and prevent abuse.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set a partial confidential area, manage an original image, and prevent re-input of a specific image.
Further, it is possible to perform an image registration work for electronically approving an image while transferring the image on a plurality of workstations.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an image registration system according to the present embodiment.

The workstation 1 performs input, creation, registration, correction and the like of images, and includes, for example, a large-capacity storage device such as an optical disk storage device and the following components. A plurality of workstations 1 are connected via a network 4, and the workstations 1 can mutually transfer images. A workstation control unit (hereinafter referred to as “WS control unit”) 5 controls each device included in the workstation 1. The scanner 9 is for optically reading images such as documents and drawings. The display 6 is a CRT for visually displaying an image. Of course, other display means such as a liquid crystal display may be used. The optical disk 11 is a storage device for storing images on an optical disk storage medium. The printer 10 is an output device for outputting an image on paper, and for example, a laser beam printer or the like is used. The keyboard 7 is input means for an operator to operate the workstation 1, and the mask 8 is a pointing device for designating an arbitrary position on the display 6. The exchange medium 2
An exchangeable storage medium such as a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, or the like, for inputting drawing output information of a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system, output of a word processor, and the like to the workstation 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the workstation control unit 5 of FIG.

The CPU 12 is a central processing unit for controlling the entire WS control unit 5. The CPU 12 has a built-in memory for storing various control data. In this memory, a program for controlling the workstation 1 and a program for setting a partial confidential area are stored. Further, the CPU 12 has a timer mechanism, and the date and time information is managed by the timer mechanism.

The keyboard / mouse control unit 13 controls input data from the keyboard 7 and the mouse 8. The image input control unit 14 is for compressing an image input from the scanner 9. The printer control unit 15 controls output of an image to the printer 10. The optical disk control unit 16 is an optical disk
It controls 11 inputs and outputs. Exchange medium control unit 3
Reads information on the exchange medium 2 and outputs the information to the data bus 22. The display memory 17 is a memory for storing information to be displayed on the display. The image stored in the display memory 17 is displayed on the display 6 under the control of the display controller 18. The image memory 19 is a memory for temporarily storing an image, and stores, for example, an image read by the scanner 9. The image processor 20 has a CP
Image processing / compositing / display
Perform the transfer. The network control unit 21 controls transmission and reception of images to and from another workstation 4.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of an operation for keeping a partial area of an image secret, that is, an operation for setting a partial secret area.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which, for example, a quote read by the scanner 9 is displayed on the display 6. In this quotation, the amount “$ 300” and the approver's mark “Yamada” are stamped. In this quote,
1 and the approval column 302 are set as a partial confidential area. That is, these areas are provided with ID codes, and if they do not match the ID codes input from the keyboard 7, those parts are not displayed on the display. The setting of the confidential area will be described. First, two points at the upper left and lower right of the price column are designated by the mouse 8 (marked by ▲), and a rectangular area 303 including these two points is set. This rectangular area is indicated by a dotted line, and the rectangular area 3 is
The reference coordinate position, width, and height of the upper left of 03 are read. This reading is performed by a program. next,
An ID code corresponding to the partial confidential area is input from a keyboard. This ID code can be any combination of various types, such as a code for prohibiting display on the display 6, a code for prohibiting print output on the printer 10, a code for prohibiting additional writing and correction in this area, and the like. Can be set to Similarly, a confidential area and an ID code are set for the approval column 302. When it is desired to set a plurality of partial confidential areas in one and the same image, the same operation can be repeated a plurality of times to set the confidential areas at a plurality of places in the same image.

FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a case where an image in which a partial confidential area is set is displayed on the display 6. Here, a display state is shown in a case where the ID code in the amount column 301 is not input from the keyboard 7 or does not match, and the ID code in the approval column 302 matches the ID code input from the keyboard 7. The money amount column 301 is shaded or the like, and indicates that the image cannot be displayed in the partial confidential area. By providing the partial confidential area in this way, it is possible to make it impossible to display an amount column or the like that the user does not want to show except for a specific person. Similarly, printing, correction, and the like can be prohibited. Since the person who does not know the ID code does not forge the mark of the person in charge of setting the estimated amount or the like or the approver, the approval work can be performed electronically on the workstation.

Next, an example of image data to be subjected to an electronic approval process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The approval target drawing 23 is, for example, an A4 size drawing and is displayed on the display 6. The approval target drawing 23 is input via the scanner 9 or the exchange medium 2. The approval target information 24 is information described in the approval target drawing 23. In this example, a sectional view of a joint portion of the screw is shown. Approval target information reference position 27
Is a reference position for designating the range of the approval target information 24, and is displayed by an X coordinate and a Y coordinate. Approval target information 24
Is specified by a rectangular area of LX _{1 in} the X direction and LY _{1 in} the Y direction from the approval target information reference position 27.

The comment area 29 is an area in which a person who approves the main image writes a comment or the like and writes a new image as additional information. The approval area 25 is an area in which a person who approves the main image examines the contents of the approval target information 24 and presses a seal for approval or signs. Comment area
The comment area 29 and the approval area 25 are respectively a comment area reference position 30 and a rectangular area specified in the X direction and the Y direction based on the comment area reference position 30. The setting of the area is performed according to the procedure described with reference to FIG.

The copy mark area 33 is an area to which a mark is attached in order to strictly manage the original image and properly manage the copied image.
This mark is a mark automatically added to the copy screen by the system when the original image is copied. For example, two characters "copy" are used. The copy mark area 33 is a rectangular area specified in the X and Y directions with reference to the copy mark area reference position 34. It is desirable that the size of LX ₄ and XY _{4 in} the rectangular area be fixed. The image of the approval target drawing 23 is stored on the optical disk 11 in the workstation 1.

FIG. 5 shows the internal configuration of the optical disk 11. optical disk
11, an image management information area 35 for storing an image name and each management information and an image information area 36 for storing an image as binary data are set. The image data of the approval target drawing 23 is, for example, an image information area 36 as i-th image information 38.
The management information for this image is stored in the image management information area 35 as the i-th image management information 37.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the contents of the information stored in the i-th image management information 37. The image name 39 is the name of an image, and is used, for example, when searching for a target image. The image information pointer 40 indicates the i-th pointer corresponding to the image name 39.
This is address information indicating where on the image information area 36 the image information 38 is stored. The original image flag 41 is a flag indicating whether the main image is the original image first input to the workstation 1 or the copied image. When the main image is on, the target image is the original image Indicates that the image is a copy image. Date information 4
2 indicates that when the original image flag 41 is on, the main image is
The date registered in 1 is stored, and when the original image flag 41 is Off, the date on which the copy process was executed is stored. Date information
42 is managed by a timer in the CPU 12. The copy mark area position information 43 is the copy mark area reference position in FIG.
The 34 coordinate values (X ₄ , Y ₄ ) are shown. The number 44 of partial confidential areas indicates the number of areas set on the image 23 to be approved. In the present embodiment, the number of partial confidential areas 24, the comment area 29, and the approval area 25 is three.
One. The first partial confidential area information 45 to the m-th partial confidential area information 46 are set by the number of the partial confidential areas.
The first partial confidential area information 45 includes (X, Y) at the upper left of the area.
Area reference position information 47 for storing coordinates, area size information 48 for storing LX and LY values of the area, a write-protection flag 49 indicating whether this area is write-protected,
A cutout prohibition flag 50 indicating whether this area is a cutout prohibition target, a display prohibition flag 51 indicating that this area is a display prohibition target on the display 6, and whether this area is a printout prohibition target for the printer 10. Print prohibition flag
52, a department post code 53 for storing information on departments and the like that manage this area, and ID information 54 for storing ID codes.
The department / organization code 53 is set to specify a section to be approved by the department or the organization. Stores information.

Here, for example, to enable display only and inhibit writing, clipping, and printing, the display inhibition flag 51 may be turned on, and the writing inhibition flag 49, the extraction inhibition flag 50, and the printing inhibition flag 52 may be turned off. .

In this embodiment, as the partial confidential area information, one ID code is assigned to one area, and several types of areas prohibited for one ID code are set, for example, printing is prohibited. An ID code may be finely set for each item such as display and printing of this area, or a common ID code may be set for a plurality of areas. In short, a method of partial confidentiality may be set according to the needs of the system.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the approval image 60 written in the approval area 25. In the present embodiment, the case where the approval image 60 is a stamp is shown. Approval image size is width LX _S, which is the size image of the height of the LX _S. When the approval image 60 is written in the approval area 25, the approval date is automatically added to the approval date combining area 61 based on the date information managed by the CPU. The approval image 60 may be registered in a workstation in advance and cut out by inputting an ID code, or may be registered in a storage unit of each operator such as an IC card, or A job stamp or the like may be input from the scanner.

In FIG. 8, the comment area 29 in FIG.
The image after writing the approval image 60 in the approval area 25 is shown. The approval image 60 is written with a date and a diagonal line 64. This shaded portion is such that when an image once output on paper by the printer 10 is input again by the scanner 9, the shaded portion is easily disturbed, and it is easy to visually check whether or not the image has been re-input due to the disturbed shaded portion. If it can be determined to be. Since the image is binarized at the time of input and input as a digital signal, this disturbance is caused by analog fluctuation at the time of input, a linear density of the scanner, and the like. Also, the approval image
By slashing 60, it becomes impossible to cut out the approval image 60 of the image once output on paper, input from the scanner 9, and attempt to approve other approval target information.
Helps prevent forgery. In this embodiment, the hatching is used.
Any pattern such as shading or the like in which dots are regularly arranged may be used.

Next, the procedure for registering the original image will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

The operator sets the workstation 1 in the image registration mode from the keyboard 7 (step 73), and inputs the name of the image to be input from the keyboard 7 (step (74)). (Step 75), and the input image is displayed on the display 6. Next, the position of the copy mark on the display screen is set by the mouse 8 as described with reference to FIG. Step 76) It is preferable to set this copy mark in a blank portion of the drawing 23 to be approved.
It is determined that the setting of the confidential area is completed (step 77), and when the setting is completed, the input image is registered in the optical disk 11 (step 81). If the setting of the confidential area has not been completed, the confidential area is set (step 78). Next, a prohibition mode, that is, whether or not output to the display 6 is prohibited, whether or not output to the printer 10 is prohibited, is added on the screen.
Each condition is input as to whether or not the correction is prohibited (step 79).
Next, enter the department post system code and ID code (step 8
0). In the registration of the approval target screen 23 shown in FIG. 4, the steps 78 to 80 are repeated three times because there are three confidential areas.

Next, using the flowchart of FIG.
A procedure for copying an image stored in the optical disk 11 to another optical disk 11 of the same workstation will be described.

The operator places the workstation 1 in the copy processing mode using the keyboard 7 (step 83), and searches for and specifies an image to be copied (step 84).
Then, the operator instructs execution of the copy from the keyboard 7 (step 85). Then, the image information area 36 in FIG.
Is copied to a new optical disk 11 (step 86). Next, the image information pointer 40 indicating the address of the newly stored optical disk 11 and the date information 42
Is corrected (steps 87 and 88), and the original image flag 41 of the copied image is turned off. By setting the original image flag to off, a copy mark is synthesized and output in the copy mark area 33 of the displayed image, so that it is possible to determine at a glance whether or not the image is a copied image. it can. Further, the whole area of the image is set as a secret area (step 90).
The entire surface of the image is set as the confidential area in order to prevent the copied image from being falsified and the copied image being falsified and unappropriate for the copied image.

Next, a procedure for transferring an image between the workstations 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The operator places the workstation 1 in the transfer processing mode using the keyboard 7 (step 94). next,
Search and identify the image you want to copy (step 9
5) After designating the transfer destination workstation 1 (step 96), the execution of transfer is instructed (step 9).
7). Then, the image management information and the image of the optical disc 11 are copied to the optical disc 11 of the transfer destination workstation 1 (steps 98 and 99). Next, it is checked whether or not the original image flag 41 of the transferred image management information is on (step 100). If it is off, the transfer process is completed. on
In the case of (1), since the original image, that is, the image to be approved has been transferred, the original image stored in the transfer source is deleted (step 101). As a result, the original image has been transferred from the source workstation 1 to the destination workstation 1, and one original image always exists on the network. When the copied image is transferred, a copy mark is put on the output image so that it can be seen at a glance, and since the entire image is set as a confidential area, the copied image is not approved. it can.

Next, a procedure for electronically approving an image on each workstation 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this example, the approver is the comment area 29 in FIG.
In the following, an example will be described in which a comment is given to the user and an approval mark is provided in the approval area 25.

The operator places the workstation 1 in the approval processing mode using the keyboard 7 (step 103), and instructs a search for an image to be copied. Then, the image is retrieved from the optical disk (step 104), and the image to be approved is displayed on the display 6 (step 105).
Next, it is determined whether or not the original image flag 41 of the image to be approved is on (step 106). If the original image flag 41 is off,
Since it is a copied image and should not be approved,
End the approval processing.

If the original image flag is on, the department code 53 is entered (step 107). When the department / organization code 53 is input, a confidential area to be entered by a person of the department / organization is specified, and the area is highlighted such as reverse display (step 108). Next, an ID code corresponding to the highlighted confidential area is input from the keyboard 7 (step 109). Both I
If the D codes do not match, the approval process is terminated because it is not a valid approver (step 110). If the two ID codes match, a comment is added and an approval mark is given (steps 111 and 112). Approval area 2 when approval sign is given
The date of approval is given to 5 (step 113), a hatched line is superimposed on this approval area (step 114), and the approval process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the partial confidential area is provided, leakage of confidential information can be prevented.

In addition, since a partial confidential area is provided and the original image can be properly managed, it is possible to electronically approve the image between a plurality of electronic file devices connected on the network.

Further, since a regular pattern such as oblique lines is superimposed and output on the screen for preventing plagiarism, re-input can be determined at a glance.

In this embodiment, the storage device of the workstation 1 is an optical disk device. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and another storage device such as a magnetic disk device may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image registration system, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of a workstation control unit 5 in FIG. 1, and FIGS. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation for keeping a partial area of an image confidential, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of image data to be subjected to an electronic approval process in this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the contents of information stored in the i-th image management information 37, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an approval image 60 to be written into the optical disk 11, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an image after the comment 62 and the approval image 60 are written, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for copying an image to the optical disk 11, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transferring an image between the workstations 1, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of FIG. 23: Approval target screen, 24: Approval target information, 25: Approval area, 29: Comment area, 33: Copy mark area, 41
…… Original image flag, 54 …… ID code.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Fujinawa 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Central Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihisa Hirasawa 2880 Kozu, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Odawara Plant, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-60-157644 (JP, A) JP-A-62-259165 (JP, A) JP-A-59-163636 (JP, A) JP-A-63-60671 (JP, A) JP-A-61-101850 (JP, A) JP-A-59-99774 (JP, U) (58) Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06F 17/30

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] An image registration method for copying an image from one storage medium to another storage medium in an image processing system, wherein a first step of selecting a copy processing mode and an attempt to copy are made. A second step of retrieving and specifying an image; a third step of instructing execution of a copy of the specified image; a fourth step of performing a copy; and an address of a newly generated copied image. A fifth step of correcting the image information pointer indicating the following, a sixth step of updating the date information of the copied and newly generated image, and determining whether or not the image has been copied with respect to the specified image. A flag indicating that the copied image has been copied, and a step of setting that the entire surface of the specified image cannot be cut out, added, or modified. Image registration method characterized by having a step. 2. An image registration method according to claim 1, wherein said one of the storage media is an optical disk. 3. The image registration method according to claim 1, wherein after the seventh step, a copy mark is further added to the specified image. 4. An image registration method for electronically approving an image in an image processing system, comprising: a first step of selecting an approval processing mode; and a step of searching and specifying an image to be approved. 2, a third step in which the specified image is displayed, a fourth step of determining whether or not the image has been copied with respect to the specified image, and If the image is not a copied one, the fifth code information is input.
And a sixth step in which a confidential area is specified in the specified image in response to the input in the fifth step, and the confidential area is displayed in an emphasized manner; and an ID code corresponding to the confidential area. A seventh step of inputting an ID, an eighth step of determining whether or not the ID code permits approval processing of the confidential area, and an eighth step of determining that the ID code permits approval processing of the confidential area. A ninth step of inputting an approval process; a ninth step, after the ninth step, a tenth step of combining the approved image with the specified image; An image registration method, comprising: an eleventh step of synthesizing the date of (a), and a twelfth step of superimposing oblique lines on the approval image after the eleventh step. 5. An image registration method for electronically approving an image in an image processing system, comprising: a first step of selecting an approval processing mode; and a step of searching and specifying an image to be approved. A second step, a third step in which the specified image is displayed, a fourth step of determining whether or not the image has been copied with respect to the specified image, and If the image is not a copied one, the fifth code information is input.
And a sixth step in which a confidential area is specified in the specified image in response to the input in the fifth step, and the confidential area is displayed in an emphasized manner; and an ID code corresponding to the confidential area. A seventh step of inputting an ID, an eighth step of determining whether or not the ID code permits approval processing of the confidential area, and an eighth step of determining that the ID code permits approval processing of the confidential area. A ninth step of inputting an approval process; a ninth step, after the ninth step, a tenth step of combining the approved image with the specified image; An image registration method, comprising: an eleventh step of synthesizing the date of (i), and a twelfth step of superimposing a regular dot pattern on the approval image after the eleventh step. 6. The image registration method according to claim 5, wherein the regular dot pattern is a halftone pattern.