Image processing to prevent forgery

• US 20020015511A1
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Ryosuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00843 based on recognising a copy prohibited original, e.g. a banknote pattern authentication and markers therefor, forgery detection G06V20/95; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40; testing paper currency or similar valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00848 by detecting a particular original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00859 Issuing an alarm or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus

Abstract

Control over processing of image data in a system comprising a plurality of scanning devices and a plurality of printing devices, each of which may or may not include a forgery-preventing function. An image processing apparatus receives information for each of the plurality of scanning devices and printing devices indicating whether or not they include a forgery-preventing function. When image data is received by the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus controls the processing of which printing apparatus the image data can be sent to for printing. If the image data is received from a scanning apparatus that includes a forgery-preventing function, the image data can be sent to any printing device, regardless of whether or not it includes a forgery-preventing function. If the image data is received from a scanning apparatus that does not include a forgery-preventing function, the image can be sent only to a printing device that does include a forgery-preventing function. Further, a display of available printers to which an operator can select to send the image data may be provided for, with the displayed available printers being controlled based on whether the image data is received from a scanning device that includes a forgery-preventing function or not.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

first receiving means that receives information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, and receiving information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second scanning apparatus;

second receiving means that receives information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and receiving information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus; and

controlling means that controls processing of image data received from one of the first or second scanning apparatuses to send the received image data to one of the first or second printing apparatuses based on the information received by the first receiving means and the information received by the second receiving means.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controlling means sends image data received from the second scanning apparatus, which does not have a forgery-preventing function, to the first printing apparatus, which does have a forgery-preventing function.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means that notifies a user by a warning when the forgery-preventing function of the first scanning apparatus and the forgery-preventing function of the first printing apparatus judges that the image data is data of a specific image.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the data of the specific image is information expressing a specific pattern or a digital water mark.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means receive the information from the first and second scanning apparatuses and from the first and second printing apparatuses when the image processing apparatus turns on.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means receive information indicative of the presence or absence of a forgery-preventing function when at least one of the first or second scanning apparatuses or the first or second printing apparatuses is changed.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means receive the information from the first and second scanning apparatuses when the first and second scanning apparatuses receive a scanning indication, or the first and second printing apparatuses receive a printing indication, from the image processing apparatus.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means receive information indicative of the presence or absence of a forgery-preventing function when a new scanning apparatus or a new printing apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus via a network.

9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means sends the image data received from the first scanning apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, to one of the first or second printing apparatuses according to a selection by an operator of the image processing apparatus.

10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means sends a permission signal to the first scanning apparatus permitting the first scanning apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, to send image data directly to one of the first or second printing apparatuses as selected by an operator, if the forgery-preventing function of the first scanning apparatus judges the image data as data of a specific image.

11. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

first receiving means that receives information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, and receiving information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the scanning apparatus;

second receiving means that receives information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and receiving information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus;

inputting means that inputs information related to a selected scanner apparatus for image scanning; and

notifying means that notifies a user, based on the information received by the first receiving means, the information received by the second receiving means, and the information input by the input means, of at least one available printing apparatus for which image data can be sent to for printing.

12. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the notifying means notifies the user that the first printing apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, is an available printing apparatus if the selected scanning apparatus is the second scanning apparatus, which does not have a forgery-preventing function.

13. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the notifying means notifies the user that the first printing apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, and the second printing apparatus, which does not have a forgery-preventing function, are available printing apparatuses if the selected scanning apparatus is the first scanning apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function.

14. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising warning means that warns a user when the forgery-preventing function of the first scanning apparatus and a forgery-preventing function of the first printing apparatus judges forgery.

15. An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the forgery-preventing function the first scanning apparatus and the forgery-preventing function of the first printing apparatus judges a forgery based on a specific pattern or a digital water mark.

16. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first receiving means receives the information from the first and second scanning apparatuses and the second receiving means receives the information from the first and second printing apparatuses when the image processing apparatus turns on.

17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first receiving means receives the information from the first and second scanning apparatuses and the second receiving means receives the information from the first and second printing apparatuses when at least one of the first or second scanning apparatuses or the first or second printing apparatuses is changed.

18. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first receiving means receives the information from the first and second scanning apparatuses and the second receiving means receives the information from the first and second printing apparatuses when the first or second scanning apparatuses or the first or second printing apparatuses receive a scanning or printing indication from the image processing apparatus.

19. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means receive information indicative of the presence or absence of a forgery-preventing function when a new scanning apparatus or printing apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus via a network.

20. An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means receive specification information from the first and second scanning apparatuses and the first and second printing apparatuses.

21. An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the notifying means further notifies the user of the specification information for the user to select a preferable scanning apparatus and printing apparatus.

22. An image processing method, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, and receiving information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second scanning apparatus;

a second receiving step of receiving information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and receiving information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus; and

controlling processing of image data received from one of the first and second scanning apparatuses to send the received image data to one of the first or second printing apparatuses, based on the information received in the first receiving step and the second receiving step.

27. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said processing unit sends image data received from the second scanning apparatus, which does not have a forgery-preventing function, to the first printing apparatus, which does have a forgery-preventing function.

28. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising a display unit arranged to display a warning when the forgery-preventing function of the first scanning apparatus and a forgery-preventing function of the first printing apparatus judges image data as data of a specific image.

29. An image processing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the data of a specific image is information expressing a specific pattern or a digital water mark.

30. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive the information from the first scanning apparatus, the second scanning apparatus, the first printing apparatus, and the second printing apparatus, when the image processing apparatus turns on.

31. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive the information from the first scanning apparatus, the second scanning apparatus, the first printing apparatus, and the second printing apparatus, when at least one of the first or second scanning apparatuses or first or second printing apparatuses is changed.

32. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive the information from the first scanning apparatus, the second scanning apparatus, the first printing apparatus, and the second printing apparatus, when the first or second scanning apparatuses or the first or second printing apparatuses receive a scanning or printing indication from the image processing apparatus.

33. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive information indicative of the presence or absence of a forgery-preventing function when a new scanning apparatus or printing apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus via a network.

34. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processor unit is arranged to send the image data received from the first scanning apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, to one of the first or second printing apparatuses as selected by an operator of the image processing apparatus.

35. An image processing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processing unit is arranged to send a permission signal to the first scanning apparatus permitting the first scanning apparatus to send image data directly to a printing apparatus selected by an operator, if the forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus judges the image data as data of a specific image.

37. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the display unit is arranged to display the first printing apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, as the available printing apparatus if the selected scanning apparatus is the second scanning apparatus, which does not have a forgery-preventing function.

38. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the display unit is arranged to display the first printing apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function, and the second printing apparatus, which does not have a forgery-preventing function, as the available printing apparatus if the selected scanning apparatus is the first scanning apparatus, which has a forgery-preventing function.

39. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the display unit is arranged to display a warning when the forgery-preventing function of the first scanning apparatus and the forgery-preventing function of the first printing apparatus judges a forgery.

40. An image processing apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the forgery-preventing function of the first scanning apparatus and the forgery-preventing function of the first printing apparatus judges a forgery based on a specific pattern or a digital water mark.

41. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive the information from the first scanning apparatus, the second scanning apparatus, the first printing apparatus, and the second printing apparatus, when the image processing apparatus is turned on.

42. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive the information from the first scanning apparatus, the second scanning apparatus, the first printing apparatus, and the second printing apparatus, when at least one of the first or second scanning apparatuses or the first or second printing apparatuses is changed.

43. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive the information from the first scanning apparatus, the second scanning apparatus, the first printing apparatus, and the second printing apparatus, when one of the first or second scanning apparatuses or the first or second printing apparatuses receive a scanning or printing indication from the image processing apparatus.

44. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive information indicative of the presence or absence of a forgery-preventing function when a new scanning apparatus or printing apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus via a network.

45. An image processing apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the interface unit is arranged to receive specification information from the first and second scanning apparatuses and the first and second printing apparatuses.

46. An image processing apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the display unit is arranged to display the specification information for an operator to select a preferable scanning apparatus and printing apparatus.

48. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said controlling means outputs the image data to an output device that includes a forgery-preventing capability if the image reading device that read the image data does not include a forgery-preventing capability.

49. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47 further comprising notifying means that notifies a user by a warning when the forgery-preventing capability of an image reading device or an image output device judges the image data is data of a specific image.

50. An image processing apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the data of the specific image is information expressing a specific pattern or a digital water mark.

51. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the first receiving means receives the forgery-preventing capability data when the image processing apparatus is turned on.

52. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the first receiving means receives the forgery-preventing capability data when at least one of the image reading devices or at least one of the image output devices is changed.

53. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the first receiving means receives the forgery-preventing capability data when at least one of the image reading devices or at least one of the image output devices receives a reading or an image output indication from the image processing apparatus.

54. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the first receiving means receives the forgery-preventing capability data when a new image reading device or a new image output device is connected to the image processing apparatus via a network.

55. An image processing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the controlling means outputs the image data to an output device selected by an operator of the image processing apparatus if the image reading device that read the image data includes a forgery-preventing capability.

23. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code stored thereon, said product comprising:

code for receiving information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, and receiving information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second scanning apparatus;

code for receiving information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and receiving information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus; and

code for controlling processing of image data received from one of the first and second scanning apparatuses to send the received image data to one of the first or second printing apparatuses, based on the information received in the first receiving step and the second receiving step that controls to send image data received from one of the scanning apparatuses based on the information received from the scanning apparatuses and the printing apparatuses.

24. An image processing method, comprising:

a first receiving step of receiving information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, and receiving information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the scanning apparatus;

a second receiving step of receiving information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and receiving information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus;

inputting information related to a selected scanner apparatus for image scanning; and

notifying a user, based on the information received by the first receiving step, the information received by the second receiving step, and the information input in the input step, of at least one available printing apparatus for which image data can be sent to for printing.

25. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code stored thereon, said product comprising:

code for a first receiving step of receiving information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, and receiving information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the scanning apparatus;

code for a second receiving step of receiving information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and receiving information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus;

code for inputting information related to a selected scanner apparatus for image scanning; and

code for notifying a user, based on the information received by the first receiving step, the information received by the second receiving step, and the information input in the input step, of at least one available printing apparatus for which image data can be sent to for printing.

26. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an interface unit arranged to receive information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, to receive information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second scanning apparatus, to receive information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and to receive information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus; and

a processor unit arranged to control processing of image data received from one of the first and second scanning apparatuses to send the received image data to one of the first or second printing apparatuses, based on the information received by the interface unit.

36. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an interface unit arranged to receive information from a first scanning apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first scanning apparatus, to receive information from a second scanning apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second scanning apparatus, to receive information from a first printing apparatus indicating the presence of a forgery-preventing function in the first printing apparatus, and to receive information from a second printing apparatus indicating the absence of a forgery-preventing function in the second printing apparatus;

a pointing unit arranged to indicate information related to a selected scanner apparatus for image scanning; and

a display unit arranged to display, based on the information received by the interface unit and the information indicated by the pointing unit, at least one available printing apparatus for which image data can be sent to for printing.

47. An image processing apparatus that communicates with a plurality of image reading devices and a plurality of image output devices, comprising:

first receiving means that receives forgery-preventing capability data from each of the plurality of image reading devices and each of the plurality of image output devices;

second receiving means that receives image data read by one of the plurality of image reading devices; and

controlling means that controls processing of the image data received by the second receiving means to output the image data to an appropriate image output device based on whether or not the image reading device that read the image data includes a forgery-preventing capability.

56. An image processing method that communicates with a plurality of image reading devices and a plurality of image output devices, comprising:

receiving forgery-preventing capability data from each of the plurality of image reading devices and the plurality of image output devices;

receiving image data read by one of the plurality of image reading devices;

controlling processing of the image data to output the image data to an appropriate image output device based on whether or not the image reading device that read the image data includes a forgery-preventing capability.