JP4775142B2 - Image reading apparatus, copying apparatus, image processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, a copying apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and a program.

  A technique for restricting copying of confidential documents is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, when receiving a copy execution instruction specifying a user ID and the number of copies, the copier optically scans a confidential document placed on a glass surface and captures image data. Also, the paper ID of the confidential document is read. Then, the copier transmits the paper ID, the user ID, and the set number of copies to the output document management server. As a result, the output document management server determines whether or not copying is possible. If copying is possible, copying is performed by a copying machine.

JP 2005-190365 A

  In general, an electronic document may include a document part. Here, the document part is electronic data such as a figure, a graph, a picture, a photograph, a score, a song, and a sentence. For example, when an electronic document including such a document part is printed on paper, it may be a problem whether to permit use of a part corresponding to the document part on the paper unconditionally. This is because document parts may be highly sensitive, subject to copyright, or adversely affect young people. In such a case, it is desirable to be able to grasp the usage history of at least the part corresponding to the document part on the paper. Conventionally, however, it has not been possible to grasp such usage history in units of document parts.

  The present invention has been made under the background as described above, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to grasp the usage history of images of electronic documents including document parts in units of document parts.

  An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part and an information image obtained by imaging information related to the document part. A reading means for reading, a generating means for generating history information relating to the use of a partial image corresponding to a document part of the document image read by the reading means, based on the information image read by the reading means; Storage means for storing history information generated by the means.

Here, the image reading apparatus may further include a totaling unit that counts the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each user who uses the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit.
Further, the image processing apparatus may further include a totaling unit that totalizes the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each document part corresponding to the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit.
Further, the generation unit may generate history information regarding processing for storing the partial image as an electronic file.
Furthermore, the generation unit may generate history information related to a process of sending the partial image via the communication unit.

  The copying apparatus of the present invention reads a document image and the information image from a medium on which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including the document part and an information image obtained by imaging information related to the document part are formed. Reading means; printing means for printing a partial image corresponding to a document part of a document image read by the reading means or an image of a document part included in an electronic document; and a partial image or document by the printing means The apparatus includes a generating unit that generates history information related to the printing of the component image based on the information image read by the reading unit, and a storage unit that stores the history information generated by the generating unit.

Here, when printing of the partial image is not permitted, the printing unit prints the document image after making the partial image difficult to recognize, and the generating unit relates to printing of the partial image that is difficult to visually recognize. The history information may not be generated.
Further, when printing of the document part image is not permitted, the printing unit prints the image of the electronic document after making it difficult to visually recognize the image of the document part, and the generation unit is made difficult to view. The history information related to the printing of the document part image may not be generated.
Further, when printing of the partial image is not permitted, the printing unit stops printing of the document image, and the generation unit records the history regarding printing of the plurality of partial images in the document image whose printing is stopped by the printing unit. Information may not be generated.
Furthermore, the printing means stops printing the image of the electronic document when printing of the image of the document part is not permitted, and the generation means is a plurality of documents in the electronic document whose printing is stopped by the printing means. The history information related to the printing of the component image may not be generated.

  The first image processing apparatus according to the present invention scans a medium on which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part and an information image obtained by imaging information related to the document part are obtained. An acquisition unit that acquires an image, an extraction unit that extracts information about a document part from the information image acquired by the acquisition unit, and a document of the document image based on the information about the document part extracted by the extraction unit A generation unit that generates history information regarding use of the partial image corresponding to the component, and a storage unit that stores the history information generated by the generation unit are provided.

Here, the first image processing apparatus further includes a totaling unit that counts the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each user who uses the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit. Also good.
Further, the image processing apparatus may further include a totaling unit that totalizes the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each document part corresponding to the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit.

  The second image processing apparatus of the present invention scans a medium on which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a literary work and a non-copyrighted work and an information image obtained by imaging information related to the literary work are formed. An acquisition means for acquiring the obtained information image, an extraction means for extracting information on the copyrighted work from the information image acquired by the acquisition means, and a document based on the information on the copyrighted work extracted by the extraction means. A generating unit that generates charging information for charging for use of a partial image corresponding to a copyrighted work in the image, and a storage unit that stores the charging information generated by the generating unit are provided.

  An information program obtained by scanning a computer on which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part and an information image obtained by imaging information related to the document part is scanned on a computer. Based on the function to acquire, the function to extract information about document parts from the acquired information image, and the information about extracted document parts, history information about the use of the partial image corresponding to the document part of the document image is generated. The function and the function of writing the generated history information in a predetermined storage area are realized.

Here, in the function to be generated, when use of a partial image is not permitted, history information regarding use of the partial image may not be generated.
In addition, in the function to be generated, when use of a partial image is not permitted, history information regarding use of other document images in the document image including the partial image may not be generated.

The invention according to claim 1 has an effect that the usage history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 2 has an effect that it is possible to easily perform the process for each user using the use history of the image of the electronic document including the document part.
The invention according to claim 3 has an effect that the processing for each document part using the use history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be easily performed.
The invention of claim 4 has an effect that the history of processing for storing an image of an electronic document including a document part as an electronic file can be grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 5 has an effect that it is possible to grasp a history of processing for sending an image of an electronic document including a document part via a communication unit for each document part.
The invention according to claim 6 has an effect that the copy history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 7 has an effect that the copy history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be efficiently grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 8 has an effect that the copy history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be efficiently grasped for each document part.
The invention of claim 9 has an effect that the copy history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be efficiently grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 10 has an effect that the copy history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be efficiently grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 11 has an effect that the usage history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be grasped for each document part.
According to the invention of claim 12, there is an effect that it is possible to easily perform the process for each user using the use history of the image of the electronic document including the document part.
The invention of claim 13 has an effect that it is possible to easily perform processing for each document part using the use history of the image of the electronic document including the document part.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention, there is an effect that it is possible to charge for the use of an image of an electronic document including a literary work and a non-literary work in units of literary works.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the usage history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be grasped for each document part.
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the usage history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be efficiently grasped for each document part.
The invention according to claim 17 has an effect that the usage history of the image of the electronic document including the document part can be efficiently grasped for each document part.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In this embodiment, an information image obtained by imaging document part identification information is embedded in a medium such as paper on which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part is printed. When the reading device reads the document image from the medium, the information image is also read, and identification information of each document part is obtained from the information image. The printing apparatus records the printing history of the document part together with the identification information of the document part.

In this specification, the term “electronic document” is used, but this does not mean only data obtained by digitizing a “document” including text. For example, “electronic document” includes image data such as pictures, photographs, figures, etc. (regardless of raster data or vector data) and other printable electronic data.
The “document part” also includes various types of electronic data such as sentences in addition to electronic data generally called “content” such as diagrams, graphs, pictures, photographs, music scores, and songs. Furthermore, the electronic document and the document component included in the electronic document are not limited to being managed as separate files, but may be managed within the same file.

First, the system configuration in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration to which the present embodiment is applied. This system is configured by connecting a terminal device 10, a document server 20, and a copier 30 to a network 90.

The terminal device 10 is used to instruct printing of an electronic document. The terminal device 10 is exemplified by a PC (Personal Computer).
The document server 20 stores an electronic document. When there is an instruction to print the electronic document, the designated electronic document is provided. The document server 20 can be realized by a general-purpose server computer.
The copier 30 reads an image from a medium and prints the image on another medium. Further, in the present embodiment, it is considered that the copying machine 30 includes an image that is read from a medium, an original electronic document corresponding to the image is acquired from the document server 20 or the like, and printed on another medium.
The network 90 is the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or the like.

  In FIG. 1, the document server 20 that stores the electronic document is configured independently of the terminal device 10 and the copying machine 30, but the terminal server 10 and the copying machine 30 have a function of the document server 20. May be adopted.

Next, the functional configuration of the document server 20 among the components of the system of FIG. 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the document server 20.
As illustrated, the document server 20 includes an electronic document storage unit 21, a document parts storage unit 22, an attribute information storage unit 23, a document management unit 24, and a communication unit 25.
The electronic document storage unit 21 stores electronic documents, and the document part storage unit 22 stores document parts used in the electronic document. The attribute information storage unit 23 stores attribute information such as a fee charged for copying a document part.

The document management unit 24 manages the electronic document stored in the electronic document storage unit 21 and the document component stored in the document component storage unit 22 based on the relationship information. Here, the relationship information is information that associates an electronic document, a document part used in the electronic document, and a pasting position of the document part in the electronic document. That is, the document management unit 24 can take out the designated electronic document when there is an acquisition request for the electronic document specifying the identification information of the electronic document. At that time, by referring to the related information, the electronic document is provided to the request source in a state where an appropriate document part is pasted at an appropriate position. The document management unit 24 also manages attribute information of document parts. Therefore, when there is an attribute information acquisition request specifying document part identification information, the corresponding attribute information can be extracted and provided to the request source.
The communication unit 25 receives an electronic document and attribute information acquisition request, and transmits the electronic document and attribute information extracted by the document management unit 24 to the request source.

Here, the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit 23 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the attribute information.
As shown in the figure, the attribute information includes document part identification information (hereinafter referred to as “part ID”), information on the creator of the document part, information on the fee charged for copying the document part, and document This is associated with information for controlling the number of times of copying of parts.
Among these, the component ID is identification information for uniquely identifying a document component.
Further, as the information regarding the creator, the creator ID and the contact information are illustrated. However, the information is not limited to this, and other information may be stored.

Furthermore, as a fee charged for copying a document part, for example, a fee necessary for obtaining one copy may be stored. However, this is not limited to the charge based on such a charge system, and a charge based on another charge system may be stored.
Furthermore, information for controlling the number of times of copying a document part includes a number of times of copying and a number of times limit. Of these, the number of times of copying is the number of times that the document part was actually copied. The number of times limit is an upper limit of how many times the document part can be copied. Although the fee can be collected for copying, the number of times is set in consideration of the intention of the creator who wants to avoid unlimited copying.

  By the way, in the figure, fee information charged for copying a document part and information for controlling the number of times of copying a document part are associated with a part ID so as to be uniquely determined. However, these pieces of information are associated so as to be uniquely determined for the combination of the identification information of the electronic document (hereinafter referred to as “document ID”) and the component ID of the document component pasted on the electronic document. May be. This is because, depending on the electronic document to which the document part is pasted, the copy fee of the document part, the number of times of copying, and the like may change.

  These functions are realized by cooperation between software and hardware resources. Specifically, these functions are realized by a CPU (not shown) of the document server 20 reading a program for realizing the document management unit 24 and the communication unit 25 from, for example, a magnetic disk device and executing it. The The electronic document storage unit 21, the document component storage unit 22, and the attribute information storage unit 23 can be realized using, for example, a magnetic disk device. Furthermore, the program and data stored in the magnetic disk device may be loaded from a recording medium such as a CD, or may be downloaded via a network such as the Internet.

Next, the functional configuration of the copying machine 30 among the components of the system of FIG. 1 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the copying machine 30.
As shown in the figure, the copying machine 30 includes a reading device 40 and a printing device 50. In this case, the reading device 40 and the printing device 50 are connected by communication means such as a wired LAN, a wireless LAN, a USB cable, a serial cable, and Bluetooth. Although the reading device 40 and the printing device 50 are separated here, they may be integrated.

Among these, the reading device 40 includes a reading unit 41, a document image output unit 42, a code image analysis unit 43, a history generation unit 44, a history storage unit 45, and a totaling unit 46.
For example, the reading unit 41 reads an image from a medium on which the image is formed by the printing apparatus 50. As the reading unit 41, a scanner that irradiates a medium with light and reads reflected light or the like to convert it into digital data can be used. In that case, for example, light is emitted from the LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source to the medium surface, the reflected light is optically reduced by the imaging lens, and the formed optical image is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor. It is possible to adopt a configuration of performing.

  Incidentally, in the present embodiment, a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document and a code image as an information image are formed on a medium. In this case, the document image is formed with visible toner, while the code image is formed with invisible toner having an absorption wavelength in the infrared region, for example. Therefore, as the LED light source, in addition to, for example, a white LED that emits visible light, an infrared LED that emits infrared light is provided. As the image sensor, not only a sensor for red light, a sensor for green light, and a sensor for blue light, but also a sensor for infrared light is provided.

The document image output unit 42 receives the document image read by the reading unit 41 and outputs it to the printing apparatus 50. The code image analysis unit 43 receives the code image read by the reading unit 41, analyzes the code image, and extracts necessary information.
The history generation unit 44 generates a document component copy history based on the information extracted by the code image analysis unit 43. The history storage unit 45 stores the copy history generated by the history generation unit 44.
Based on the copy history stored in the history storage unit 45, the totaling unit 46 totals the number of times the document part is copied or the fee charged for copying.

  These functions are realized by cooperation between software and hardware resources. Specifically, a CPU (not shown) of the reading device 40 reads a program that realizes the document image output unit 42, the code image analysis unit 43, the history generation unit 44, and the totaling unit 46 from, for example, a magnetic disk device and executes it. By doing so, these functions are realized. The history storage unit 45 can be realized by using, for example, a magnetic disk device. Furthermore, the program and data stored in the magnetic disk device may be loaded from a recording medium such as a CD, or may be downloaded via a network such as the Internet.

On the other hand, the printing apparatus 50 includes a document image generation unit 51, a code image generation unit 52, an image composition unit 53, a print control unit 54, and a printing unit 55.
The document image generation unit 51 generates a document image to be actually printed based on the document image sent from the reading device 40. The code image generation unit 52 encodes information to be embedded in a document image to generate encoded information, and images the encoded information according to a medium to generate a code image. The image composition unit 53 generates a composite image by superimposing the document image and the code image. At this time, the code image is set to be printed on the medium with invisible toner.
The print control unit 54 notifies the printing unit 55 of the combined image generated by the image combining unit 53 and setting information for printing the combined image on a medium.

The printing unit 55 prints the composite image passed from the print control unit 54 on a medium. Here, as the printing unit 55, for example, a printing mechanism using an electrophotographic method can be used.
By the way, in this embodiment, as described above, it is assumed that the document image is formed with visible toner and the code image is formed with invisible toner having an absorption wavelength in the infrared region, for example. Accordingly, the printing unit 55 includes an image forming unit for invisible toner in addition to an image forming unit for each color toner of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). Alternatively, one of the image forming units for Y, M, C, and K color toners may be replaced with an image forming unit for invisible toner. Since the printing unit 55 has such a configuration, it is possible to form a document image with visible toner and form a code image with invisible toner on top of it.

  These functions are realized by cooperation between software and hardware resources. Specifically, a CPU (not shown) of the printing apparatus 50 reads a program that realizes the document image generation unit 51, the code image generation unit 52, the image composition unit 53, and the print control unit 54 from, for example, a magnetic disk device into the main memory. By executing, these functions are realized. The program and data stored in the magnetic disk device may be loaded from a recording medium such as a CD, or may be downloaded via a network such as the Internet.

Hereinafter, the operation of the copying machine 30 having such a configuration will be described in detail.
In this embodiment, the copying machine 30 will be described. However, the copying machine 30 also functions as a printing apparatus 50 that performs printing in accordance with a print instruction transmitted via the network 90.
First, an operation when printing an electronic document designated by a print instruction from the terminal device 10 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 50 at this time.
When there is a print instruction from the terminal device 10, the printing apparatus 50 acquires the electronic document specified by the print instruction from the document server 20. Then, the document image generation unit 51 converts the electronic document into an image and generates a document image (step 501).

  On the other hand, the code image generating unit 52 encodes the document ID, coordinates, and component ID to generate encoded information, and converts the image into an image to generate a code image (step 502). Here, the document ID can be acquired based on the designation of the electronic document in the print instruction. Further, as many coordinates as necessary are prepared based on the paper size specified by the print instruction and the like are encoded. Further, the component ID can be acquired by searching related information using the document ID of the electronic document specified by the print instruction as a key.

Then, the image composition unit 53 generates a composite image by superimposing the document image generated in step 501 and the code image generated in step 502 (step 503).
Thereafter, the print control unit 54 transmits the composite image and setting information for printing the composite image on the medium to the printing unit 55 (step 504). Here, the setting information includes a margin, a paper size, the number of copies, and the like.
Thereby, the printing unit 55 prints the composite image on the medium by, for example, an electrophotographic method (step 505). At this time, as described above, the document image is printed with visible toner, and the code image is printed with invisible toner having an absorption wavelength in the infrared region.

Here, a print document as a result of printing by the printing apparatus 50 in this way will be described.
FIG. 6 shows an example of such a printed document.
This printed document is a printed electronic document including three document parts. In the figure, three document parts are printed in areas 61, 62, and 63, respectively.
In the present embodiment, when such a printed document is scanned, a copy history is recorded for each of the areas 61, 62, and 63. For example, it is assumed that the component IDs of the document components printed in the areas 61, 62, and 63 are “101”, “102”, and “103”, respectively. In this case, when this print document is scanned, the number of copies is incremented for each of the component IDs “101”, “102”, and “103”.
In the figure, the upper left character portion of the print document is not considered as a document part for which a copy history needs to be recorded.

Next, a code pattern that is a source of a code image formed on the printed document will be described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the code pattern.
First, the bit pattern constituting the code pattern will be described.
FIG. 7A shows an example of bit pattern arrangement.
A bit pattern is the minimum unit of information embedding. Here, as shown in FIG. 7A, bits are arranged at two locations selected from nine locations. In the figure, black squares indicate positions where bits are arranged, and hatched squares indicate positions where bits are not arranged. There are 36 (= ₉ C ₂ ) combinations for selecting 2 locations out of 9 locations. Therefore, 36 kinds (about 5.2 bits) of information can be expressed by such an arrangement method.

Incidentally, the minimum square shown in FIG. 7A has a size of 2 dots × 2 dots at 600 dpi. Since the size of one dot at 600 dpi is 0.0423 mm, one side of this minimum square is 84.6 μm (= 0.0423 mm × 2). The larger the dots that make up the code pattern, the more likely it is to be noticeable. However, if it is too small, printing with a printer becomes impossible. Therefore, the above value is adopted as the dot size, which is larger than 50 μm and smaller than 100 μm. Thereby, it is possible to form dots of an optimum size that can be printed by the printer. That is, 84.6 μm × 84.6 μm is the minimum size that can be stably formed by the printer.
In addition, by setting the dot to such a size, one side of one bit pattern becomes about 0.5 mm (= 0.0423 mm × 2 × 6).

A code pattern composed of such bit patterns will be described.
FIG. 7B shows an example of the arrangement of code patterns.
Here, the minimum square shown in FIG. 7B corresponds to the bit pattern shown in FIG. In FIG. 7A, it has been described that 36 kinds of information can be expressed by one bit pattern. However, in this code pattern, one bit pattern has 32 kinds (5 bits) except for a synchronous code. It shall represent information.

The identification code obtained by encoding the identification information is embedded using 12 (= 4 × 4-2 × 2) bit patterns. Also, the X position code obtained by encoding the position information in the X direction and the Y position code obtained by encoding the position information in the Y direction are each embedded using four bit patterns. Further, an additional code obtained by encoding additional information other than identification information and position information is embedded using 4 (= 2 × 2) bit patterns. Furthermore, a synchronization code for detecting the position and rotation of the code pattern is embedded in the upper left corner using one bit pattern.
Note that the size of one code pattern is approximately 2.5 mm because it is equal to the width of five bit patterns. In the present embodiment, a code pattern image obtained by imaging the code pattern generated in this way is arranged on the entire sheet surface.

  Next, the copying operation by the copying machine 30 will be described in detail. However, in the present embodiment, a process in which the reading device 40 reads an image and the printing device 50 prints an original electronic document that is the basis of the image is considered as one form of copying. Of course, the process of printing the image read by the reading device 40 on the medium as it is is also considered as copying. Therefore, hereinafter, the former copying operation will be described as the first embodiment, and the latter copying operation will be described as the second embodiment.

[First Embodiment]
First, the operation of the reading device 40 in the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reading device 40 at this time.
In the reading device 40, first, the reading unit 41 reads a document image and a code image from the medium, passes the document image to the document image output unit 42, and passes the code image to the code image analysis unit 43 (step 411).
Next, the code image analysis unit 43 extracts the document ID and the component ID for each coordinate from the delivered code image, and transfers control to the history generation unit 44 (step 412). Here, when the code image has a structure as shown in FIG. 7, for example, an identification code obtained by encoding the same document ID is included in the code pattern on the entire surface of the medium. On the other hand, the coordinate and the component ID include information obtained by encoding different information depending on the code pattern. Therefore, for each code pattern, the coordinates and component ID are extracted from the position code and the additional code, respectively, and these are associated with each other.

As a result, the history generation unit 44 identifies the document part used in the electronic document (step 413). For example, a document part can be specified by examining a continuous area in which the same part ID is embedded on a document image. Then, the processing of steps 414 to 419 is performed for each document part, thereby recording the copy history of the image corresponding to each document part.
That is, first, the history generation unit 44 pays attention to one document part (step 414).
Next, it is determined whether or not the number of times of copying the focused document part is less than the number limit (step 415). Specifically, the history generation unit 44 transmits the part ID and the number of copies to the document server 20. As a result, the document server 20 first adds the current number of copies to the number of copies associated with the component ID to obtain a new number of copies. Then, the new number of copying is compared with the number of times associated with the part ID, and the result is returned to the copying machine 30. On the other hand, in the copying machine 30 that has received the result, the history generation unit 44 determines that the number limit has been exceeded if the former value is greater than the latter value, and if the former value is less than or equal to the latter value, It is determined that the number is less than the limit.

If it is determined that the number of times is less than or equal to the number limit, the history generation unit 44 records information such as the part ID of the document part of interest and the reading time in the history storage unit 45 as a copy history (step 416). . Then, the part ID of the document part and the flag “ON” are associated with each other and stored in the memory (step 417).
On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of times is not less than the limit, the history generation unit 44 associates the part ID of the document part with the flag “OFF” without recording the copy history of the document part of interest. (Step 418).
The flag “ON” indicates that the document part is printed as it is, and the flag “OFF” indicates that the document part is not printed.
Thereafter, the history generation unit 44 determines whether there is an unprocessed document part (step 419). If there is an unprocessed document part, the process returns to step 414. If there is no unprocessed document part, the document ID and a flag for each document part are output to the printing apparatus 50 (step 420).

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 50 in the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 50 at this time.
In the printing apparatus 50, first, the document image generation unit 51 acquires the document ID and the flag for each document part output from the history generation unit 44 (step 511). An electronic document is acquired from the document server 20 based on the document ID (step 512). However, at this time, only the electronic document is acquired, and the document part pasted on the electronic document is not acquired.

Then, the document image generating unit 51 generates a document image to be actually printed by performing the processing of steps 513 to 516 for each document part.
That is, first, the document image generating unit 51 pays attention to one document part (step 513). Next, the value of the flag associated with the focused document part is determined (step 514).
If it is determined that the flag is “OFF”, printing of the document part is not instructed, and the document part is not acquired in order to remove the document part from the document image.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the flag is “ON”, printing of the document part is instructed, so the document part is acquired from the document server 20 based on the part ID and included in the document image.

Thereafter, the document image generation unit 51 determines whether there is an unprocessed document part (step 516). If there is an unprocessed document part, the process returns to step 513. If there is no unprocessed document part, the process proceeds to a process for printing an image.
That is, the code image generation unit 52 generates the encoded information by encoding the document ID, the coordinates, and the component ID, and generates a code image by converting the information (step 517). Here, the document ID used from the reading device 40 is used. Further, as many coordinates as necessary are prepared based on the paper size specified by the print instruction and the like are encoded. Further, as the part ID, what is passed from the reading device 40 is arranged at a position overlapping the document part permitted to be printed, and “0” is arranged at other positions.

Then, the image composition unit 53 generates a composite image by superimposing the document image generated in Steps 511 to 516 and the code image generated in Step 517 (Step 518).
Thereafter, the print control unit 54 transmits the composite image and setting information for printing the composite image on the medium to the printing unit 55 (step 519). Here, the setting information includes a margin, a paper size, the number of copies, and the like.
Thereby, the printing unit 55 prints the composite image on the medium by, for example, an electrophotographic method (step 520). At this time, as described above, the document image is printed with visible toner, and the code image is printed with invisible toner having an absorption wavelength in the infrared region.

This is the end of the description of the first embodiment.
In the first embodiment, when printing of an image of a document part is not permitted, the document part is extracted and printed. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, instead of the document part, another document part that can be printed may be acquired and an image of the document part may be printed.

[Second Embodiment]
First, the operation of the reading device 40 in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reading device 40 at this time.
In the reading device 40, first, the reading unit 41 reads a document image and a code image from the medium, passes the document image to the document image output unit 42, and passes the code image to the code image analysis unit 43 (step 431).
Next, the code image analysis unit 43 extracts the document ID and the component ID for each coordinate from the delivered code image, and transfers control to the history generation unit 44 (step 432). Here, when the code image has a structure as shown in FIG. 7, for example, an identification code obtained by encoding the same document ID is included in the code pattern on the entire surface of the medium. On the other hand, the coordinate and the component ID include information obtained by encoding different information depending on the code pattern. Therefore, for each code pattern, the coordinates and component ID are extracted from the position code and the additional code, respectively, and these are associated with each other.

Thereby, the history generation unit 44 records the copy history of the image corresponding to each document part by performing the processing of steps 433 to 440 for each coordinate.
That is, first, the history generation unit 44 pays attention to one coordinate (step 433). Next, it is determined whether or not the component ID corresponding to the focused coordinate is “0” (step 434). In the present embodiment, a component ID other than “0” is assigned to each document component, and a component ID “0” is embedded in an area where no document component image exists in the document image. Shall.

  If the component ID is “0”, it is determined that the image at the coordinate of interest can be copied unconditionally, and the process proceeds to step 438. On the other hand, if the component ID is not “0”, whether or not information related to the same document component has already been retained by the processing of the coordinates so far on this document image, and if it is retained, It is determined what the value of the flag is (step 435). As a result, if information regarding the same document part is already held and the flag is “ON”, the process proceeds to step 438, and if the flag is “OFF”, the process proceeds to step 439.

  On the other hand, if the information regarding the same document part is not held, it is determined whether or not the number of times of copying the focused document part is less than the number limit (step 436). Specifically, the history generation unit 44 transmits the part ID and the number of copies to the document server 20. As a result, the document server 20 first adds the current number of copies to the number of copies associated with the component ID to obtain a new number of copies. Then, the new number of copying is compared with the number of times associated with the part ID, and the result is returned to the copying machine 30. On the other hand, in the copying machine 30 that has received the result, the history generation unit 44 determines that the number limit has been exceeded if the former value is greater than the latter value, and if the former value is less than or equal to the latter value, It is determined that the number is less than the limit.

If it is determined that the number of times is less than the number limit, the history generation unit 44 records information such as the part ID of the document part of interest and the reading time in the history storage unit 45 as a copy history (step 437). . Then, the coordinate of interest and the flag “ON” are stored in the memory in association with each other (step 438).
On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of times is not less than the limit, the history generation unit 44 associates the coordinate of interest with the flag “OFF” in the memory without recording the copy history of the document component of interest. Store it (step 439).
The flag “ON” indicates that the image at the coordinates is printed as it is, and the flag “OFF” prints another image that makes the image invisible instead of printing the image at the coordinates. It shows that.
Thereafter, the history generation unit 44 determines whether there are unprocessed coordinates (step 440). If there are unprocessed coordinates, the process returns to step 433. If there are no unprocessed coordinates, the document image and a flag for each coordinate are output to the printing apparatus 50 (step 441).

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 50 in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus 50 at this time.
In the printing apparatus 50, first, the document image generation unit 51 acquires the document image output by the document image output unit 42 and the flag for each coordinate output by the history generation unit 44 (step 531). However, the document image acquired here includes an image of a document part.

Then, the document image generation unit 51 generates a document image to be actually printed by performing the processing of steps 532 to 535 for each coordinate.
That is, first, the document image generation unit 51 pays attention to one coordinate on the document image acquired in Step 531 (Step 532). Next, the value of the flag associated with the focused coordinate is determined (step 533).
Here, when it is determined that the flag is “OFF”, it is instructed to prevent the image at the coordinates from being visually recognized, so that the black image is overlaid on the coordinates (stepping) 534).
On the other hand, when it is determined that the flag is “ON”, since the printing of the image at the coordinates is instructed, the painting is not performed.

Thereafter, the document image generation unit 51 determines whether there are unprocessed coordinates (step 535). If there is an unprocessed coordinate, the process returns to step 532, and if there is no unprocessed coordinate, the process proceeds to a process for printing an image.
That is, the code image generation unit 52 generates the encoded information by encoding the document ID and coordinates, and generates a code image by converting the information (step 536). Here, the document ID used from the reading device 40 is used. Further, as many coordinates as necessary are prepared based on the paper size specified by the print instruction and the like are encoded.

Then, the image composition unit 53 generates a composite image by superimposing the document image generated in Steps 531 to 535 and the code image generated in Step 536 (Step 537).
Thereafter, the print control unit 54 transmits the composite image and setting information for printing the composite image on the medium to the printing unit 55 (step 538). Here, the setting information includes a margin, a paper size, the number of copies, and the like.
Thereby, the printing unit 55 prints the composite image on the medium by, for example, an electrophotographic method (step 539). At this time, as described above, the document image is printed with visible toner, and the code image is printed with invisible toner having an absorption wavelength in the infrared region.

This is the end of the description of the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment, when printing of an image of a document part is not permitted, the image part of the document part is painted out. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, image processing for deleting the image of the document part may be performed, and the resulting image may be printed.

The operation of the copying machine 30 has been described separately for the first and second embodiments.
Here, the copy history stored in the history storage unit 45 according to the first and second embodiments will be described.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a copy history.
As shown in the figure, the copy history is obtained by associating No. (copy history management number), document ID, component ID, user information, and copy date / time information.
Among these, the document ID is a combination of information for identifying the file of the electronic document and the page number in the electronic document. For example, the document ID “10-1” indicates the first page of the electronic document “10”.

In the case of Nos. 1 to 3, a plurality of component IDs are associated with one document ID. This means that a plurality of document parts are pasted on one page of the electronic document and copied.
Further, as the user information, the name of the person who copied each document part is recorded. The number in parentheses after the name is the user ID.
Furthermore, by recording the date and time of copying, it is possible not only to charge for copying document parts subject to copyright, but also to be used for tracking investigations when there is a copy of a highly sensitive document. .
The copy history may be stored not in the copying machine 30 but in an external server or the like. In that case, the identification information of the copying machine 30 may be included in the copying history for management.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the reading device 40 includes a totaling unit 46.
Therefore, the operation of the counting unit 46 will be described.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the counting unit 46.
Among these, FIG. 13A is a flowchart in the case of summing up the fee information charged for copying the image of the document part for each user.
First, the totaling unit 46 pays attention to one record in the copy history stored in the history storage unit 45 (step 451). Then, the fee for copying this time is added to the fee stored in the memory for the user ID included in the record (step 452).

Here, the charge for this copy is obtained as follows. That is, first, the totaling unit 46 transmits the component ID to the document server 20. Thereby, the document server 20 searches the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit 23 using the component ID as a key, thereby acquiring the corresponding fee, and the totaling unit 46 acquires it.
Thereafter, the totaling unit 46 determines whether there is an unprocessed record (step 453). If there is an unprocessed record, the process returns to step 451, and if there is no unprocessed record, the process ends.

On the other hand, FIG. 13B is a flowchart in the case of collecting information on the fee charged for copying an image of a document part for each document part.
First, the totaling unit 46 pays attention to one record in the copy history stored in the history storage unit 45 (step 461). Then, the fee for copying this time is added to the fee stored in the memory for the component ID included in the record (step 462).

Here, the charge for this copy is obtained as follows. That is, first, the totaling unit 46 transmits the component ID to the document server 20. Thereby, the document server 20 searches the attribute information stored in the attribute information storage unit 23 using the component ID as a key, thereby acquiring the corresponding fee, and the totaling unit 46 acquires it.
Thereafter, the totaling unit 46 determines whether there is an unprocessed record (step 463). If there is an unprocessed record, the process returns to step 461, and if there is no unprocessed record, the process ends.

In the above description, the totaling of charges charged for copying has been described. However, the information to be totaled is not limited to this. For example, the number of copying of document parts may be totaled.
In the above description, the period for counting is not particularly mentioned. However, the period may be specified by specifying a period such as monthly or yearly.
Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of copying, the history generation unit 44 records the copy history, and at an arbitrary timing thereafter, the counting unit 46 generates billing information and the like based on the copy history. However, at the time of copying, the history generation unit 44 may generate billing information or the like and store it in a predetermined storage device. However, in this case, it is necessary for the history generation unit 44 to connect to the document server 20 and acquire fee information and the like when generating charging information and the like.

  By the way, in the embodiments described so far, the reading device 40 records the copy history of the image of the document part read from the medium, and then the printing device 50 performs the actual printing. However, such a copy history may be recorded by the printing apparatus 50. In this case, it is also possible to record the copy history on the condition that the image is printed on the medium, instead of recording the copy history on the condition that the medium is scanned.

  Further, the reading device 40 can record not only the copy history of the image of the document part but also the use history of the image of the document part. Here, the “use history” is, for example, a history of processing using an image of a document part by the reading device 40. That is, it is possible to record the history of processing in which the reading device 40 stores the read image of the document part as an electronic file, the history of processing transmitted to other devices via communication means such as a telephone line, and the like.

The processing after the reading device 40 reads an image with the reading unit 41 and before the printing device 50 actually forms an image on the medium with the printing unit 55 is not limited to the copying machine 30 as described above. It can also be realized by a typical computer 100.
Here, the computer 100 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the computer 100.
As shown in the figure, the computer 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 that is a calculation means, a main memory 102 that is a storage means, and a magnetic disk device (HDD: Hard Disk Drive) 103. Here, the CPU 101 executes various types of software such as an OS (Operating System) and applications to realize the above-described functions. The main memory 102 is a storage area for storing various software and data used for execution thereof, and the magnetic disk device 103 is a storage area for storing input data for various software, output data from various software, and the like. .
The computer 100 further includes a communication I / F 104 for performing communication with the outside, a display mechanism 105 including a video memory and a display, and an input device 106 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

It is the figure which showed the system configuration | structure with which embodiment of this invention is applied. It is the block diagram which showed the function structure of the document server in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the attribute information managed with the document server in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an initial printing operation by the printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of a printed document outputted in an embodiment of the invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the code pattern used by embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the reader in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the copy log | history produced | generated by embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the total part in embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the hardware constitutions of the computer which can apply embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Terminal device, 20 ... Document server, 30 ... Copy machine, 40 ... Reading device, 50 ... Printing device, 90 ... Network

Claims (17)

Component identification information for identifying a document part in which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part is formed, and a position information image obtained by imaging position information indicating each position on the medium is formed on the entire surface of the medium. The document image, the position information image, and the component identification information image are read from the medium in which the component identification information image obtained by imaging the image is formed on the entire surface of the partial image corresponding to the document component of the document image. Reading means;
Extraction means for extracting correspondence information between the position information and the component identification information for each position from the position information image and the component identification information image read by the reading unit;
The correspondence information extracted by the extraction means is used to identify the part identification information embedded in a continuous area on the medium, and correspond to the document part in the document image read by the reading means. historical information regarding the use of the partial images, generating means for generating on the basis of the part identification information,
An image reading apparatus comprising: storage means for storing the history information generated by the generation means.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a totaling unit that totalizes the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each user who uses the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit. The image reading apparatus described.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a totaling unit that totalizes the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each document part corresponding to the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit. The image reading apparatus according to 1.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the history information related to a process of storing the partial image as an electronic file.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates the history information related to a process of sending the partial image through a communication unit. Component identification information for identifying a document part in which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part is formed, and a position information image obtained by imaging position information indicating each position on the medium is formed on the entire surface of the medium. The document image, the position information image, and the component identification information image are read from the medium in which the component identification information image obtained by imaging the image is formed on the entire surface of the partial image corresponding to the document component of the document image. Reading means;
The partial image corresponding to the document module of the document image read by the reading means or a printing unit for printing an image of the document components included in the electronic document,
Extraction means for extracting correspondence information between the position information and the component identification information for each position from the position information image and the component identification information image read by the reading unit;
Using the correspondence information extracted by the extraction means, the part identification information embedded in a continuous area on the medium is specified, and history information regarding printing of the partial image or the document part image by the printing means Generating means for generating based on the component identification information ;
A copying apparatus comprising: storage means for storing the history information generated by the generating means. The printing means prints the document image after making the partial image difficult to recognize when printing of the partial image is not permitted;
The copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation unit does not generate history information related to printing of the partial image that is difficult to visually recognize. The printing unit prints the image of the electronic document after making the image of the document part difficult to view when printing of the image of the document part is not permitted,
The copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation unit does not generate history information regarding printing of an image of the document part that is difficult to visually recognize. The printing unit stops printing the document image when printing of the partial image is not permitted;
The copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation unit does not generate history information regarding printing of a plurality of partial images in the document image whose printing is stopped by the printing unit. The printing unit stops printing the image of the electronic document when printing of the image of the document part is not permitted;
7. The copying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the generation unit does not generate history information regarding printing of images of a plurality of document parts in the electronic document whose printing has been stopped by the printing unit. Component identification information for identifying a document part in which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part is formed, and a position information image obtained by imaging position information indicating each position on the medium is formed on the entire surface of the medium. The position identification image obtained by scanning the medium in which the part identification information image obtained by imaging the image is formed on the entire surface of the partial image corresponding to the document part of the document image is acquired. Acquisition means to
Extraction means for extracting correspondence information between the position information and the component identification information for each position from the position information image and the component identification information image acquired by the acquisition means;
Using the correspondence information extracted by the extraction means, the part identification information embedded in the continuous area on the medium is specified, and the document part of the document image is identified based on the part identification information. a generating means for generating history information regarding the use of the corresponding partial image,
An image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing the history information generated by the generation means.   12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a totaling unit that counts the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each user who uses the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit. The image processing apparatus described.   2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a totaling unit that totalizes the number of times or the usage fee of the partial image for each document part corresponding to the partial image based on the history information stored in the storage unit. 11. The image processing apparatus according to 11. Formed work and the document image of the electronic document and imaging comprising a non-work is, the position information image obtained by imaging the position information indicating each position on the medium is formed on the entire surface of the medium, the work The position information image obtained by scanning the medium in which the literary work identification information image obtained by imaging the literary work identification information to be identified is formed on the entire surface of the partial image corresponding to the literary work of the document image, and the An acquisition means for acquiring a work identification information image ;
Extraction means for extracting correspondence information between the position information and the literary work identification information for each position from the position information image and the literary work identification information image acquired by the acquisition means;
Using the correspondence information extracted by the extraction means, the work identification information embedded in a continuous area on the medium is specified, and the work of the document image is specified based on the work identification information. generating means for generating charging information for charging for the use of the partial image corresponding to the object,
An image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for storing the billing information generated by the generation means. On the computer,
Component identification information for identifying a document part in which a document image obtained by imaging an electronic document including a document part is formed, and a position information image obtained by imaging position information indicating each position on the medium is formed on the entire surface of the medium. The position identification image obtained by scanning the medium in which the part identification information image obtained by imaging the image is formed on the entire surface of the partial image corresponding to the document part of the document image is acquired. Function to
A function of extracting correspondence information between the position information and the component identification information for each position from the acquired position information image and the component identification information image ;
Extracted by using the correspondence information, the partial image to identify the component identification information embedded in a continuous area on the medium, based on the component identification information, corresponding to the document module of said document image The ability to generate historical information about the use of
A program for realizing a function of writing the generated history information in a predetermined storage area.   16. The program according to claim 15, wherein the function to generate does not generate history information related to use of the partial image when use of the partial image is not permitted.   17. The generation function does not generate history information related to use of other document images in the document image including the partial image when the use of the partial image is not permitted. Program.

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